CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3641, 17 October 1890, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

SALVAGE.

(To the Editor.) i Sie.—l notice in your issue of yesterday a letter signed " Burgess," in which he endeavours to show a want of support of the Volunteer ; Fire Brigade by the Insurance offices, i and goes on to say that the. only ; salvage the insurers receive is what ; the Insurance Companies are pleased to dole'out under pressure. lam 1 afraid "Burgess" is attempting to 1 write upon a subject of which he is entirely ignorant, I can at any rate speak for the office I represent, which has contributed through us in subscriptions this year upwards of five pounds to the Volunteer Fire Brigade, and as to paying out oalvage, tho insurance book in iny office will show that we have paid in olaimsfor loss by fire upwards of £BOO, besides many small sums for damage and reinstatement. In all cases of reinstatement it was acknowledged that the property so repaired was in a much belter condition than it was bofore the fire. As to the receipts for premiums received during the year, thoy are fully £IOO less than the amount paid'out in losses. "Burgess" points out the many buildings saved, from destruction, and thinks tho insurance compiuies should acknowledge this in a substantial manner. He forgets that many buildings jn Masterton are uninsured, and in ma.n.y pases the proportion to the value of the building very small, Does it not occur to him, or any "sensible man, that property ownors are much more interested thau the insurance offices ? Yet, he tries to uiako it appear that it is the duty of ' the insurance offices to support the brigades,'and to make large contri- j butions for losses they may have ' sustained. I think it is quite time for them to contribute when afire 1 does occur. Had "Burgess" been as liberal as the office I represent, I ' could understand his rushing into ! print. Hewover, talk is oheap I I am, &c, Insurance Aoeni. '