POLITICAL POINTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 212, 13 October 1909, Page 4

POLITICAL POINTS.

XK\V ZKAUVXD PRISONS. FARM WORK FOR LOXG-SEXTKNTK MEN". Colonel Tlumo, who has been a notable figure in the Xow Zealand Public Service for nearly thirty has submitted his last report on the prisons of the Dominion jo Parliament. A recommendation is made hv the Wellington gaoler that a new prison for males bo built in the country, surrounded i>y plenty of land, which would give employment to long-sentenced prisoners who are found unsuitable for transfers to tree-planting prisons. Xew Plymouth complains that supposed lunatics and delirium tremens cases are still .sent to the gaol, and Invcreargill points out that there all isuch cases are at once sent to the district hospital. The Probation Aft has been working satisfactorily. There were twelve escapes during the year. There were no executions 'during the year. The percentage of prisoners to population was 0.0862, as against 0.0833 for the previous year. Owing to the general rise in prices of food and ah noee.-snries. the cost of maintaining -priTfl Town prisons was greater than in l!His. A»'the tree-planting camps ll.ive now got 'beyond the experimental stage, it is reeoninieudud that in futuic single hut* should be provided to permit of a better system of classification. It is also stated that many of those discharged to liberty from tree-planting camps have not again l»ecome occupants of any of the prisons in the Dominion.

(iOVKRXMEXT IXSURAXCE DEPARTMENT. Mr. Morris Fox. in an actuarial report on the Government Insurance Department, remarks 011 the satisfactorily steady results of the Department's busi. ness (luring the past three years. The ne\y business has steadily increased, the ratio of expenditure to'income has remained practically stationary, the yield from interest Ms improved ill a marked maimer, and the mortality experience has been exceptionally favorable. As a result, the Department m in a position to allot increased bonuses all round ,111'1 to make substantial reserves, which will enable it to commence another triennial period with every confidence. The rinverunient Tnsuranoe Commissioner. reporting 011 the veal- ended 31st December, MOB. states 'that 3803 proposals were dealt with, for the assurance of ,C!)08,(i!H. and the number of policies actually completed was 3282, assuring €780..)!)/, beinj* C' 28,532 in advance of the new business for the previous year. The annual premiums on new policies amounted to Ui4.5(12. Twenty-four annuities were also granted, on which til" ourehase-monev amounted to .CH755. The total business in force was 4(i.(i7t policies, n-surmir CIIUI.Vu-l!) (anil CIJIOSJijII liomiim's) at death or maturity. together ivilh 3ofl immediate an 1 deferred aunuilies fur l'2(l.(!7(l per annum: tin- tola! business hearing a.i annual premium income of C3:!l,S3n.

lhe net fundi of the accident branch of the (Government Insurance Department amounted on 31st December, 1008, to being an increase of £30!)3 for the year. The whole amount was carried to the general reserve, which thus reached €21.78."). The premium income for the year was £20,808, as against €21,-177 in 1007. Claims amounted to ,€11.020, us against €11.288 in 1007.