17 MARCH 1939, Page 38

SCOTTISH EQUITABLE POSITION

Among those life-assurance institutions which have come through a difficult year with credit must also be counted the Scottish Equitable Life Assurance Society. Sir Harry Hope told the members at the meeting in Edinburgh last week that although the year had presented exceptional difficulties, in particular the fall in Stock Exchange values and the check I, the rising tendency of life-insurance business, they had a very strong actuarial position. The " hidden reserve," which acted as a buffer against investment depreciation, had proved con- siderably more than ample. The mortality experience had been much better than the mortality tables would have led them to expect. * * * *