EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1943, Page 2

EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE

TO TRUST LANDS TRUST BUILDINGS ASSESSED AT £13,812. COMMENT ON TREATMENT OF CLAIMS. Earthquake damage to Trust Bands Trust buildings in Masterton has been assessed, to date, at £13,812. At last night’s meeting of the Trust a report which conveyed the above information was received from the Trust earthquake damage assessors, Messrs Swan and Lavelle. The report stated that settlement had been reached for £13,812 after adjustment for franchise, compared with the State Fire Insurance Department’s original assessment of £3,576. The report stated, in part: “It is a matter for comment that the original assessments, which were primarily prepared by the insurance assessor, were totally inadequate and the very fact that agreement has now been reached on figures several hundred per cent higher than previously indicates clearly the original attitude as compared with the results obtained from a thorough investigation and a strongly contested claim. “Such a situation appears regrettable,” continued the report, “as it seems to us that when a loss occurs under an insurance contract it should not be necessary for the owner to have to fight against determined opposition for every pound in order to establish his just and rightful claim.” A vote of thanks was passed to Mr W. E. Lavelle for his services to the Trust.