FIRE LOSSES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 676, 29 November 1909, Page 8

FIRE LOSSES.

Sir,—l notice the Tire Boards' Conference draws attention to the appalling waste by' fire in..New 'Zealand, and Mr. Hugo suggests new' building regulations on the 1 part ,of local .bodies, better fire equipment for the . brigades and boards, and better inspection and choice of risks on the part of insurance companies. These mily be of advantage, but hie has left out -a very, important improvement, and that is more careful inquiry into' the ■ cause of fires. I have argued the question with several insurmanagers . and • agents, advancing- the argument'that a company paying insurance oh a building burned on pnrposo, without having made sufficient inquiry into the circumstances, is offering a premium for dishonesty and en-, couraging crime. I' have been answered that if a company withholds payment, and fails" to [prove' positively incendiarism, they become liable for slander or-defamation of character. Also,i' that the competition'between the companies forces them, for the sake of getting.and, . keeping, a • name for prompt payment, of losses, to pay out without 'question unless the case is glaringly one of incendiarism. I can'remember when , a police inquiry or inquest used to be held over many or all fires, which, .1 believe, .was not satisfactory mainly owing to the class of jury obtained. Could not the 'inquest. sys-. tern be revived with suitable, provision. for.a jury or board consisting of, 6ay, one appointed by the insurance companies,, one by a local body, and one by person or,persons concerned? Such; inqnest would not impute fraud' to any one, .but .would have to be satisfied'that the fire was, accidental, or. at least'not caused- by . the recipient of ■ the insurance; moneys^.'' The' ma*., jority of the fires that I have' known.'anything of I have reason to bolieve'were not accidental; and might have been found out by such; an .inquest as r suggest.—l-am, etc., -v." E. W.