FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1872.

Auckland Star, Issue 619, 5 January 1872, Page 2

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1872.

If there is any one subject on which the present General Government can be regarded as deserving public thanks it is in relation to their system of Life Assurance. The mere institution of such a system may not be much in itself, but there has been exhibited a zeal in connection with the extension of life assurance among the people of this colony that is not often'characteristic of Government business, and is in direct violation of our ideas of what is called the " Government stroke." In fact, looking at the efforts put forth for bringing the whole people within the list of the assured, one is inclined to believe that the system must be a source of revenue, for it is an admitted fact that no other cause prompts a Government' to zeal so much as the cause of revenue-raising. It is not so, however; for the rates are fixed at such an amount that according to death tables, they leave no margin fo profit, and very little indeed for th expenses of working the system. However sceptical of the motives of statecraft, we cannot view this system established in the colony as other than one of pure beneficence to the people, and on grounds alone of public benefit we take another opportunity of cordially commending it to general acceptance. The peculiarity that chiefly distintinguishes the Government system of Life Assurance in New Zealand is the fact that the premiums required are the lowest possible, and the security for the payment of the policy when it falls due, is the revenue of the colony. There are several reasons contributing to make the premiums at a minimum. "The Post Office system of the colony supplies local agencies all over the country at literally no expense to the working of the scheme. Lecturers and itinerating agents are employed it it is true, but this would be but a small item of expense if charged against the system which we believe it is not, but like the .Post Office agency is not taken into account in the fixing of the rates of premium. Again in almost all offices whether proprietary or mutual, the assurers are made to participate in the profits. Under the Government system they are not. This rr: -, so: "•''.''. "!■ "' handed < , a ■•.■■Hi <"b tion bir* i: la ■•■:•- '■ one of i the gn.-LiU-Mt me^t* ■■■■>. die \,. To auiitkeproC ■ A>'<-1\ are subsequently* ! !:c be [ivifjf.'l auiougtlt.-vidfcul; cs, these |per.3Oi>i 'iva&i of t.:>r< j, higher promiuia; and i' .>;ditional premium taa,'; re-alb ma^es fcho profit, [f premiums arc iixe«] stH-f'.h n aceorj dance with the/ca! c-.v 1 afci '•■,r-*< of the dv atio.i.i of tiumavi Kfo >:"'.•. ere can abjolutely be no proilts. V £20,000 ! arc to bo j'ceeivof! hy tstatod annual m-'/xneni.:' durir.3; life from 20,000 peoio •• ■ paid z e.ji :ii T.i M-rtion,to ■:■''!' rep'"'.■--Ci..vaciv'.;.s, ■on ;v'-3 occur•i ■; .o of.' ih.y.'iih, t'>o tfuui to be -.' by eso . ;-:<'■■.;.; am bo fixed by ■•; uarii.y v I,';" ; niornng }»reriisioii as ii \A\e. ■■ ;. b.e book ■' ich each ■ T:' imed to , duration ajni ' - ::■' it us v.i : c under all :i;v!, a,i so care- : en c0m- ...... : .'•■ ; ;itv..uj ims to be .. • are . ' known ; and " liberality" of a Life Assurance ply a myth. If a com- ' it does one of two : i.'er does unsafe business . v i: away its capital and re- .,,;, ~, v.r,-.;, an ted dividends, or it eh;t 'i.v f.duiLional premium over arui i ■■ ib requisite to cover iU-. risks oj -an life. How often U.v i'vr "■'■ co;:;- is taken is evident ..: fuiii o£ countless assurance :( r.,.r.ne!; that have brought misery in their train. We do not say that i-'Ls lafciw :;ourse is an improper one. aough, but it is not •,.-r< i;;\ ,-,.ri;;:nce. The company so j company, and per■ionii'v- inf ■'* : iional premium have jhi? rulai ! m invested for them, Mid of CQ-JX3Q '3ap the benefits in

handsome dividends, which are blazoned forth as the results of successful life assurance, whereas it is simplysuccessful speculation. Now it appears to us that the one great advantage in the assuring of life, and that which prompts almost every one that does insure his life, is the simple circumstance that on the paying of the premium an instantaneous provision is made for one's family. No one with sense would insure his life as a speculation ; for if any man knew assuredly that he would live for twenty years, he could invest his premiums in a multitude of ways in the Colonies, which would bring in a larger profit than taking out a policy. In these circumstances persons knowing what they are doing would not pay an amount larger than that required for the one main object, with the intention that their money should be invested for them in trade or speculation. Any one would prefer keeping the amount and investing it for himself. Of course, it will be said, and is often said, that the large company can invest the sum with more advantage than an individual. This is all very well, but people don't believe it; and everyone thinks he can do bettor with his own money than can anyone else. Under our Government Assurance system, a man pays simply what insures his life according to the tables of mortality, and the difference of premium between what he pays and what he would have to pay under a " dividend-paying" company ho can invest according to his own sweet will.

