COLONIAL MUTUAL LIFE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10711, 1 October 1912, Page 5

COLONIAL MUTUAL LIFE

A REPLY TO ATTACKS. (By Telegmph—Press. Association.) . . WELLINGTON, Last Night. Mr P. D. Leslie, rcfident seeretarv for New Zealand of the Colonial Mutual Life Office, lias published a reply to the attack on his office which Iw been mentioned several times recently in cables from Australia, fi) en;. l -' eluding a, lengthy 'explanation,' Mr Leslie says: "So far as the spccinV.' charges are concerned, the directors of the Society state that they havea full and complete reply, and they"' invite the'fullest investigation. Thc' : result of. the investigation will .«!.(> with at there is no foundation /or the. wild charger- which have been made. From the facts which are now the public will doubthss... .recognise ( that- t-ho position is really very different from that set forth in the cabled news, ji.nd. tlh:y may naturally lie siir. prised that such importance bar lip'M" given to a petition which really emanated from five persons, four of whom, are ex-emplovees of the Society, ,and whose motives are probably quite., well-known in Melbourne. There was never in the history of the Soci'ety a time when criticism in regard to its financial position was less warranted.' During the " past few years both the rate of bonus and volume of new business have boon more than trebled. Large sums- ha"e been added annually to the accumulated life assurance fund, which nowamounts to over £3.300,000. -The expenses of conductinc the business have been considerably reduced, and the mortality experienced has been far more favourable than was expected. In fact, during the whole thirtyeight years the Society has been transacting business, it has never been in a- more prosperous or flourishing eonditioß."

A UNION MATTER IMPUTATION TO PREMIER. (Ba '''eleamph—Fresis Axmciation.) \\ ELLINGTON", Last Xight. Representatives of the Enginedrivers', Firemen and Greaser?' Union, accompanied by Messrs E. Carver, Bradney and C'oates ) waited on the Prime Minister to-day and asked him to provide that persons employed <ll the above capacities in timber mills, soap manufactories, flour mills, and such like factories, should nor lie compelled to work under the award relating to that particular industry, but that they .should be aide in each case to form a union of their own. the ultimate objective being a Dominion award relating to the industry. The Hon W. F. Massey said he would consult the Crown Law Officers, with a view to drafting a Bill to meet tlie wishes of the deputation.