MR. CLAPCOTT'S MEETING.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 4, 30 July 1874, Page 3

MR. CLAPCOTT'S MEETING.

Oa Saturday evening last, Henry Clap-

cott, Esq., who is now visiting Balclutha in hia capacity as Sub- Commissioner for the General Government Life Insurance, delivered a lecture, explanatory of the scheme, at Barr's Hall- to a very good audience. After pointing out that it was the duty of all to insure, and so make provision at a very small cost for those who by the death of the bread-winner might otherwise be left dependent on the charity of strangers, the lecturer pointed out the many advantages which belong to the Government scheme, the most important being the State guarantee for the payment of the policies when due ; the lownees of the premiums, it costing a man, cay at the age of 30, only It at the rate of 10d. per week for every ' lo ° he insures for ; the non- forfeiture of the policy for several years should a man be unable to meet his payments when due, provided be keeps the first year's engagements; the permission to travel when, now, and where a man wishes without

leave or charge — to live in any part of -the world, except the tropics, without extra cost. The lecturer then stated that it had been determined that in future, as soon as the department -had existed ten years, that all profits made would be divided amongst the insured, and a similar division would afterwards take place at -stated periods; thus the Government scheme becomes a mutual insurance for the benefit entirely of the insured, and this, too, without any increase of premium. It was also stated that arrangements were beinsr made to offer to members of friendly societies the advantage* if they wish, of paying their insurance premiums in the same manner, and at the same time as they pay tbeir subscriptions to tbeir Societv. After enlarging upon these great concessions, the lecturer made a most urgent call upon all to do the most noble and unselfish act men can perform, namely, if needs be, by depriving themselves of some unnecessary luxury or indulgence, fo make provision for those they love, and that this could be done in no better, no cheaper, and no safer way than by insuring their lives with the Government. Immediately after the lecture, Mr. Clapcott, as is his usual custom, gave some readings from popular authors. The universal success which has attended Mr. Clapcott, as evidenced by the papers in every town visited, as a public reader is now well known, and apart from the subject of the lecture, would have caused a good attendance at the Hall, and it must have been cheering to Mr. Clapcott to find that Balclutha has not proved an exception to the rule. The lecture was listened to with great attention, and the readings fairly commanded the audience, who were one moment, at the will of the reader, in roars of laughter and the next listening with bated breath and painful silence to some exquisitely sad and touching pieces. We are sure tbat no one iv the Hall on Saturday night but was glad not to have missed the treat. We observe that Mr. Clapcott will be in this neighborhood to take proposals for insurance for another week, and that he intends to lecture and read at Kaitangata on Saturday next. We wish, for the sake of those unable to attend on Saturday last, that the place chosen had been nearer.