The Evening Star THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2628, 20 July 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1871.

Amongst the many duties of journalism, is that of bringing prominently before the public whatever is calculated to ameliorate the inevitable sorrows and evils which result from the contingencies to which man, as a social being, is exposed. This is a far more pleasant task than endeavoring to withstand the corruption of Councils, or to expose the hollow pretensions of party leaders. The principles of institutions originated for guarding against poverty arising from accident, disease, and death, such as benevolent societies, and insurance companies, are universal in their application to all conditions of civilised men. They are co-operative societies, looking into the possible future, and when fully developed, will prove an effectual safe-guard against accident, poverty and pauperism. To realise their full benefits, we believe they must become national institutions, because the wider their bases, the less becomes the proportionate expence of working. If no other success had marked the career of the Fox-Yoqel ministry, the institution of a provision for life insurance, as a national arrangement, would have rendered their tenure of office remarkable. The world is much indebted to private companies for having led the way in this philanthropic career. Governments must always follow; they cannot lead, because they are but a reflex of public opinion; and until the public are prepared for certain measures, it would be idle to propose them. But the time will come when the necessity for Life Assurance will be acknowledged to be so pressing, that society will readily submit to such small additional taxation as will secure support in sickness, old age, or orphanage. We ai’e not yet sufficiently advanced for that. It may be many years before we are prepared for it. In the meantime occasional hints are afforded in the experience of other Colonies to point to the advantages we already have ; and and as one is given in “ Talk on “Change” in the Australasian of July Ist, we cannot do better than commend it to the careful consideration of our readers.

I don’t think that working men sufficiently appreciate the utility and cheapness of life assurance. They will pay to a burial club or some kindred institution amounts which, if invested in life assurance, would afford their families substantial aid at the time their need is direst. I lately asked a friend familiar with assurance business, and who is manager of a prosperous life company, to jot down a few actual instances of the results of small assurances effected by working men and women. Here are some of them. Poor Alexander, of the Engineer Corps, mechanic, aged 24, insured his life for L2OO in March, 1870, premium to cease on his reaching the age of 44 ; killed in the following year ; premium L 5 9s per annum, or 2s Id per week ; under ordinary table he would have paid Is 7d per week for L2OO. White, a laborer, aged 49, insured for LIOO in 1864 ; killed in 1871; premium L 4 7» per annum, or Is 8d per week. A widow, aged 49, with one child, insured for LIOO in Deceuib; r, 1869 ; died May, 1871 ; premium, Is 8d per week. A stonemason, aged 44, insured for L2OO in 1862 ; died in May, 1871; premium, L 7 19s, or 3s per week, out of which three bonuses had been returned to him. A laborer, aged 29, insured for LIOO in 1862 ; died in 1871 ; premium, L2 7s 2d, or about lOd per week, of which he got back during life LI 1 7s 9d in shape of hocuses. Some of the above cases were of persons who insured when advanced in years : hence the comparatively high premium. Now, if men who are prudently paying money into dubs, and those who are making no provision at all, will take a -well-meant hint, they may see their way to spare a few pence weekly which would save those deare t to them from penury. I name no company especially. There are numerous reliable institutions, and careful inquiry will suggest which is likely to best serve the purpose of the insured.