29 DECEMBER 1939, Page 28

A LIFE ASSURANCE MOVE That enterprising institution, the Scottish Widows'

Fund and Life Assurance Society, has sprung a surprise on the insurance world. After much ratiocination of the kind one likes to associate with insurance men, who are also Scotsmen, the directors have decided to cover civilian war risks without extra charge on new with-profit policies. This decision is, in my view, the right one in that any loss sus- tained on account of war risks in the case of old members will be shared by all members, old and new alike, through reductions in bonuses. Why should new policy holders be expected to share in such loss if they have not been covered against the risk from which it arises? CUSTOS.