NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 751, 23 July 1886, Page 30

NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION.

TEE CONTROL TO RETURN TO GOVERNMENT.

The declaration of the poll in connection with the three propositions recently put before the policyholders was tnade by Sir Julius Vogel (Chairman of Directors) at the Athecseam Hall Monday night. Messrs Bell and Duthie (members of the Board), the General Manager (Mr D. M. Luckie), and between 40 and 50 policyholders v/ere present. The Chairman said that, _ as usual when a poll was taken on any subject, some of the papers were informal. Oa the present occasion there were 31 papers unsigned, 182 bad to be rejected because, they were sent in by persons not entitled to vote, 341 assented to all three propositions, and 25 were against all the propositions. For Mr Bell’s proposal, No. 1 (that the Association should return to the charge of the Government), there were 3183 votes for and 1508 against ; majority for 1675. [These figures do not include the papers stnt in with “~yes ” and “ no ” to all the propositions.] For tbe second resolution by Mr Bell, altering the constitution of the Board, the numbers were For, 514 ; against, 3796 ; majority against, 3282. For Mr Fisher’s lotion (No. 3) the numbers were 1717 for, 2680 against ; majority against, 963. He therefore declared the first proposal moved by Mr Ball to be carried. In regard to the voting in Provincial Districts, it was found that there was a majority in favor of Mr Bell’s first proposal in all the provinces except Hawke’s Bay. The voting was as follows :—Auckland, 628 for, 160 against ; Hawke’s Bay, 118 for, 136 against ; Taranaki, 100 for, 34 against ; Wellington, 407 for, 200 against; Nelson, 158 for, 23 against ; Marl-

berottih, 40 for,, 28 agaitsi ; Wetland, 250 foj-, 45 egainst ; Canterbury, 534- for, 266 ag -.inst ; Oc&go, 615 for, 363 against ; Southland. IS4 for. 84 against ; unclassified (mixed districts), 259- for, 119 againßt. The total number of votes recorded was 5470.

Mr Dargaville desired to know, what practical effect the poll would have—whether it would be followed up by legislation, or whether it was necessary that the men ting should pass a motion asking for legislative action. Toe Chairmau said the next act in fch® drama would be changed frormthat hall to one not far off It was very clear what the wish of the policyholders was, and it remained to be seen whetner the Legislature would give effect to it.

Mr Dargaville wished to know if the Chairman felt it incumbent cn him to ask- tbe Legislature to give effect to the desire of the policyholders. The Chairman said he was there as Chairman of the Board of Directors, and was not able to give an answer. He would meet Mr Dargaville in another place, and if the question were asked there he (the Chairman) might be able to answer it. Mr G. S. Graham took the opportunity of thanking the policyholders who had recently voted for him S 3 a candidate for= a Eeat on the Board.

The Chairman said if the result should be as Mr Dargaville supposed—legislative action to take the business over—it would be a matter of regret to him to lose the assistance given to him by the Board, which had rendered great service. He believed that no better Board could have been got together in any part of the Colony. The meeting then terminated.