COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 871, 18 July 1910, Page 10

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.

INSURANCEMEN FOREGATHER. At the Grand Iloltl on Saturday evening a dinner given by the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, Ltd., in honour of Mr. Burncs (superintendent) and his staff of industrial agents, attached to the Wellington division, wlio had won a gold medal, olferad by Hie chairman of the board of directors in Melbourne, to uny divisiuu throughout Australasia which pul Uμ the best all-round records during the year. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. B. Hsu-court, a director of tho society in *New Zealand*. After dinner, Mr. P. D. Leslie, resident secretary for the society iu New Zealand, proposed the toast, "The Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society." Ho guvo a resumu of the progress made by the society since its inception about'-lO years ago, and then lohl how, to crown u very successful -career as a purely ordinary branch office, it. was decided to upmi up industrial business in Australia in June, 190 i). This venture having proved a sniscess, the society's operations in industrial work were extended to "New Zealand at the beginning of. the present year. 11l the six months Dial had elnpauil sfncu then the society had, he thought, been more than justified in thus further extending its field of operations. 'In speaking of the management of the society, Mr. Leslie paid a tribute to Uγ. James Pullar, secretary and actuary. Mr. Harcourt responded on behalf of the society, and in the course of his remarks stated that he was proud of the high position that the society liad obtained in the insurance world, anil with such ollicers and men as he saw aruuiid him there were no heights 100 high lor them to reach. Mr. A. ti. .Melville, manager for the industrial department in New Zealand, proposed the toast of "The Wellington Division," coupled with tho name of Sir. Burncs, superintendent. Mr. Melville stated that it was owing to the hard work ami perseverance of Mr. Burncs and liis agents that "the V.C. of (he service" had been won by the 'Wellington division in spite of the fine records put up by many other divisions in Australasia. Mr. Burncs, in his respontf, remarked that tho victory was due niainly to tho zeal and work done by tho members of the outdoor shift, of whom .he w,is proud to be superintendent. Their first six months' work, however, was merely "a drop in the ocean" to what. they were, determined to accomplish in the next six months of this year. During the evening musical items w«re also given; Mr. E. J. Hill contributing a song and Mr. W. Webb a clarionet solo. Mr. D. Kenny gave several musical monologues, all of which created merriment, and Mr. A. G. Melville a racy recital in real dramatic style.