THE AFTERMATH OF WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1921, Page 9

THE AFTERMATH OF WAR.

3,500,000 DISABLED SOLDIERS AND DEPENDENTS.

London, February 2. One of the greatest of the spending departments of the Government is the Ministry of Pensions, a direct product of the war. New pensions, gratuities, and allowances are still being awarded at the rate of 11,000 a month. Including wives’ allowances paid to disabled men and children’s widows, the total number of beneficiaries is close on 3,500,000. This claim on the resources of the nation is a tremendous responsibility; but who will say that it involves either waste or extravagance? It means, in money, in the current financial year, £123,000,000, of which no more than £5,000,000 is for administrative costs, including £1.850,000 for administrative services, and £1,000,000 for the administrative expenses of local war pensions committees, which are responsible for an outlay of between £25,000.000 and £30,000,000.

From the beginning of the war to December 31 last, the new pensions awarded totalled up to the following: Disabled men 1,216.300 Widows 226.000 Dependents 384.000 Children 23,600 Approximate total .. 1,849,900 At the present time pensions and final allowances in payment number about 1,108,000 disabled men, 169,000 widows, 362,300 dependents, and 16.900 children. This is swollen to 3,500.000 by wives’ and children's allowances, as already stated. Disablement pensions are in the first instance* temporary, but about 50,000 have already been made permanent, and this number is being increased at the rate of 350 a week.