As to the general principle of life assurance, we cannot conceive how a man who really loves his wife and children, and who has made no other provision for them but that which expires when his own right arm is stilled in death, can ever lay his head to sleep in peace, when he knows that as his own coffin will be carried from the house the wolf will come in by the door. Every month, every week, and every day brings up some heart-rending case, where widows and children who knew not before what care was, are obliged to bear the bitterness of want before the tears of bereavement have been dried. And yet men who profess to love their wives and children and who toil for them early and late, neglect this simple means, of making a provision for their families, which is complete on the instant of paying the first small premium, though death should strike them down on the same day. We rejoice in the zealous efforts of the G-overnment and their agents in presing the claims of Life Aussurance on the people of the colony ; and once again we would plead with our readers, —as many as have not attained an independence, and have not yet assured their lives —by the love they bear to " wife and weans" to save them from the miseries of a desolate and starving home, by taking advantage of the simple and secure provisions of the G-o----vernment system of Life Assurance.

We have received a letter from J.C., com menting with sorority on the Highland costume and its wearers at the late Caledonian games. The publication of the letter would only serve to produce ill-feeling, and besides the picturesque and martial character of this ancient costume, and the spirit etirring associations connected with it, are sufficient to make it proof against the shafts of ridicule, however barbed and polished. It will please our rcorreßporident however, and do the kilts no harm, if wo pive the " moral" of his letter as contained in the following pithy extract : — " It is to be hoped that on any future gathering our Scottish brethren will have the decency to wear drawers beneath their kilts, that the blush of shame may not mantle the cheeks of our fair sisters, or prevent thoir attending these hitherto' popular sports.' 1

The irihabitant3 of Parnell must be possessed either of long-suffering dispositions or of a remarkably obtuse sense of smell. A most abominable nuisance has existed for several days past in a garden adjacent to the main street, and a whole chromatic scale of stenches arises from the reeking mass of filth. People passing to leeward of the foul deposit are rendered absolutely sick by the fetid stench, and we should not be at all surprised to hear of serious illness occurring in the neighbourhood. A month ago a nuisance of a similar kind on the Great North Eoad, was put down by the strong arm of the law, and about a year since prompt and successful action was taken in a case which occurred on the Kyber Pass Road where a deposit of precisely the same kind as that-now festering in the heart of Parnell had been made. Surely if the inhabitants will not take the trouble to enforce the removal or de* odorization of the mass of putridity, the authorities ought to interfere, and compel it before typhus or other malignant fever breaks out.

We were shown this morning a fine specimen of Ohinemuri gold, weighing about 4 dwts., and one possessing an interest beyond its intrinsic value. It was given by To Hiri as his donation to the Ohinemuri Race Fund. We have not seen anything like it in quality, as exhibited from the Thames G-oldfield as yet j and it is impossible to look at it without a longing that the time was come when the Pakeha with pick and shovel could delve and seek for kindred stuff in the -ground from whioh it came, without being restrained by the bugbear of Maori rights and wrongs. A special meeting of the Auckland Institute was held last evening for the purpose of receiving the report of the committee appointed to consider the probability of raising a building fund. The chairman, Mr, Heale, explained at considerable length the steps which had been taken- to provide the requisite moDey, which had been for the present rendered abortive by the failure of the Provincial Council lo pass ihe proposed grant of £1000. In consequence of this, a number of gentlemen who bad expressed willingness to subscribe largely had considered it inadvisable to do so at present. The thanks of the meeting were then accorded to those gentlemen, and it was resolved to refer the question of the building fund to the Council, to report at the next meeting.

The business ef the town 3eems to have thoroughly awakened after the Christmas period of lethargy, and the streets are thronged with country people, who really at last seem to recognise Friday as the legitimate market day Buying and selling has been carried on to*day with remarkable activity, showing that the late festivities did not absorb all the ready cash in the district:

The new arrangement of ooiling in tho Supreme Court is infinitely superior to the ugly lantern, which wes altogether out of koeping with the general character of the building. The acoustic properties of the hall have been greatly improved, and the light is amply sufficient, although a large extent of glass has been removed.

Messrs. H. L. Cohen and Co., auctioneers, wish us to state that they are sorry to be compelled to sell to-morrow. They state that the case is unavoidable, as the gentleman leaves by mail steamer, and could not postpone the sale on any account.