TWO MILLION IN FIRES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 808, 31 October 1929, Page 10

TWO MILLION IN FIRES

DOMINION’S LOSS SINCE 1920 FIGURES FOR SIX CENTRES Press Association : LdN ■T- N W- ... - The fire losses for the period from 1920 to 1929 in the areas covered by the six largest tire brigades in New Zealand, as compiled by the Govern - i nt ins] I Superintend t ' ' Hugo, were placed before the conference of the United Fire Brigades' As-

The cost of maintenance of the six ies :—A uck .' • Christchurch, £115,513; Dunedin. £133.323; Invercargill i.five years). £32,334; Wanganui, £61,353; Wellington (three years), £70,515. In the case of Wellington the figures are for three years and for Invercargill five years. These periods cover the time these brigades have been under the jurisdiction of fire boards. Commenting on the figures. Superintendent T. J. Walls, secretary and advisory superintendent of the association. said it was obvious that in most cases the uninsured losses had been very much underestimated, .so that the real position was worse than was stated. The United Fire Brigades’ Association had for some time endeavoured to get a commission appointed to inquire into the enormous fire losses in the Dominion, and it was likely that its efforts would soon bear fruit.

soeiation today. The figures — Auckland Insured. Uninsured Loss. Loss. Total. . - -' 7 £ 2S, 35; 2 C h ri s t c h u r <_• h - Invercargill Wanganui 11 11 7G.7S6