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"TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1916 MAY NAME--BODY TO FKX | f R 6 f Attorney -- General _ Intimates Legislation at Next Session s nmenamiinarnesommpoeld mm w ~ «. / | 'VIEW-OF THE--FIRE MARSHAL ,bir Adam Beck's Resolution Discussed in the House--London Complains l of Unfair Treatment--Ontario Be-- I hind in Insurance Laws, ' Sir Adam Beck's resolution in thc-' Legislature yesterday in favor of a,nl fixlquiry into the control exercised by | Underwriters' Associations and simi-- lar bodies over the inethod of regu-- lating and placing of insurance-- and the rates chargeable. for insurance against loss or damage by fire or otherwise, and recommending -- that the Lieutenant--Governor--in--Council } name a Commission to conduct such inquiry, was unanimously adopted. | Legislation in Sight. f | | _ Hon. I. B. Lucas, Attorney--General, said Mr. Heaton, the Fire Marshal, had investigated and reported on the subject, and the conclusion was to the effect that in the. Rire Marshal's view | the question was of such tremendous importance and surrounded with so many difficulties that he was not prepared to make any recommenda-- tion for legislation, but rather sug-- gested what Sir Adam Beck suggest-- ed: that a Commission should be ap-- pointed to take the matter up and en-- deavor to obtain such expert advice and assistance as could be secured. It was hoped a Commission would be | able to get rid of the difficulties, and. | at any rate, to find a partial solution 'in the way of a rate--regulating body Ialong the. lines suggested. They might be in q position to give con-- 'sideration to legislation next session. In introducing his resolution -- Sir Adam Beck said he had received. * scores of letters from all parts of the country in reference.to this matter, asking that some remedy be attempt-- ed in order to relieve the situation as it exists to--day. "At the present time we have," said Sir Adam, "what might be. termed a 'Rating Bureau, which is known as the Underwriters'® Association. This association was formed by the Cana-- | dian tariff fire insurance compan-- ies,"and they employ inspectors for the various Gdepartments, such as waterworks, electric and fire require-- | ments. These inspectors visit the ;various municipalities and report to the underwriters, and upon their re-- | ports the tariff companies fix their rates. The tariff. companies are under absolute obligation to observe the findings of the Underwriters' As-- | sociation. There is no appeal or 'modification fromtheir rulings, and no machinery for:--«loing so. If the rate fixed by them «ls thought to be unfair, discrimiratory .or based upon wrong findings,. no. rédress. can _ be obtained." o. London Says Unfai®. & "Take for instance the city of London, The inspectors of the Undér-- | writers'> Association . visited that city and --made their report, . which was thought to be unfair to the city, .and lwhich resulted in higher rates being put in force.. We had no tribunal to appeal to, no public official to step in and Jook after our interests. The. Council of. the .city made a decided Iprotest, which.resulted in the Under-- | writers going into ;. the matter furth--