GOVERNMENT INSURANCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 745, 11 June 1886, Page 20

GOVERNMENT INSURANCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL Sir,—So much interest attaches to policyholders in this institution in the management and conduct of its affairs that I may be pardoned in venturing a few remarks on one of the many schemes put forth for its better management. What has already been published in connection with the Government Insurance business has in a great measure induced much thought as to what would be the best method of management in future. I am not one of those who think that full publicity of its affairs is at all prejudicial to the best interests of the Association. On the other hand, careful and economic control is of national moment. In common with other policyholders I think we should now, once for all, have some settled form of administration. These experiments of pure Government Boards, and again of mixed Boards, have admittedly been failures. Ido not express my own opinion solely, therefore, when I maintain that our best interests as policyholders, and that of the public as guarantors would surely be best served by giving the control of the business entirely to the Post Office. In England where I have lived, I had many opportunities of judging how successful State Insurance as conducted through the Post Office was. There where the business of the Post Office is so enormous, some reason might be found for having Insurance under separate control, but in our Colony with its limited population very little reason could be urged against the amalgamation I speak of ; certainly none which could not be easily overcome by those who would have the business in hand. Than the Post Office there is perhaps no purer administration in this country. No political element can, in any marked degree, enter into its affairs, and if we wish to free the Government Insurance affairs from the blighting influence of politics, what better scheme will secure that end than control through the agency of the Post Office? I trust some expression of opinion will be elicited at the annual meeting as to the feasibility of such an arrangement. In thanking you for the space you have allowed me, I am, &c. Policyholder.