Government Life Assurance Association.

Otago Witness, Issue 1784, 30 January 1886, Page 18

Government Life Assurance Association.

An inlluenti;i! meeting of policy-holder.-, in the Government) Life Association was hold to-night. The amount of policies represented at the meeting was £35,000. Considerable discussion took place, and the following resolutions were carried after various amendments had been proposed and rejected: — "(1) That this meeting strongly condemns the appointment of Mr Driver as Dunedin branch manager of the Government Life Association, believing it to b« dictated by political purposes rather than for the interests of policy-holders, and we desire the Board to cancel the appointment, and in future confer such important positions on tried and faithful servants of the Association. (2) That the action of the Board in the wasteful expenditure of money in the purchases of sites and contemplated erection of expensive buildings is unwise, unwarranted, and prejudicial to the interests of the Association, and directly opposed to the economical system of working claimed by the Government in the past. (3) This meeting suggests that policy-holders insist upon the business of the Association being conducted independently of party influence, and oppose its being made the means of official patronage and corruption ; and in order that it may be above suspicion, recommend that an alteration in the Act be secured so thatpolicy-holdersmaybeable to elect at least one-half the members of the Board and have a voice in the seleotion of chairman. (4) That the above resolutions be forwarded to the Board, per favour of Mr Gr. Fisher, requesting that gentleman to bring them under the notice of his colleagues." Wellington, January 27. At a meeting of the Board of the Government Assurance Association this afternoon, Mr George Fisher's motion to revoke Mr Driver's appointment as manager at Dunedin was rejected. Tha other elected members of the Board, Messrs H D. Bell and G. C. Graham, voted against My Fishor's motion. Christchuxch, January 27. The meeting of policy-holders of the Government Life Assurance Association, convened to consider Mr Driver's appointment, was attended by ro person, Ttife Wa^f «&

Ohristchuroh presided. Mr T. S. Whitton moved a series of resolutions, which were slightly altered and passed in the following form : — (1) That the appointment of Mr Driver is to be condemned on the grounds that it forms part of a newly-inaugurated and extravagant system of management. (2) That the appointment of Mr Driver is to be further condemned on the ground that it is inexpedient to combine the office management with canvassing for business in large centres, and that therefore the appointment alluded to will result in disappointment .to the Board and in loss to the policy-holders in view of the extravagant remuneration of £1000 per year to be paid. (3) That in order to afford policy-holders adequate representation the Government be requested to alter the present Act so as allow policyholders to elect at leasb one-half of the members of the Board, and that all the members of the Board except the chairman should be policy-holders. (4) That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable thnt a committee of both Houses of Parliament should be appointed to make an investigation as to the investment of funds by the Board of the Government Life Assurance Association, more particularly in the? purchase of sites and buildings.— The Mayor was requested to forward the above to the Government. •