TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1922.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1922 Session I, H-18

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1922. NEW ZEALAND.

TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1922.

Presented, to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 70 of the Pensions Act, 1913.

The Commissioner of Pensions to the Hon. the Minister of Pensions. Sir, — Pensions Department, Wellington Ist July, 19122, I have the honour to furnish herewith, for the information of Parliament, 'the report of the Department relating to war, old-age, widows', M'aori War, miners', epidemic, and police pensions for the year ended 31st March, 1922. The following comparative statements relate to the annual value and gross payments of all pensions administered by this Department for the past two years : —

Pensions in Force, and Annual Value.

Gross Payments.

1— H. 18.

At ,'ilst larch, 1921. At 31st March, 1922. Class of Pension. Number. Annual Value. j Number. Annual Value. War Old-age . . Widows' . . Maori War Miners' . . Epidemic Police 31 ,764 19,837 3,42.1 811 474 849 5 £ 1,748,865 737,378 198,767 39,739 29,686 71,486 390 29,091 20,491 3,343 740 506 683 5 £ 1,513,263 751,121 207,029 o6,260 31,505 54,994 446 Totals 57,161 2,826,311 54,859 2,594,618

Class of Pension. 1920-21. 1921-22. War .. Old-age Widows' Maori War Miners' Epidemic Police £ 1,886,952 731,343 187,430 40,213 26,972 72,456 136 £ 1,726,174 743,620 186,457 37,737 31,212 65.486 433 Totals 2,945,802 2,791,119 Cost per head of European population £2 8s. lid. £2 4s. 9d.

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WAR PENSIONS. Total Claims lodged to Date.

Gross Annual Value of all Pensions granted to Date.

Summary of Annual Liability at the 31st March, 1922.

Summary of Payments. The payments for war pensions show a slight decrease during the year, the figures compared with those of the previous year being as follows : — 1920-21. 1921-22. £ £ Payments made in New Zealand .. .. .. 1,754,382 1,595,139 Payments made in London .. .. .. 72,994 64,772 Payments made in Australia .. .. v .. 30,849 50,988 Payments made in Canada . . . . . . .. 2,876 Payments made in South Africa .. . . . . . . 367 Other foreign payments . . . . . . 252 316 Allotments paid after casualty .. .. .. 28,475 11,586 Other miscellaneous payments .. .. .. .. 130 Totals .. .. .. ..1,886,952 1,726,174 Summary of Total Actual Payments to the 31st March, 1922. £ From Ist September, 1915, to 31st March, 1916 . . .. . . 13,910 Year 1916-17 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 180,389 Year 1917-18 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 515,445 Year 1918-19 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,199,755 Year 1919-20 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,812,419 Year 1920-21 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,886,952 Year 1921-22 .. .. .. .. .. 1,726,174 £7,335,044

From Soldiers. From Dependants. 'rom 1st September, 191.5, to 31st March, 1916 r ear 1916-17 r ear 1917-18 r ear 1918-19 r ear 1919-20 r ear 1920-21 r ear 1921-22 798 3,958 8,1.48 14,749 11,493 1,081 367 681 2,017 3,754 5,292 3,990 1,878 891 Totals .. 40,594 18,503

Number. Annual Value. Average Pension. From 1st September, 191.5, to 31st March, 1916 Year 1916-17 Year 1917-18 Year 1918-19 Year 1919-20 Year 1920-21 Year 1921-22 1 ,214 5,316 10,587 16,954 15,183 2,207 945 1,214 5,316 10,587 16,954 15,183 2,207 945 £ 56,488 285,707 780,057 1 ,167,081. 872,627 163,713 63,685 £ 46 53 73 68 57 66 67 Totals 52,406 52,406 3,389,358 64 Note. —The number of pensions granted as show the values of which, however, form part of the pensic included in the annual-values total. wn ons ■n herein does >ns payable to herein do 3 payable ot include children's, pensions larents (or guardians), and are

Class of Pension. Number. Annual Value. Average Pension. £ Soldiers (permanent) Soldiers (temporary) )ependants (temporary) Vidows of soldiers )ther dependants of deceased soldiers 4,650 15,302 1,103 1,986 6,050 £ 243,463 765,690 79,833 219,542 204,735 £ 243,463 765,690 79,833 219,542 204,735 £ 52 50 72 111 34 £ 52 50 72 111 34 — Totals 29,091 1,513,263 1,513,263 52 52

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Pensions payable outside New Zealand as at the 31st March, 1922.

