A POSER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8358, 19 February 1913, Page 6

A POSER

May we say a few more words, just now on the question of State fire insurance? When the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher announced the big profit made last year by this undertaking, which comes within his Ministerial administration, he exclaimed very chirplly: “This is an effective answer to those critics who declared that the Reform Government would kill this State enterprise,” The hollowness of the Minister’s claim was completely exposed in these columns yesterday, when we showed that what was proved by results T£ps the folly of those critics who said the enterprise .would be a failure and a financial loss. Also, we said the self-styled Reformers might have the will, but not the courage, to stifle the enterprise. However, there are more ways of killing*'a cat than to choke it. A correspondent sends along a letter he has received from the manager of a private insurance company. Read this: —“Dear Sir, —Re insurance on ■ , We recently had the pleasure of doing this for you, but on account of a mortgage being given to the New Zealand {State-Guaranteed Advances Department the insurance was transferred. The Government has now altered its decision in this matter, and you are now at liberty to place your insurance where you please. Seeing that you evidently transferred this insurance to fulfil requirements then in force,- I trust that you will now again insure with tho , which company would undoubtedly still have had your support had it not been for the reason above stated. Under the circumstances, I trust you will again insure with the , and for this purpose I enclose a proposal which please sign and return to me prior to the 30th inst. Thanking you in anticipation, 1 am, yours faithfully, , manager.” How does this chime with Mr Fisher’s heroics? Is “Reform” honestly concerned for the success of tho State Fire Insurance scheme?