INS1JRANOE AGAINST AIR RAIDS.
[To roe BOMB. OF SIM “Sracuroa...] Sns,—The third plan which you suggest in your issue of the 19th inst. with regard to meeting possible losses arising through an air raid on London, by the Government endorsing every policy of insurance with a war clause, prompts me to offer a suggestion which occurred to me in the early days of visitation by Zeppelins. It is manifestly unfair that the burden of loss should fall on those whose residences or business premises lie within danger areas, and, as the view is generally accepted among lawyers that • tenant who is under covenant to surrender his premises at the end of tne term in good condition is liable to make good all damage however occasioned, it is specially unfair that the tenant has to bear all, and the landlord none, of the lose. Obviously therefore the State, and therefore the community at large, including those who take their rest undisturbed by the possibility of attack, should bear their share of the burden.
My suggestion is that all insurances against fire, whether of premises, goods, stocks, crops, &a, dm, should have added to the premium an additional one shilling per hundred pounds insured, and that no insurance policy or renewal receipt should be issued without payment of that addition for a period of twelve months as from some future date, say let pros To meet the cane of septennial policies, let the extra premium be paid on one year's insurance, and, to check any attempts at evasion, let the insurers deduct five shillings per hundred pounds before paying any claim to an insured person who has omitted to pay his additional premiums. The Government has enough to do at present, so the collection of the additional premium ehould not be thrown on it; but there is no reason why the insurers; should not do all that is necessary, and the retention of ten per cent, of the amount collected sounds like a reasonable remuneration for their trouble. The business of insurance is conducted in this country by corporations and bodies of such high standing that there ia no fear of
their failing to carry out their share of the work with energy and probity, and it would not be too much to ask them to account and pay over at the end of every third month all moneys collected. In this way the burden will be widely spread, and those in our Midland and Western areas will bear their due share, each in proportion to the amount he has at stake. It may be said that ground landlords will not be touched, but they will as regards their residences and effects and such properties as they themselves insure. Moreover, the burden is one which should fall on those who actually use and enjoy insured property throughout the land. Thus the State will become possessed of a large sum which should be more than sufficient to provide the necessary indemnity agaiust loss. Please pardon ins if my scheme is sketchy, but it may contain elements which heads wiser than mine can elaborate into a practical and useful proposition.—I am, Sir,
IONOTUB.
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