* * * * PRUDENTIAL Paoannss.
The public is becoming so accustomed to fresh records in the matter of the Prudential Assurance Company that the latest annual Report seems to have been received almost as a matter of course. Nevertheless, the progress is remarkable, the total surplus on the Life business alone of over £7,000,000 showing an increase of nearly £1,000,000 for the year. No less than £1,000,000 has now been added to Investments Reserve Fund against half that amount last year, and £250,000 has been placed to Common. Contingency Funds while £3,935,045 has been set aside to provide bonuses to Ordinary and Industrial policy holders. The sum of £855,000 is allo- cated to the " A " shares for dividends, representing 85 per cent. -on the capital against 80 per cent. for the previous year. A further amount of £441,000 goes to the Superintending and Agency staff and 1168,600 to Special Contingency Fund, leaving £444,000 to be carried forward. Moreover, in the Ordinary branch the bonus to policy holders has been increased from 40s. to 42s. per cent. on the original sums assured, while in the Industrial branch the bonus conditions have also been improved. A further reduction has taken place in the expense ratio in the Industrial branch, and it has been decided, as from January 1st last, still further to improve the terms on which free policies are granted to weekly policies. These will now be allowed to policies of three years' duration and upwards, if the life has attained the age of ten years.
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