Pollen Street Lecture Hall.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5099, 21 May 1885, Page 2

Pollen Street Lecture Hall.

Thoro was a fair attendance at the above Hall last evening, when Mr W. J. Speight, of the Government Life Insurance Association, delivered a lecture on " Life Insurance." Mr James McGowan presided, and briefly stated the objects of the meeting.

Mr Speight, who was greeted with applause, said people did not gonerally attach as much importance to the subject of life insurance as it deserved. A great deal of harm was done by some offices holding out impossible inducements to insurers, but there were several thoroughly legitimate companies doing business in New Zealand, none which, however, he could recommend so strongly to insurers as that of the Government. It was a man's duty to provide some means for the support of bis wife and family when he himself ceased to exist, and he (the lecturer) contended that this could best be accom plished by a man insuring his life. Insurance was a purely business matter, and was now largely availed of by the more thoughtful and provident persons in a community. 'The Government office offered the best possible guarantee to insurers against loss—that of the State. Then, again, the average death rate in Few Zealand was only 11 per 1000, while that throughout the other parta of Australasia was 14|, bo that it would be seen that the advantages were decidedly in favor of the Government office, as they only carried on opera tions in this colony. Government were prohibited from investing outside of the colony the money derived from the Insur- i aace JJepMtment, 80 that policy-holdersl

really aided in keeping the money in the i colony. Ho atronmly advised total sib- I stainers to take advantage of the provisions of the Temperance section, which gave special iuducements to the insurer. This branch was only added by the Government some fonr yearn ago, yet there were now over 4000 in this section, and an extra bonus would probably be paid to those assured at the end of the fifth year. The lecturer quoted figures to show tho advantages offered to the public by the Governrnent^branch, and concluded by stating that he would be willing to call on any who would leave their names and addresses during the next few days. The lecture was listened to-with marked interest throughout, and appeared to be appreciated by the audience. A rote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.