THE Wellington Independent. Tuesda, August 13, 1861. PROTECTION FROM FIRE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1608, 13 August 1861, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent. Tuesda, August 13, 1861. PROTECTION FROM FIRE.

A Fire occurred last week in Lyttelton which was fortunately subdued before any very material damage was done, but we notice that it serves as a text for the editor of the Times to declaim against the apathy of the public in not providing itself with more efficient means for the purpose — every fire in the neighbourhood of the mercantile portion of that town threatening the destruction of an extensive block of buildings containing a large amount of property. We need not, however, go to other provinces for illustrations, either of the inadequate means which exist in this Colony for the extinguishment of fire, or of the great loss which fires in business neighbourhocds are likely to cause. We have only to look to our own city, calling to, mind the destructive conflagrations that have now and again happened in it, and •abundant proof will readily occur to every reader. We cite the fire at Lyttelton only to show that elsewhere, as well as here, the public seem to think it to be somebody elses duty to attend to this matter.

Whose duty is it ? The readiest answer is that it is the duty of the Government. It is so easy to shift the blame of everything that goes wrong or is neglected on to the shoulders of the Government, that it is no wonder that it is so constantly done. To hear how some men talk, a stranger might be pardoned the supposition that the Colonists came from some of the Continental nations, where "they had been accustomed to think and act as little as possible for themselves; instead of from one where the maxim of the the Government is to do nothing : for its people that they can do for themselves, and where the maxim of the people is j

to permit of no interference by the Governmentin anything that can be carried out by private enterprise. A stranger might be pardoned the mistake on hearing it talked of as the^duty of our Provincial Governments to dig reservoirs all over the flats of the towns, purchase erigines, enroll and pay brigades — in short do all that is requisite to be- done to put out fires wherever they' may occur.

The next readiest" answer' is, "Oh give us a Corporation, and then effective measures will be speedily taken." A Corporation is to some the embodiment of every virtue— a committee of guardian angels who will, without any of our pockets , ; . knowing anything about it, keep the town free from mud, form every street, bridge every stream, remove every ■nuisance/supply water to every housej- in*** troduce the gas-pipe } into"every shop, and instantly extinguish every fire. ," Wherfc ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise ;". ani the experience of Corporations jniue' Colonies show how little these an ticipa-.r ti<mß are likely to be realised, hpw kufjj^J a draft on their imaginations thpse.draw^ wlio declare a Corporation : the ne plus: ultra of public institutions! ;*- ; * 4 ■-■'• ;^

While some say protection from fire\ is the duty of the Government Which' we? have, and others that it is the dutj^of the Corporation which we have nofy may: -we not ask whether it is not the duty' M the Insurance Offices to do this to * a yer jj large degree? A Government or a Cor-; poration may properly lend whatever aid' they can ; . but is it not the duty of jjfcg Insurance Companies to provide the : pri__-r cipal means for extinguishing ; and venting the spread of fire.— ls it;.ns their interest equally with their duty to do _o ? They have .been "empowered by Act of Parliament,"' because they are supposed, to confer a public benefit", ai^l when they take their premiums they ;^6"fc only incur the responsibility of paying the siim insured on the house acttfally burned; but they are bound to use all reasonable efforts to prevent the destruction of property, whether insured or 'not. The obligation, of an Insurance Company extends beyond that to: its actuaLclient, — it extends to the general public ; and because this obligation is a wellre^bgnjsed one, Parliament and Colonial' I^gis* latures have always been ready to grant them charters of incorporation and' any other advantages : that they legitimately can. It is just as much the recognised duty of an Insurance Company'to benefit the public,, as it is that the public should benefit it when necessity requires. The owner of a well or an s approach to a. stream, for instance, would be deservedly scouted if he were to refuse its use,'tiivy- ; ing "the burning premises are insured* Jet the Company find water, it is no concern pf mine." The Insurance Companies calculate on every assistance beinjg'.rendered to them, and in return it is expected that they extend, their aid whether fire rages in property that is insured or not. The duty being clear, it needs not a line to show how much it is to their interest to provide all the ordinary means and appliances. The more quickly afire is put out — the more confined the limits. of the property destroyed — the less is; the damage they have to make good. Morally, an Insurance ... Company has no. right" to take premiums if itdo.es not provide a machinery for protecting its clients, and, on the supposition that self interest will prompt it to do so, the Legislature,encourages it by granting a charter.pr Jict of Parliament to apply that machinery for the publio benefit, whenever required to do so. It is all very well to get up a cry about the apathy of the public; -but it would be infinitely more to the purpose to bring the pressure of public opinion to bear on the Companies who feeoive the very heavy premiums which are asked here. If larger engines are required and the. enrollment of a fire brigade is neoessary (and that both- these. are so there is no denying) who should take the initiative but the two Companies established here ? Nothing would please these or any other Companies better than that Governments should provide fire .engines and pay a brigade, while the formed receive the premiums. Governments may properly reader ajl the reasonable facilities in their power, — second the exertions of the Companies to the utmost legitimate extent; but it would be absurd to .'suppose that Insurance Companies are to receive all the premiums and profit, while the public, through itsGovernmeht orCorporation, bear all the expense of. an efficient machinery for extinguishing fire. ' We hoped that the late "fire would have induced the Insurance Companies to head some movement in the matter ; but as yet they make no sign. We trust that the reason is not because they do not intend making any.