CLAIM FOR INSURANCE PREMIUM.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19173, 2 December 1927, Page 8

CLAIM FOR INSURANCE PREMIUM.

JUDGMENT FOR COMPANY.

(PBISS ASSOCIATION TILBQBAM.)

WELLINGTON, December 1

Patrick Joseph Griffin, hotel proprietor, claimed in the Supreme Court to-day, before the Chief Justice, £513 15s from the Australian Provincial Assurance Association, Limited, and Thomas Wellington Rapley, of Sydney, in respect of premiums paid on a policy of life insurance on September '23 rd, 1925, and April Ist, 1926. Rapley was then general manager of the A.P.A. for New Zealand. Griffin said that the payment in March, 1926, was on the 31st and it was arranged with the insurance company that payment be made on April Ist. In view of his financial year ending March 31st, he posted his third premium on April 2nd, 1927, in a pillar box. The cheque had been received by the company on April 4th. Sunday intervened, and Griffin was informed his premium was late and he consented to being examined again for a declaration of health on that account. Thereafter he was offered a loaded policy. He refused, and the company returned his cheque. Griffin claimed that there had been an understanding between Rapley and himself that the payment on April 2nd was a payment in time and that the company had no right to cancel his policy and offer him a "loaded" one in lieu of it.

The company's defence was that the premium was not paid in time and was, therefore, null and void. Plaintiff was held by, the Chief Justive not to have established his case, and gave judgment for defendants.