The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1884. INSURANCE COMPANIES V. FIRE BRIGADES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 62, 9 February 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1884. INSURANCE COMPANIES V. FIRE BRIGADES.

There are few more useful bodies than Fire Brigades,—on their exertions the safety of public as well as private property depends, in a great measure ; and yet there are no men working in a good cause who have less to thank those most interested in their exertions for than the ready toilers at a conflagration. It matters not whether a fire breaks out during the hours of labor or in the middle of the night, the members of a Fire Brigade rush to their duties, as a rule, with all speed possible, their only aim being to save lives and property from destruction ; while the dangers often attendant on the exertions of this indispensable body are of a most serious character. There are certainly nothing but disinterested and praiseworthy motives that induce men to join a Fire Brigade—especially in country towns ; for the question of compensation for their labor cannot be taken into account, as no remuneration—even for the loss of their time—is accorded the members of such a body. And yet we find that the Insurance Companies—which are, or should be, interested in the results of a Fire Brigade’s labors—-

have refused to contribute towards the support of that indispensable body. We refer particularly to the action lately taken in Auckland by the Insurance Companies, In a telegram, dated Auckland, February 7th, we find it stated that “ the proposal to engage six men as members of a Fire Brigade for Ponsonby led to a brisk discussion at the City Council, in the course of which the action of the Insurance Companies in combining to raise their rates, while they refused to | contribute to the support of the I Brigade, came in for severe and | trenchant criticism. Mr. E. R. Cbowtheb pointed out that these further expenses would raise the cost of the Fire Brigade £2,000 (?) a year, while they were already paying £2,000 a year for the lighting of the streets. Yet,in the faceof these facts, the Insurance Companies not only refused to contribute a penny towards the efforts to safeguard their risks, but they actually combined to increase their rates by 70 per cent. He was himself a shareholder in an Insurance Company, but yet he could not be a party to extortion. Cr. Fleming, although a shareholder, likewise, in an Insurance Company, took a similar view’ of the matter. Cr. Stevenson said he was prepared to move that the Eire Brigade should perform no services outside the city limits, unices paid for the same, Cr. Dachk said he would second such a motion. Cr Masefield, forcibly condemning the course pursued by the combined Insurance Companies, suggested the Council should disband the Fire Brigade, unless the Insurance Companies were prepared to contribute towards its support. Ultimately, the motion passed reducing the Fire Brigade for Ponsonby to four men.” It is evident from the foregoing that the Insurance Companies have taken united action in this matter, and it may be presumed that their object is purely a selfish one—that no consideration is given to the loss of life that may accrue through their reprehensible determination. The directors of the Insurance Companies, while “ combining to raise their rates,” probably imagine that the withholding of support from a Brigade will prove the means of increasing their business, as when the risk of the destruction of property by fire becomes greater the public may be induced to insure to a greater extent than they did previously; but that flattering conception should, we think, prove a delusion. Of course, in a large place like Auckland, the City Council will be bound, in the interests of the ratepayers, to provide protection against loss by fire within the boundaries of property under its jurisdiction, and it cannot be supposed that the threat to disband the Fire Brigade will be given effect to. There is a probability, however, that the spirited members of the Auckland City Council will now take some very decisive and active steps in the matter, and it is to be hoped that the united Insurances Companies will come off “ second best ” in the struggle. While on this subject, we may congratulate the residents of Gisborne on the efficiency of the Fire Brigade of this town, which is mainly attributableto the untiring exertions of Cr. Townley, and it is highly satisfactory to report that the Borough Council takes an interest in the proceedings of a body that gives its valuable services voluntarily. It must be evident to anyone who will give the subject one moment’s consideration that—however willing men of energy may be to offer their services for the benefit of the public—that such action as the Insurance Companies of Auckland have taken will not haye a tendency to induce the Fire Brigade to save property that is known to be insured, and the result may at some time be unexpectedly disastrous in the extreme. The Auckland Insurance Companies are not, we regret to say, the only association of the kind that have declined to assist Fire Brigades,—indeed the deplorable policy of those bodies has been general, we believe, throughout the Colony. Tn Gi»borne the Insurance Companies have not given the Fire Brigade any assistance, and no doubt in other towns that peculiar policy has been also adopted ; therefore, some steps should be taken to let those generous bodies see that they cannot carry out their designs with impunity. We shall watch with much interest the action of the Auckland City Council in this peculiar business, in the hope that some means will be found to counteract the movements of the united Insurance Companies, which are a credit to the Colony.