1. S. Benjamin (J.S.S.17, 93) advocates a re-examination of actuarial methods with a view to taking advantage of the capabilities of electronic computers. A somewhat specialized field of actuarial work where such a re-examination is profitable is mortality graduation by means of curve fitting. This field is a specialized one because, in practical actuarial work, graduation can usually be done adequately by straightforward means—for example, a graphic graduation of withdrawal rates for a pension scheme valuation. Full-scale curve fitting is usually reserved for the graduation of assured lives mortality experiences.