63 



CATTLE INSURANCE IN BAVARIA. 



It has been found in Germany that neither local insurance 

 associations nor private companies have been adequate to 

 meet the requirements of owners of live stock. The former 

 are too small, and the number of members is insufficient to 

 bear the risk of any unusually heavy losses, while the latter 

 are too expensive, and in Austria no private live stock assur- 

 ance company has been able to maintain itself for any length 

 of time. Constant supervision of the stock insured has been 

 found to be a first requisite of success in Germany, in order 

 to prevent unreasonable claims by careless owners ; and to 

 ensure this it is essential that the area should be limited 

 in extent. Hence the necessity of small societies operating 

 in a limited area was realised ; but, in order to avoid the 

 disadvantages of small independent groups, they have been 

 affiliated to a central organisation in such a way that part of 

 the risk is borne by the local society, and the remainder by 

 the whole organisation. Such associations are now being 

 recognised by, and receive assistance from, the Government 

 or provincial administration of some German States and in 

 Austria. Provision was first made for this form of live stock 

 insurance in Baden by a law passed in 1890. Bavaria fol- 

 lowed with similar legislation in 1896; and several provinces 

 in Austria have imitated these German States, the first 

 association to be established there being the Provincial Cattle 

 Insurance Office for Lower Austria.* 



Five years have now elapsed since the Bavarian Cattle In- 

 surance Office commenced operations, and an account of its 

 constitution, and of the results obtained during that period, 



* Wiener Landwirtschaftliche Zeitung, 26th March, 1902. 



