CONCERNING AN INSURANCE POLICY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3117, 22 June 1917, Page 3

CONCERNING AN INSURANCE POLICY

A HOSPITAL BOARD MATTER. At the May meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board a case was brought forward, where a patient of the Old Men's Home was prepared to make over to the board a life insurance policy worth d£9oo, if the board would pay certain debts. The policy, it was explained, had been made over to another, aiul last month it was represented that there would not bo any difficulty in getting the policy. At yesterday's meeting of the board, the chairman (Mr. H. Baldwin) reported that he was sorry to say that no settlement had been arrived at respecting the case. The patient concerned said that ho had further debts amountng to .£6O or ,£7O, but had been told that the board could not render any further assistance. They had approached the owner of Hie policy to forego a portion of his claims, but he declined to do so. Here was the case of a patient in the hospital with a life insurance policy worth .£9OO,- who owed over .£2OO for maintenance and debts amounting to ■£350, leaving .£350 clear, and the board was unable to lift a finger to got that money owing to the law. 7n this case lie thought the law was wrong, as the board stood to lose .£209 for maintenance. There wero frequent complaints ! made about the board, not collecting its just debts—here was an opportunity to do so, but the law would not allow them lo do it. They could make no advances legally, according to their solicitor, and if the money so advanced were not repaid by March 31 next year the members of the board would personally be held liable. Mr. P. Castle (treasurer) said that if the. patient was anxious to pay tlio board what ho owed them, and had certain assets with which to do so, he thought that they should mako an appeal, on moral grounds, anyway, to tho person in possession of those assets to do what his brother desired should be done. Mr. 1?. T. Moore asked would they not have a claim on the patient's next-of-kin, who was now in possession of tho policy. The chairman explained that the patient had made the policy over to his brother, but it had since been secured by n nerson who was not a blood relation.

Tho moctiiiß nsrpcd Hint ;m ;ip|ioal !jg Hindi- l<) Uin iiolcUsi- of'l-lic policy to moot Hie boa id in (lie matter.