INSURANCE OF TROOPERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12402, 16 January 1901, Page 11

INSURANCE OF TROOPERS.

DISCUSSION AT THE PATRIOTIC WAR FUND COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the Patriotic Wai Fund Committee yesterday, a letter was read from the District Secretary' of thf Mutual Life Association of Australasia, of fering to insure twenty-five men of the Sixtl Contingent at £IOO each for twelve months. Dr Morley asked what arrangements the Government had made in regard to insuring troopers. The Chairman! (the Hon C. Louisson) said that though the Government had promised to make arrangements, no satisfaction had v heen obtained ih that 'direction.-; It was quite certain- that nothing had done with regard insurance; La the fund there was- a. sum of £I2OO on; fixed deposit, «nd there, was £360( 19s in-the bank. ■ j 'Mr T. W. Stringer said-that iti the-first place tbs war might be over soon, and in the second; place, there might-be many ■ oases in which no claim would be made. , He thought, however, that the offer of the District Secretary was a reasonable one. Mr A. Pergusson agreed with this view. Dr Morley said that the Government . should be asked to carry out its promise to make provision, in the direction indicated. Mr W. Reece said that the War Pund Committee would have taken up the matter of insurance, but it really was not in a financial position to do so. It reply to a question, the Chairman said .he bdlieved that the rate of death among the New Zealanders had been about 13 per cent. As to insurance, he thought that it would be a good thing if they could manage it. Of course, no matter what they did for troopers’ relatives, they -would not be relieved of responsibility in regard to the troopers themselves. Mr Stringer said! it hadl to be remembered that they had to consider not Rough Eiders only, but all Canterbury troopers. Mr Reece said that if any men were injured, they would all have to be insured. The Chairman said that £7OO would be required to insure the Canterbury memebers of the Sixth Contingent alone. It was beyond their means. It was decided that the District ■ Secretary of the Association should be thanked for his liberal proposal, but be informed that, as the funds in the hands of the committee could not be applied to the insuring of only one section of the Canterbury troopers, and as the insurance of the whole was beyond the committee’s means, the committee regretted that the proposal could no| |be entertained. M