Fire Insurance.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 162, 20 July 1901, Page 3

Fire Insurance.

(To tlie Editor of the Times.) Sn;, —In this morning’s issue you publish an Auckland telegram under the heading “ Astonishing Statement.” Y'ou have christened it fitly, for one of tho principal managers of tlie South British Insurance Company told me recently that their policy was the very opposite of what Mr Jvirker now lays down. In any easo Mr Kirkcr’s excuse for raising tho premiums is absolutely untrue, as the companies have also raised premiums in tho country, where there arc no lire prevention schemes to lie improved. Wo have been Wed long enough to provide fat billets for an army of competing insurance officers, Let us have State or municipal insurmice, where there will he no competition, mid where one staff could do the entire work of a city like Auckland. There arc now 43 insurance offices maintained in Auckland. And who pays for them? Of course the insurers, and heavy rates are therefore required. The South British manager referred to, told me they would not support tho fire brigades, because if brigades were effective, insurers would want rates reduced. He said tlie bigger tho risk, the more premium tlie company got, and the more premium they got—the more profit they made. Tliir question should ho thought out by every insuror.—l am, etc., G. Stubbs.