(1) The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public welfare by regulating insurance rates as herein provided to the end that they shall not be excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory, and to authorize and regulate cooperative action among insurers in rate making and in other matters within the scope of this chapter.
(2)  It is the express intent of this chapter to permit and encourage competition between insurers on a sound financial basis, and nothing in this chapter is intended to give the director power to fix and determine a rate level by classification or otherwise.
(3)  This chapter shall be liberally interpreted to carry into effect the provisions of this section.