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H.—l2,

1937-38. NEW ZEALAND.

FIRE BRIGADES OF THE DOMINION (REPORT ON THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1938, BY THE INSPECTOR OF FIRE BRIGADES.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Inspectob of Ftre Brigades to the Hon. the Minister of Intebnal Affairs. Office of the Inspector of Fire Brigades, Wellington, 9th September, 1938. Sir, — I have the honour to submit the thirtieth annual report for the year ended 31st March, 1938, on the working of the Fire Brigades Act, 1926. Fire Districts. No new fire districts were created during the year, but the Whakatane Fire Board, which was gazetted during the previous year, commenced operations. The number of fire districts in operation at the end of the year was 55. Dominion Fire Waste. The loss by fire in New Zealand during 1937 estimated on the usual basis —the actual amount paid out by insurance companies plus 12f per cent, for uninsured loss—was £520,894, being a decrease of £3,135 on the previous year. Having regard to the improved method of collecting statistics, this represents a new low fire-loss record per head of population. The following table shows the fire losses in New Zealand, Great Britain, Canada, and United States of America for the past eleven years : —

It was anticipated that owing to the increase in replacement values, both of buildings and contents during the years 1936 and L 937, the national fire-loss returns would show a corresponding increase. The fact that they have not done so is very pleasing and should enable the insurance companies to establish a reserve to meet the increased losses which are inevitable when the present low fire-loss cycle is completed. A study of the figures shows that the decrease during the year under review is due almost entirely to the fact that a lesser number of large fires with loss exceeding £5,000 has occurred. The importance of this factor will be realized when it is seen that the loss in six fires only during the first four months of the current year exceeded £130,000. Eire Loss in Fibe Distbicts. It will be seen from Tables II and IV attached that the loss in fire districts during the year ending •31st March, 1938, was £170,167, and in areas protected by Fire Boards £24,011, as compared with £199,592 and £3,248 respectively for the previous year. The differences are accounted for in the main by the fact that only two fires occurred in fire districts with loss exceeding £5,000 (confectionery factory,

I—H. 12,

Fire Loss per Head. New Zealand i lie oss. New Zealan(1 6reat Britain. Canada. j °' £ s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Average(1927-31) .. .. 1,332,032 18 1 5 0 17 5 16 0 1932 .. .. .. 867,714 11 5 3 9 16 8 13 2 1933 .. .. .. 644,781 8 4 4 7 12 11 8 10 1934 .. .. .. 566,112 7 3 4 1 10 0 8 7 1935 .. .. .. 607,410 7 9 4 0 8 9 8 1 1936 .. .. .. 524,029 68 45 80 85 1937 . . .. .. 520,894 6 6 4 9 8 4 8 1

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