Appeals to the War Pensions Medical Appeal Board. The, War Pensions Medical Appeal Board set up in terms of section 2 of the Finance Act, 1920, commenced its sittings in June, 1921, and the appeals heard up to the 31st March, 1922, were dealt with as follows :—

OLD-AGE PENSIONS. European. Maori. Total. Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1921 .. .. .. 18,999 838 19,837 New pensions granted, 1921-22 .. .. .. ..2,414 139 2,553 Deaths during 1921-22 .. .. .. .. ..1,513 65) IaQQ Cancellations 1921-22 .. .. .. .. .. 313 81 i,Baa Net increase . . . . .. .. .. .. 654 Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1922 .. .. .. 19,587 904 20,491 Year 1921-22. Total European population at the 31st March, 1922 .. .. .. .. 1,248,216 Total European pensioners, sixty-five and over, at the 31st March, 1922 .. . . 15,488 Female European pensioners, sixty to sixty-four, at the 31st March, 1922 .. . . 4,099 Percentage of European pensioners to total European population .. .. .. 1-6 New claims lodged .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,278 New claims rejected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 680 Annual liability at the 31st March, 1922 . . . . . . . . . . . . £751,121 Average pension '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £36 13s. Gross expenditure for year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £743,620 Increase on figures of previous year .. .. . . . . . . . . £12,277 Cost per head of European population . . . . . . . . . . . H s . lid. Credit from national endowment .. .. .. .. .. .. £30.744 Refunds paid to Public Account .. .. .. .. .. .. £1,504 Number of pensioners in homes and hospitals .. . . . . .. . . 1 ; 052 Amount paid to controlling authorities of these .. .. .. .. £40,624 Number of pensioners in mental hospitals .. .. .. . . . . 93 Amount paid to Mental Hospitals Department on account of these .. .. £3,345 Absolutely forfeited instalments .. .. . . .. .. .. .. £3,724 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid .. .. .. .. .. £4,231 Total claims lodged to date .. .. .. .. .. 75,313 Total claims established .. .. .. .. 58,767 Total deaths .. .. . .. .. .. .. 30,536 Total cancellations .. . . . . . . 7,740 Grand total paid since 1898 .. .. .. .. £9,403,751 Total credit from national endowment . .. . . .. £329,898

Soldiers. Permanent. Temporary. Wives of Soldiers. Depei idants. Annual Liability. Other Dependants. Temporary. Widows. jlreat Britain \ustralia Dther countries 92 254 45 241 ' 3 20 92 45 3 140 ■ 254 241 ' 20 515 20 8 1 193 76 2 728 177 9 £ 62,130 28,746 2,103 Totals 140 515 29 271 914 92,979

Result of Appeal. 1 Number of Appeals by Soldiers. Number of Appeals by Dependants. Total. Dismissed Upheld Pension reduced Pension made permanent Pension cancelled 319 23 29 4 14 319 23 29 4 14 5 2 324 25 29 4 14 Totals 389 389 7 396 J_ •

