HiDL. — National Peyisions. 689 



pending upon them. But, whilst the growth of insurance is 

 proceeding at a rapid rate, it appears that one in every fifteen 

 of the total policies held lapsed during the year. Thus, ac- 

 cording to the tables published by the Registrar-General, the 

 total amount represented by the 72,193 policies current in the 

 nine insurance offices doing business in the colony was 

 £19,097,455 14s. 6d. This was exclusive of 5,338 policies dis- 

 contmued, which represented £1,340,572 5s. 3d. It is a pity 

 that information is not available as to the causes of the dis- 

 continuance of policies ; but no doubt most of them may be 

 set down, as in the case of the lapses in the friendly societies, 

 to the "want of funds " to pay the necessary premiums at the 

 time when due. In the above totals no account is taken of 

 the ten thousand members who hold shares in one or other of 

 the sixty-eight building societies in the colony. The aggre- 

 gate value of the shares held by members was close upon half 

 a million, which represents one of the channels used by 

 working-men to place their savings in anticipation of future 

 needs. 



The Post- Office Savings-banks present a different field for 

 inquiry from those already dealt with. This form of saving is 

 largely used by the younger members of the community ; and 

 that the system is a popular one may be gathered from the 

 fact that no fewer than 147,758 accounts were current at the 

 close of 1896, representing deposits amounting to £4,311,634 

 13s. 5d., or an average of £29 3s. 7d. per head for each de- 

 positor. Here again the same difficulty presents itself as in 

 the case of assurance and friendly societies. It is impossible 

 to say how many of those having accounts in the Post Office 

 are connected with building and friendly societies or hold 

 assurance policies ; but the facts presented are sufficient to 

 show that a large proportion of the population are not merely 

 provident in their habits and modes of living, but they antici- 

 pate the future in a way that will compare favourably with 

 the people of any other country. 



From the facts that have been stated here it will be seen 

 that great efforts are being put forth by the people to provide 

 in some way for the future. The amount may be insufficient 

 to give all that is needed in the way of comforts in time of 

 sickness and maintenance during old age, but there is suffi- 

 cient evidence to show that even without the intervention 

 of the State the people in this country are not unmindful 

 of one of the highest duties of citizenship. Self-reliance 

 and self-help are qualities in human character that should 

 be fostered at all times ; but, do what one may, there are 

 times in the lives of many who strive to anticipate the 

 future when they are unable to carry out their engage- 

 ments, owing to circumstances that are perhaps unavoid- 

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