POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 116, 2 October 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

intE LOSSES.

By Telegraph—Own Corresponded Wellington, Last Night. The total loss caused by flre throughout th« Dominion in the last eight years reports the Superintendent of the Fire am ,?, u , nts to g rea t sum oI £4,040,116. taking the population of q,T I y T and as numbering 1,009,000 on 31st December last, the fire low for the year then ended averaged 12s o%d »er capita, against 10s 2d' per head in tie united States of America, and a little* over le 44 per capita in Europe. Thi» must be, as in the previous year, verr near, if not actually, the world's record loss per liead of population, and although the attention of the public has been perlodically drawn to the matter, so far there has been no concerted movement in the direction of an endeavour to reduce this excessive loss. Again, as in past years, he goes on to say, an analysis of the reports sent in from various districts shows tliat over or in* surance is much in evidence, and th«ro can be no doubt that it is one of the principal factors as a cause of the heavy lire Joss that prevails, inducing as it doe# in addition to, but entirely outside, the question of the criminal and moral hazard a carelessness in respect to fire that would not obtain otherwise. The fire boards are undoubtedly doing what lies ■ within their province, but before the excessive lire waste now prevailing can be brought within reasonable bounds concerted action is necessary between the public bodies and private companies interested, and the general public must be educated up to a sense of the 'national loss that is going on. He suggests themore general installation of .private automatic fire alarms and sprinklers in direct connection with local fire brigade stations. Seeing the high state of efficiency these alarms have reached, it is, he says, much to be regretted that more of them are not installed .throughout tihe Dominion, particularly in the larger wholesale warehouses and department stores.

COST OF VIADUCTS.

The inquiry that Ims been going on for many years past as to the cost of the Makohine and Makntote viaducts oa the North Island Main Trunk railway, has been taken a step further bv the production of a return, on the motion nf Mr. Campbell, presented to the Hou.vo to-day. In regard to the Makohine v;nduct, it sliows that the amount of Ui., lowest tender received w:i* £48.41!!. and for tire Makatote viaduct £.j:J..'!(;!>.

WIDOWS PENSIONS,

Interesting amendments .to the Widows Pensions Bill are proposed in a Bill brought down in the House by Governor's Message this afternoon. A woman who is tlie wife of a man confined in a mental hospital, rind w*ho is likely to k« incurable for at least twelve months, may be granted a pension, and a woman can also be grainted a pension in respect to a child born out of New Zealand whila she was temporarily absent from the Dominion, or on account of any child born out of New Zealand if its mother has continuously resided in New Zealand for ino less than ten years immediately preceding the date of her application for a pension. "Income" does not include any pension payable under the Act, nor any (relief received from any charitable institution.

WATER POLLUTION,

The Pollution of Water Bill, read ft first time in the House to-day, is of -particular interest to owners of flaxmills find dairy factories. It provides that in any action relative to pollution of water by waste products the plaintiff can only sue for damages, and he is not cntitleS to an injunction unless he proves that such pollution has caused, or is causing, to him or to his property, such actual and irreparable loss and damage as can* not be the subject of compensation by damages. To get an injunction the plaintiff must prove that the quality of the water is so deteriorated by the pollution as to render it unfit for use by persons and animals, and also that th«r'e is not available to him a sufficient supply of other unpolluted water upon or immediately adjacent to his property. The Court is empowered to assess dam-1 ages for future pollution, to point an injunction during certain periods of the year only to dissolve an injunction and award damages in lieu thereof, and to grant an injunction if the defendant fails to take proper steps to minimise pollution.