THE PRUDENTIAL.
The annual report of the Prudential Assurance Company may be said to deal with interests of almost a national character, quite apart from the financial results to those who have taken out policies in the company. For last year those results were most satisfactory, and in regard to Industrial policies issued before 1933 the present bonus is a definite reversionary addition to the sum assured at the rate of 15 guineas per cent. except for policies issued before 1903, where the old method is retained. The annual report itself shows that the funds now reach £263,000,000 and the yearly income nearly - £50,000,000. Even these figures, however, scarcely give a full revelation of the activities of the company until it is appreciated how much of the revenue comes from the very small insurers. Thus, the report shows that the number of policies in force on Decem- ber 31 last in the Industrial branch alone—where premiums, it must be remembered, are usually to be reckoned in pennies per week—was no fewer than 26,392,611. Moreover, the sums assured under those policies plus the bonus were £503,421,189. In this branch alone the insured persons pay no less than 119,776,380 per annum in premiums. In the Ordinary branch, where the average policy,* plus bonus, is still under £200, the total sums assured reached very nearly £200,000,000 more, and the premium income is over
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