A CAUTIOUS COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23687, 20 December 1938, Page 11

A CAUTIOUS COUNCIL

PERFORMANCE OF CIVIC DUTIES INSURANCE COVER TAKEN (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 19. The Mayor and city councillors of Christchurch will in future have insurance protection while they are attending to civic duties. The council this evening adopted the Finance Committee's proposal that the insurance cover should be taken out with the State office. The policy will provide for the payment of £ 1000 for death by accident or permanent total disablement by accident. For permanent partial disablement, £SOO will be paid. Weekly allowances of £6 for temporary total disablement, and £ 1 10s for temporary partial disablement are provided. These provisions cover the Mayor and 16 councillors and will cost the city £22 16s 8d a year, with no premium in the sixth year if there has been no claim. - The Finance Committee said it considered that the policy should be placed with the council's own fund if possible, but there was a doubt whether the statutory authority allowing the council to establish insurance funds was wide enough to provide for a policy covering councillors. The placing of the policy with the State office was therefore recommended, and it was suggested that a remit be sent to the conference of the Municipal Association asking that the legislation should be extended to make the insurance of councillors with a council's funds permissible. The committee's recommendation! were adopted.