SETTLEMENT OF WAR CLAIMS

Southland Times, Issue 24537, 11 September 1941, Page 4

SETTLEMENT OF WAR CLAIMS

INSURANCE COMPANIES’ PROBLEM (P.A.) WELLINGTON, September 10. Insurance companies in the settlement of war claims under life policies are faced with problems and difficulties not met with in .the war of 1914-18, according to a statement made in response to inquiries today. They arise from the fact that in a war of fast movement it is often not definitely known what has happened to a man and presumption of death is not evidence that death has actually occurred. The decisions of courts of inquiry are not proof of death. The companies’ difficulty is that in the event of their paying out on a policy in the case of a person who later proves alive, they remain liable under the policy and in due course must pay again. The fact of payment relying on probate or administration of the estate is no protection, .".nd while the right exists to recover moneys paid from a payee its value is doubtful, as in most cases they would have been spent. All persons dealing with deceased estates or executors or administrators were, of course, in the same unenviable position. A similar difficulty exists over airmen. Many missing believed killed may be in hiding in friendly enemy-oc-cupied countries. “It is evident that under modern conditions of warfare some reasonable period of time should be allowed to pass before claims are paid and the estate settled unless, of course, there is conclusive and corroborated evidence of death,” it was stated.