PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4815, 14 June 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegbaph.]

(PEOM OITE OWN COBBESPONDBNT.)

Wellington, This day. Government Assurance.

The annual report of the Insurance Commissioner shows that the number of policies issued during 1883 was rather more than doable the number issued during the twelve months ended on June 30, 1882. The amount insured has not increased in the same proportion, being only about 48 per cent in excess of that assured under policies issued during the period referred to. It has been necessary for purposes of comparison to select the twelve months ended Juno 30, 1882, as the last report was for the period of six months only, which ended on December 31st. 1882. The new proposals in the ordinary branch during the year under review numbered 6,843, for a total sum of £1,457,293. Of these 5,113 became policies, 581 were declined, and the remainder were not taken up. The number of policies issued in the temperance section was 998, assuring- £204,424. Claims on 108' policies have arisen during the year, and the sums paid amount to £29,351. At the close of the financial period, the total number of policies in force in the ordinary branch, including both general and the temperance sections,' was 19,912, assuring £5,902,189. The net in. creases in number and the sum assured were therefore 4,024 and £723,472 respectively. The revenue of this branch for the calendar year was £215,550 7s Bd, of which no less than £41,173 9s 7d represented interest, a sum considerably in eacess of the death and maturity claims for the year. The aecuaiulated fund at

the end of the year amounted to £816,158 10s 7d, exhibiting a net increase on the yeur of £141,270 15s Bd. # During the twelve months there were issued in the Industrial Branch 3,605 new policies, cf which 1,068, assuring £37,541 11s for a total weekly premium of £33 13s lid, were adult risks, and 2,537, for a • weekly premium of 2d, were on the lives of chil« diren. The policies in force at the end of the year number 7,394, assuring £98,964 2s on the lives of adults, and a varying sum on children's lives for a total weekly premium of £121 10s lOd. The claims which arose during the year comprised 44, of which 32 arose under infantile, policies, and amounted to £117; while 12 were on adult lives, amounting to £345 4s 6d. The amount assured by infantile policies issued in the Industrial Branch, depends upon the age of a child at entry, and the duration of 1 the policy. An excursion has been arranged in the } the Hinemoa to Pictou this afternoon, j leaving at one o'clock* and returning on Monday. About 25 members are going. Government Caucus. The Government have been in Cabinet all the morning, and are still proceeding. A meeting of Government supporters is also going on. Lateb. The result of the Caucus is that the Government supporters are almost unanimously in favor of a dissolution, but the Opposition will resist the granting of supplies in the interim. This accounts for the desire of the Opposition to go to the country as a party in power with a formulated policy.