FIRE LOSS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otaki Mail, 8 November 1922, Page 4

FIRE LOSS IN NEW ZEALAND.

11', pelt JIHAD LAST YEAR. I ! j [ Inspector Hugo’s annual report for 1 ' the year ended .June 30, 1022, reads as! i follows: — ; “Tlie total fire loss throughout the j lire districts for the year ended June 130, 1022,” states the report, “amounted |to £183,G10, as against. £301,704 for the (previous year, a decrease of £211,085. 1 The insured loss throughout the Dominion for the year ended December j 31. 1021, amounted to £?G5.3'10. This exceeds by nearly £200,000 the loss tor 1017 (£578,021) the heaviest loss of previous years. At a conservative estimate the fire waste for 1921 amounted to £OOO,OOO or 11/9 per head of population, which must be approaching a world record for individual fire loss in any country under normal conditions. The loss was widely distributed, for, alihough there, were several rather severe warehouse fires, no conflagration or particularly disastrous fire occurred during the twelve months.” It is regretted, the report goes on, that more of tile business firms owning large warehouses or stores do rot in their own interest recognise the value ol' and insfat in their premises one of the several reliable systems or automatic fire alarms and sprinklers, which are universally recognised as most efficient safeguards, and provide a nearly certain immunity from heavy 'loss in the case of internal outbreaks of fire. A large rebate in premium is * a'rowed by insurance companies in 1' the case of buildings fitted with approved automatic alarms and sprinklers—to the extent that the amount o f ' the rate is in some cases sufficient to I cover, or nearly cover, interest on the I cap'tal cost, of installation, and in ’hat j view it would cause little or no itanlj shin if the Government, in the comJ inon interest, and to reduce the drain j on the national wealth caused by such j heavy tire losses, were to make com- [ pulsorv the installation of automatic safeguards in buildings of certain descriptions or even a ceriain size, as is | now being done in other countries.