INSURANCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1261, 11 June 1886, Page 3

INSURANCE.

Last evening, a lecture showing th progress and present position of the Government Life Insurance Association was delivered at the Town Hall by Mr Henry Clapcott, lecturer for the colony. There was a fair attendance, and a few ladies were present. The chair was occupied by the Mayor, Mr R. Fridedlander. The lecturer, having explained that life insurance was not intended to be a aconroe of profit to the insured, bat a provision for his family or those who he left behind him at the time of his decease, went on to say that the establishment of the system of Government Life Insurance waa due to Mr Gladstone and the English House cf Commons. It was at a time when numbers of privet Insurance Companies ha*’ failed, and confidence in these Institlons was aeverly shaken, that Mr Gladstone conceived the idea of inaugurating a scheme whereby people might make provision for their families with a State guarantee of absolute security. After a atiff fight an Act embodying the Bpheme waa passed through the House and anyone coaid insure with the Govern* ment for £IOO. About 16 years ago the plan was introduced into this colony, and Now Zealand was the only country, in the world in which a nwn might insure his life for any sum from £IOO 10 £4OOO and have the State’s guarantee f. r absolute security. The lecturer pointed ont the desirableness of life insurance and explained that in tbeGovernment institution B man of 30 years of age, by a payment of three halfpence a day could secure the payment of fICO to his family at his death. He stated a number of the objections to Life Insurance he had been met with, and these he disposed of In a clever manner. Some of the anecdotes were amusing and the lecturer’s account of the manner in which he answered the objections advanced by a *me of the queer folk with Whom he had met caused • good deal of laughter. Mr Clapcott having warned, his hearers not to be deluded by tempting prospectuses without assuring themselves that the companies who put forth alluring statement a would we be abletomeettheirengagements went on to speak of the perouliar advantages of the Government Assurance at some length and concluded by expressing b wish that all who desired a minuter explanation of the details wonld remain and confer with him.