Show australian INSURANCE I 1 I 1 scheme by which state provide 1 cheap protection to settlers consul general john P bray of melbourne bourne reports that the government of tha 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 extended over long periods it is estimated that the settlers will have to pay the government for the state insurance of the houses what is equal to an annual premium of not I 1 much more than one fourth per cent upon the value of the property whereas if companies did the insuring the men would according to departmental estimates have to pay at the rate of between one half per cent and one ar per cent the government has already accepted the responsibility for the houses which have either been erected or are being built the houses are wooden and many of them are in localities where the fire fighting machinery is not of the most modern type the companies offered to insure the places at premiums varying from to allowing ten per cent discount this would have cost the settlers the price of about two houses a year the government program pro provides yides tor for the building of new houses within the next two years this will bring the total number up to houses bouses according to the departmental estimates if tho the government were to accept accent the afie insurance compa companies nies terms it would cover the cost of six houses a year in insuring this number the government hopes instead to charge the settlers less than would tile the companies yet establish a substantial fund from which to meet all losses I 1 1 ly y Ero eloquence quence A recent novel has the following passage sage with one hand he held the tha beautiful golden head above the buffeting waves and with the other called loudly for assistance |