The actuarial aspects of the liability of the employer towards his employees in respect of industrial accidents and diseases have not been discussed frequently at the Institute, and the comparatively small number of contributions to the Journal on this subject is doubtless to be attributed, in no small measure, to the difficulty of obtaining access to any considerable body of data bearing more particularly upon the duration of compensation claims. Some three or four Tears ago the author was asked to investigate the experience of a Colliery Owners' Mutual Indemnity Fund, and although the investigation deals with a single industry and relates to a period somewhat remote, it is hoped that, in so far as it may throw some light upon a subject regarding which but little information has as yet become available, the following account of the methods followed, and the results obtained, may nevertheless be of interest and possibly of some value. The author desires to express his indebtedness to the directors of the fund, which for certain reasons it is not desired to name, and which is hereafter referred to as “the Fund,” for their courteous permission to utilize in this manner information obtained in his professional capacity.

The presentation of this paper gives me an opportunity of publicly acknowledging to you the very graceful compliment you were good enough to pay to the American Institute of Actuaries, of which I was President, through my election to Fellowship in the Institute of Actuaries. Naturally my appreciation of the personal honour conferred upon me is very keen. I realize, however, that my election was a recognition of the younger American body on the part of its many friends in Great Britain and I desire, therefore, to convey to you, in addition to my personal thanks, the thanks of the Board of Governors and the members of the American Institute.