THE GOVERNMENT INSURANCE BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 3, 11 May 1885, Page 2

THE GOVERNMENT INSURANCE BOARD.

■■■"■■^*!?PiNG;*ith regard to the Goycrnment -Insurance Board, the Chrrstchurch Press says .-—-"According' to the information received, the Government appear to be interfering m the affairs of the institution ten times more than they ever did under the old system. The Minister on the Board, m his capacity as chairman supported by the nominee members, or some of them, has, we hear, arrogated to himself the right of arl bitrarily directing the business of the Association. And that is not the worst. When one of the elected members opposed some of the Minister's proposals at a recent meeting, and protested against the attitude he had assumed, the Minister, it is said, informed the representative of the policy holders plainly that if the elective members proved 'obstructive' the Government would have the Act amended so as to abolish the representation of the policy-holders altogether. Thereupon the gentleman referred to, who is a man of courage and ability, claimed the assistance of his fellow members, elected or nominated, m defence of the independence of the Board against political yranny, and to their credit, we are informed, they all took up his cause and worked with him 1 , leaving the Minister for the time being m a minority. Such is the substance of a well authenticated report which I has reached us from Wellington,and j since that occurrence, we are assured I the Minister has not openly attempt ed to assert despotic authority ; but the enormousinfluence of the Government m the Board has nevertheless, been exercised to a very large extent for purposes which certainly have nothing to do with the interests and wishes of the policy-holders, who are virtually shareholders."