SOLDIERS' INSURANCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2776, 20 May 1916, Page 6

SOLDIERS' INSURANCE

A DIFFICULTY IN COLLECTION.. , A question relating to the collection of insurance oil■ tho lives .of ..soldiers' was asked ill. the. House by MrJ G... Hunter, 'member for Waipaiva., Ho asked'tlieCov-' eminent- whether; they will consider the questi6n"of , dealing' with' the'"difficulty that has been caused certain life'-in-" -Durance companies refusing to pay out policy moneys due to tho relatives of soldiers 1 reported killed by Courts of Inquiry? ■ ' ■ The IfighJ: Hon. Sir Joseph Ward-(Min-ister in charge of the Government Life Insurance Departmont) replied: Tho Department is empowered by law to settle claims under policies assuring ,£2OO and under without requiring administration to be taken out. In tho case of war claims, however, it has been thought necessary to ask for administration in nil case 3, irrespective of tho amount, owing to the impossibility of arriving otherwise at a decision as to whether a -will or other testamentarv disposition has been executed by the assured subsequent to his departure from New Zealand for the seat of war. In view of the special facilities in the matter of the execution of wills afforded to soldiers on'active service,, tho practice referred to was considered necessary to protect tho Department. As it was thought that the expenses attendant upon tho course indicated would perhaps press unduly upon small estates, the Department now pays the Court fees 111 lespect of death claims wliero the sum assured is ,£2OO and under, and where administration would not be necessary unless other property were left which returned it. I should add that there aro two classes of war claims: (a) TWiere.the military authorities certify that the soldier ras actually killed; and (b) where they certify that the soldier is believed to liavo K killed. In both cases the Depart St raises.no difficulty if administration is granted. '''