LIFE ASSURANCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3993, 11 December 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

LIFE ASSURANCE.

To the Editor. StR, —I have no hesitation in saying that Mr Hocken baa overstepped tholimitsof his duties as coroner when he extends his legal technicalities so far as to express an opinion either for or against insurance offices, for, with the small amount of knowledge I hold respecting coroner’s inquests further than actually inquiring “the causes of death” and to ferret out whatsoever blame may be attached to others in question, I cannot but fail to observe his connection as a public adviser or as a public opinionist if I may use the word in juxta-position with City Coroner. Having my life policy just completed this correspondence has caused aome small amount of nervousness on my part. I distinctly understood at the time of effecting it that, granted suicide did not take place within the first twelve months, the policy was the same as in the case of natural death, —I am, ic., Mkrblt one of a Million. Dunedin, December 11. To the Editor. Sib, —In your last evening’s issue I observe two letters, one signed “ Insurer,” and the other by Mr Smith, the agent for the Australian Mutual Provident Society, both commenting on the coroner’s statement at the inquest held on the late Alexander Scott, that insurance companies would be protected by the verdict of the jury. Mr Smith states that Mr Hocken’s statement probably refers to the Government scheme, as that gentleman is the medical referee for that office in Dunedin. If Mr Smith read the daily pnpers he would have known that the Government office not only undertakes to pay policies where the death has been caused by suicide, but has very recently paidjsuch a policy in Dunedin. I would also refer Mr Smith to an Order in Council, dated 17th September, 1873, and published in the ‘ New Zealand Gazette,’ which provides that policies iu the Government office shall not be voided by reason of suicide alter having been in force for twelve mouths. I have not heard that the Government office has received numerous inquiries on this matter; probably the insurers iu that office are not contemplating committing so dreadful a deed. The anxiety shown by the insured in the Australian Mutual is really alarming.—l am, ■ficc,, N. Z. S. Dunedin, December 10.