THE GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 49, 20 August 1881, Page 567

THE GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.

THE BONUS TO BE SCRAMBLED FOR.

We have before us, in a recent Hansard, the decision of "The Great Mogul " of the Government Insurance Department, Major Atkinson, as to the fate of the £50,000 bonus, and all that we can gather from his remarks is, that it will be placed on the floor of the House of Representatives and scrambled for. As we do not wish to do "The Mogul" an injustice, we will produce his words:— "Mr J. B. Fisher asked whether the Government intended to introduce any legislation during the present session relative to the distribution of the bonus ?" " Major

a scheme for the distribution of the 1)011118.'' Now one would think that the Actuary would have had "his scheme" Ciit and dried long before the actual sum to be divided was known; or are we to suppose that nothing had up till then been done m the matter, and that now in obedience to "The Mogul's" instructions, Mr Knight is to set to work and evolve from his inner consciousness some novel and startling scheme of distribution. Does Mr Knight think that he can improve on the schemes already adopted and followed by long-established offices? Anyhow, whatever he may think, "after his scheme is ready it is to be submitted to the House." This is where the fun will come in, for whatever scheme Mr Knight may evolve, or follow, the House will be pretty sure to try and alter it. Possibly, as custodians of the public purse, they may insist upon the whole amount being placed to the reserve fund, until a searching enquiry has been made into the value of the lives insured. Those who are cognisant of the way in which matters are discussed and passed in the House will easily understand that it is utterly impossible to predict what honourable members may do, when the subject is placed before them. "Legally," says "The Great Mogul," " the Government tuere unable to propose anything until they received the report of the English Actuaries." Now this is a pretty kettle of fish, and we hope the devoted band of insurers can appreciate the position in which it seems they are ' 'legally" placed. Legally nothing can be done, the Government is powerless, the whole business o£ the department is at a standstill, so far as the bonus is concerned, until two gentlemen, who live just sixteen thousand miles away, have sent in their report. Could anything be more supremely ridiculous ? And why is this thus ? Nobody knows ; it is a mystery. Why should these two gentlemen be in a position to legally reign supreme over the Parliament of this Colony? "But," says "The Mogul," "on looking the matter up, at least they could go so far as to decide on the principle of dividing the bonus." He doesn't seem quite sure of his ground here ; he has had to look the matter up ! Fancy a private company Avorking in this happy-go-lucky style, and having at the twelfth hour to "look up" the power that is to perform one of the most important functions of the office ! But, on looking the matter up, he has discovered that at least they might consider the principle of the division. This "at least " throws a shade of doubt and mystery over even this privilege, and then, evidently in sheer desperation, Major Atkinson goes on to say that ' ' he had in contemplation a proposal to bringin a general Act to hand over the management of the department to a Board." What sort of Board ? From the very nature of the Institution the Parliament of the Colony must be the supreme Board. Much as he would, no doubt, like to get out of the muddle by this Gordian knot-cutting sort of process, it is not in the remotest degree probable that he will be permitted to do so, neither indeed is it possible. He closes his statement with an assertion that must be intensely gratifying to those insured with the Government, that is, if they can swallow it. He says, "there seemed to be an impression that there was a slowness on the part of the office in the publication of the accounts, but that impression was incorrect." Of course, as we have ' ' the Mogul's" word that there is no slowness we must accept it, but ordinary people may consider that the quinquennial accounts ending June, ISBO, should certainly be made up and published before August, 18S1, which is ' ' about" the time, we are told, when they may be expected. If this is not "slow," what in the name of red tape and circumlocution is to be considered "slow?" We observe our friend " Toby Twinkle" in last Saturday's Herald, no doubt in order to somewhat make up for his damaging article against the GoA r ernment Insurance in the previous week, conies out in the not altogether original role of abusing the plaintiffs attorney. Sometimes this course is successful in withdrawing attention from the real merits of the case, but really " Toby" it is much more ingenuous than ingenious.