CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4325, 27 March 1884, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Temperance Insurance Statistics.

(To the Editor),

Sib,—As the subject of temperance in the use of alcoholic drink is now exciting much interest amongst the citizens of Auckland, I send you a remarkable statement ofAthV effect of temperance on longevity, which I i met with in tne London Times. It possibly . has not occurred to all that longevity is an elomentof much importance in the trettment j of this question, as possessing not only a social but a very considerable commercial advantage. In 1840 the United Kingdom Temperance and General Provident Life Assurance Company commenced doing business solely with totally abstaining (from ' alcoholic liquors) life insurers. But after ft lapse of seven years an important section of ;shareholders succeeded »a coercing the, ; administrative booty to extend tb» sphero of operations over all applicants lor policies. It was done, but with this ;provision, that the "Temperance section ™ ; was kept in the hooks scrajmlonsly distinct from the "General section*" with an outj cotno of results which I pray you, and »11 1 who read this, to note as very rotaukabte— and not alono remarkable as to sheer result, but also as. being free from the slightest taint of chance work as to outcome. For the last 17' years—that is to say, from 1866 to ISB2, the expected claims by death prooess in the Temperance section of this Assurance- Company were computed1 by actuaries to be a total of 2.G44. What does thoactual result .show? Why, a total of 1,801 only, being a defeat of the mathcmatio'ans by Temperance of no less than 30 per cent., or thereabouts. Now, then, for the "General section," kept carefully distinct' in the books. For the same period the expected claims ■ were taken as 4,408, and the realisation of expectancy comes out at 4,339. It is, therefore, beyond dispute that, whereas the calculations in respect of lives into the habit of which stimulants entered were fairly exact, as to those into which alcohol entered not, they succeeded in taking scientists by surprise in the matter of longevity.—l am, Ac, F. D, Fentou.