Show australian austral INSURANCE R NCE scheme by which state provides provide cheap protection to settlers consul general john adray P dray of melbourne reports that the government of tilt alio australian state of victoria Is about to undertake the experiment of state insurance in connection with the houses of settlers which the government has erected on a scheme by which repayments by the occupants are arc extended over long periods per loda it Is if estimated that the settlers sett lors will havo have to pay the government tor for tho the state insurance of the houses what la is equal to an annual premium of not much more than one fourth per cent upon the value of the property eliere asif as if companies did the insuring the men would according to dop departmental artmen estimates leave to pay day at the rate of between one halt half per cent and one per cent tho government has haa already accepted the responsibility for tile tho houses housea which have either been erected or are being built the houses ire are wooden and many of them are situated in localities where the fire alre fighting machinery Is not of the most modern type tho companion companies offered to insure the ho places at premiums varying from to allowing ten per cent discount this would have cost coat tho the settlers the price of about two houses a year the government program provides for the building of now new houses within tho the next two years this will bring the he total number up to houses according to the departmental estimates if the government wore were to accept tile the insurance companies terms it would cover lithe tho cost of six houses a year in la insuring surIng this number the government hopes instead to chirgo the settlers less than would the companies yet establish a substantial stant lal fund from which to meet all losses |