WAR DAMAGE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 16, 14 October 1943, Page 4

WAR DAMAGE

Dropping Of Insurance Collections Urged

Dominion Special Service. NAPIER, October 13.

On the ground that money had been collected for a specific purpose which did not eventuate, delegates at the conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation unanimously agreed to a remit from Canterbury urging that the collection of war damage insurance premiums be discontinued immediately. It was agreed that the fund should remain in operation for the duration of the war and be used only for the purpose for which it was established. Delegates saw no reason why these premiums should continue to be collected from a special class, that of industry, which had a big stake in the country.

Bringing the remit before the conference, Mr. D. V. 'Wilson, Canterbury, said that while no one would question (he purpose for which the war damage fund was established, all would agree that the time had arrived when there should be revision and there had been an indication to that effect recently from the Prime Minister. The Government by its own attitude had shown that some revision should be made. It had been filling in frenches and had retrenched the Home Guard. This was sufficient to show that tlie risk for which the fund was established did not now exist. He did not object to the establishment of the fund while the risk existed, but did object to class taxation, which was what the collection of the fund now amounted to. The premiums collected during the year when the risk was greatest amounted to £1.600.000. on which only £955 was paid out. The only persons to get benefit from the fund were those who administered it, as £6OOO was paid in salaries. The remit was carried without discussion.