Manawaru Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, MAY 12, 1884. GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 139, 12 May 1884, Page 2

Manawaru Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, MAY 12, 1884. GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE.

The public were naturally a good deal surprised a few days ago to learn by telegram that Mr George Thounk, jun., had been suspended. This gentleman held the official position of superintendent of agents m the Government Insurance Department, and his name has been brought prominently forward from time, to time m connection with the expensive administration of the business of that department. It will be remembsred that during last Parliament,; and since m the columns of the press, adverse comment was and has been made with regard to the abnormal lucrativeness of the position as compared with the duties connected with it. With the agents the official now suspended was exceedingly unpopular. The suspension is understood to be m consequence of the following telegrams addressed by Mr Thoene to Mr

Mack ay, which have been published by the latter since his committal for trial :— Wellington (to Albury), 24th Jan., 1884. Unofficial. — Your telegram to Treasurer and Commissioner this morning, received just after latter's telegram to you, puts all the fat m the fire. Lst me advise you withdraw them. Matters like this impossible to discuss by wire. You forget Department has to pay full rates for all telegrams ; thus the curtness of our replies lias helped to cause irritation. Your telegram of nineteenth gave notice m terms of clause seven of agreement which was accepted as such, and there matter ended. If well enough finish M'Kenzio trip and think no more of matter for month, when I will try and see you. Regret you miscontrue my telegram. George Thorne, Junr. Wellington, 28th November, 1883. Urgent. — (Confidential.) — Honourable Loader aud Walters, director and manager Victorian Mutual, aboard express train Dunedin to-day spyiug with view starting N.Z. Rudd canvassed them with view preventing their corning. Have few bankruptcy placards and 1 others m all carnages. Do not canvass them, but be the newspaper man travelling. Apply the pump handle judiciously. Tell them that Government insurance agents are as thick as bees ;:hard enough for tliem exist. Mutual agents starve, or worse ; sympathise and deprecate the unfair advantage Government Insurance possess. They are to be canvassed again m Dunedin by Edmonds. George Thobne, Junr. From a Wellington Paper *we learn that Mr Thohne was not under the same rules as an ordinary Civil servant, and could not be dismissed m the same way. Of course the matter will not end here, but will probably engage the aiterition of Parliament and the law courts. The subsequent proceeaih ;^s,aiid the final denouement will doubtless be anticipated with eager interest, as well by those officially interested In that branch of the service as by the public at large.