1.—15

The total of these Government contributions is shown in the next ensuing table. As stated earlier, the balance of the estimated expenditure, less the amount received from special fees and other sources, is provided equally by the local authorities and the insurance companies operating in the fire district. There has been a very steady and consistent increase in the amounts paid by these two latter bodies, and the question has arisen as to the necessity for some reorganization in expenditure and as to the necessity of the Government increasing its subsidy so as to be more in. keeping with the Government risks which are covered, particularly in view of the increasing size of Government housing settlements and the fact that Government activity in general has increased, necessitating further fire cover*. At the present time insurance companies pay approximately 6d. in the pound of insurance premiums to Fire Boards. We are given to understand that the Government has agreed to making a contribution on behalf of the houses owned by them on the basis of an annual premium of £2 per house —that is, the Government will make a contribution of ss. per house per annum for fire protection, this amount to be credited to the insurance companies' contributions.

Table showing Revenue Receipts of Fire Boards from 1925-26 to 1943-44

The following table shows the receipts not revenue. The greatest amount of receipts is from loans, although the relative importance of loans in Fire Boards is not great: —

Table showing Receipts not Revenue of Fire Boards from 1925-26 to 1943-44

101

T1 . . , „ ~ , Local Insurance Special Fees Other Total Financial Year. Government. Authorities _ Companies. Sources. Revenue. £ £ £ £ £ £ 1925-26 .. 2,285 48,009 48,023 6,567 2,727 107,611 1926-27 .. 2,863 61,746 61,766 8,119 4,311 138,805 1927-28 .. 2,903 53,752 53,787 6,404 1,552 118,398 1928-29 3,787 66,398 66,334 8,836 1,893 147,248 1929-30 .. 3,807 69,470 69,530 8,474 2,919 154,200 1930-31 .. 3,880 70,427 70,441 8,570 2,691 156,009 1931-32 .. 3,620 69,206 69,218 7,803 3,144 152,991 1932-33 .. 3,791 65,038 65,089 7,858 2,285 144,061 1933-34 .. 3,666 66,609 66,569 7,470 2,265 146,579 1934-35 .. 3,439 67,903 67,912 7,762 1,506 148,522 1935-36 .. 3,367 69,613 69,781 7,457 1,438 151,656 1936-37 .. 4,109 73,494 73,157 8,526 1,378 160,664 1937-38 .. 4,202 89,150 88,895 9,048 2,724 194,019 1938-39 .. 4,285 96,847 96,314 6,453 5,267 209,166 1939-40 .. 4,264 100,945 100,840 6,040 6,132 218,221 1940-41 .. 4,280 102,351 101,776 5,739 6,612 220,758 1941-42 .. 4,248 112,785 111,980 4,712 10,086 243,811 1942-43 . 4,440 132,183 132,044 2,612 8,932 280,270 1943-44 .. 4,522 132,300 132,280 3,036 12,354 284,492

Financial Year. Loans. Other. Total. £ £ £ 1925-26 .. .. ~) f 62,472 1926-27 .... 16,139 1927-28 .. .. 11,723 1928-29 .... 12,460 1929-30 .... 7,084 1930-31 .. v . , , 39,738 1931-32 f glVen se P aratel y- 1 5 629 1932-33 ..... 3 222 1933-34 .. 15,273 1934-35 .... 15.025 1935-36 .... 26,368 1936-37 .. .. L 38,951 1937-38 .. .. 54,703 4,517 59,220 1938-39 .. .. 48,419 3,250 51,669 1939-40 .. .. 27,403 7,668 35,071 1940-41 .. 32,027 3,255 35,282 1941-42 .. .. 74,125 1,470 75,595 1942-43 .. .. 12,842 5,341 18,183 1943-44 .. .. 39,550 .1,463 41,013 * It was pointed out, for instance, that a great deal of the primary produce of the country is owned and stored by the State and that no insurance premiums to New Zealand companies are paid thereon. Hence Fire Boards do not receive a contribution for the fire protection of this produce.