The Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1881. LIFE ASSURANCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 112, 11 May 1881, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1881.

LIFE ASSURANCE.

One of the most unselfish things which a man can do is to assure his life. How quickly the custom has become, to some extent, established in the colonies, was never better illustrated than by the news which has reached us of the number of those who had' taken out policies among the passengers and crew of the ill-fated Tararua. We have already received intelligence that six of those on board had effected life insurances, amounting altogether to more than £3000. By the time full particulars are obtained, the chances are that the total amount will be at least doubled. Coming at such an opportune time, just when the uncertainty of life has been so forcibly brought home to us, the results of the visit of the agent for the Government Life Assurance Department are likely to be satisfactory, both to him and his superiors. It is not necessary to enter fully into the advantages of life assurance bo all persons dependent upon incomes derived from professions or trades, but it is still sometimes urged, and with much show of truth, that farmers are the least likely to benefit by an assurance. As a rule, they need all their capital, and the tax upon a man of thirty, .who has even a moderate policy of £500 orj £600, is a heavy one. Besides, it is 6aid they lead healthy lives; are not much liable to sickness or disease, and are thus, in a great measure, shielded from the very evils against which life

assurance is especially intended to guard. If colonial farmers generally occupied the same position as English farmers, it would be difficult to upset such clear and sensible arguments, but it shoull be remembered that life assurance is intended more especially to provide an ever-ready fund, in the event of the bread-winner being suddenly taken away. Now it so happens that most colonial farmers start in business with far too little capital to be able to carry on without borrowing. A property which is encumbered can seldom be relied upon to provide an immediate fund for the maintenance of a wife and family. New Zealand statistics show that there were 9255 new mortgages, covering £7,870,000, executed during 1878. In the previous year, there were 7754 new mortgages, covering in round numbers £5,170,000; making a total for the two years of about thirteen millions. Fromthis sum there are to be deducted 6ome £4,700,000 of releases, leaving a total amount of about £8,300,000 secured ■under new mortgages within two years. With such facts staring one in the face, it is impossible to deny that there must be many New Zealand farmers whose wives and families would find it hard to rub along, if death, by sickness or accident, should overtake them. It is certainly the duty of all such to insure their lives, and the terms offered by the Government office are, we believe, unquestionably more favorable than those offered by most of the societies doing business in New Zealand.