THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 66, 16 September 1881, Page 2

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.

» In tho Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, the Attorney-General moved the resolution for the diviaion of .£56,000 of the Burplus profits arising 1 from the business of the Government Insurance Department. The resolution waa the same as that passed by the House of Representatives, and has already appeared in our columns. He described the scheme of division; referred to the healthy state of the office, showing from the report of the consulting actuaries that the actual profits accrued during the ten years amounted to .£77.000, while only .£50,000 was proposed to be divided, thus securing to the present and future policyholders further benefits on future divisions. He pointed out that the sohome of division was, in effect and in its main features, concurrently recommended by both the consulting actuaries and by"""" the actuary of the department, and h* showed that it was founded on a just and equitable basis. He quoted the opinion of the London actuaries respecting the satisfactory natnre of the bonus, the sonnd finances of tho department, and the satisfac* tory nature of its condition and management. The Hon Mr. Wilson thought the Government should not have attempted to compete with private insurance offices, and should restrict itself to business done at post offices, as at Home, and not employ canvassers, and that the premiums Bhould be higher than those of private companies. He moved the following amendment:— " That this Council disapproves of the system hitherto pursued by the Government in competing for business with assurance companies." Mr. Water ho ase supported the amendment, and suggested that the whole department should be transferred to a company. Colonel Brett pointed out that policy-holders would refuse to exchange the security of the colony for that of any private company, especially as it had been shown that so many private companies hud come to grief. Mr. Robinson, Captain Fraser, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Holmeß, and other members opposed the amendment, and supported the original motion, some of them pointing ont the vain* able character of the office guaranteed by the colony, and referring to the failure of the European and Albert offices, while others objected to the system of canvassing as sometimes displayed in country districts. On n, division being called, the amendment was ldt by 21 to 3. The following is the diviaion list : — Ayes, 3— Nurse, Waterhonae, Wilson. Noes. 21— Brett, Chamberlin, Dignan, Fraser, Hart, Henderson, Holmes, G. B. Johnson, J. Johnston, Lahmann, Martin, Miller, Ngatata, Peacock, Reynolds, Richmond, Robinson, Whitaker, Wigley, Williamson, Wood.

At the weekly session of the Rising Star Juvenile Temple the ranks of membership waa further strengthened. Bro. Hall gave an address, and the children sang pieces and gave recitations.