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WIDOWS' PENSIONS. European. Maori. Total. Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1921 .. .. .. 3.267 154 3,421 New pensions granted, 1921-22 .. .. .. ..497 26 523 Cancellations, 1921 22 .. .. .. .. .. 575 26 60] Net decrease . . . . .. . . .. . . . . — 78 Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1922 .. .. .. 3,1.89 154 3,343 Total children in receipt of pensions at the 31st March, 1922 . . . . . . .. 9,118 Year- 1921-22 New claims lodged .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 641 New claims rejected .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 123 Annual liability at close of year .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £207,029 Average pension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £62 Cross expenditure for year .. .. .. .. .. .. £186,457 Decrease on figures of previous year . . . . . . £973 Cost per head of European population .. . . . . . . . . 3s. Od. Refunds paid to Public Account . . .. . . . . . . .. .. £312 Absolutely forfeited instalments ... .. .. .. .. .. .. £1,206 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid . . . . . . . . . . £1,830 Average of total family of pensioners . . . . . . . . .. . . 4-3 Average of family under fourteen years . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7 Total claims lodged to date . . .. . . .. .. 8. 353 Total claims established .. .. .. .. .. ... 6,967 Total number of children benefited .. ... .. .. 17,290 Total deaths .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 139 Total guardians appointed .. . . . . . .. 81 Total cancellations .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,566 Grand total paid to date .. .. . . .. .. £806,573 Total Number of Children on whose Account Pension granted. Number Children of under Pensioners. Fourteen. 1911-12 .. .. .. .. .. .. 791 1,923 1912 13 . .. .. .. .. .657 1,604 1913-14 .. .. .. .. .. .. 421 1,090 1914-15 .. .. .. .. .. .. 458 1,158 1915-16 .. .. .. .. .. .. 444 1,180 1916-17 .. .. .. .. .. 421 1,075 1917-18 .. .. .. .. .. .. 509 1,198 . 1918-19 .. .. .. .. .. 1,349 3,252 1919-20 .. -.. 767 1,870 1920 21 .. .. .. .. .. 627 1,624 192122 .. .. .. .. .. .. 523 1,316 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 6,967 17,290 MAORI WAR PENSIONS. European, Maori, Total. Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1921 -.. .. ..623 188 811 Deaths during 1921 22 .. .. .. .. .. 60 12 72 New pensions granted, 1921-22 . . . . . . . . . . I I Net decrease ... .. .. .. .... .. 71 Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1922 . . .. . . 564 176 740 Year 1921-22* New claims lodged .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Number of pensioners previously in receipt of old-age pensions.. .. .. .. 218 Annual liability at close of year .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £36,260 Average pension .. . . . . . . . . . . . ■ . . . . £49 Gross expenditure for year .. .. .. ~ . .. .. £37,737 Cost per head of European population . . . . . . . . . . . . 7d. Refunds paid to Public Account . . . . . . . . • . . .. . . £4 Is. Bd. Decrease on figures of previous year .. .. .. .. .. . . £2,476 Pensioners in homes and hospitals . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Amount paid to controlling authorities of these .. .. .. .. .. £1,917 Absolutely forfeited instalments .. . . . . . . . . . . . . £215 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid . . . . . . . . . . . . £329 Total claims lodged to date .. .. .. .. . 1,880 Total claims established .. .. .. .. .. 1,694 Total deaths .. .. . . .. .. . . 952 Total cancellations . . .. .. .. .. 2 Grand total paid to date .. .. .. .. .. £398,948

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MINERS' PENSIONS.' Total. Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1921 .. .. .. .. .. .. 474 New pensions granted, 1921-22 .. .. .. .. .. .. 78 Deaths during 1921-22 .. .. .. .. .. 381 Cancellations, 1921-22 .. .. .. .. .. .. 8) 4b Net increase .. .. .. .. . . . .' .. 32 Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1922 .. .. . . .. .. . . 506 Year 1921-22. New claims lodged .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 107 New claims rej ected .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 27 Annual liability at close of year .. .. .. ... .. .. .. £31,505 Average pension .. .. .. .. .. .. , . . . .. £62 ss. Gross expenditure for year .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £31,212 Increase on figures of previous year . . . . .. . . .. .. £4,240 Cost per head of European population .. .. . . .. .. 6d. Credit to vote from gold duty .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £2,308 Absolutely forfeited instalments . . . . . . .. . . . . . . £53 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid . . . . . . . . ... . . £186 Total claims lodged to date . , .. . . . . 987 Total claims established .. . . .. . . .. 868 Total claims rejected. . . -, . . . . .. .. 103 Total deaths . . . . .. .. . . .. 214 Total cancellations . . . . .. .. .. 148 Total amount paid to date.. .. .. .. .. £110,962 Total credit from gold duty .. .. .. .. £24,595 Total amount paid on account of funeral expenses . . . . £2,094 Number of Pensions at each Rate at the 31st March, 1922. Annual Value. £ s. d. 150 at £91 per annum .. .. .. .. ..13.650 0 0 85 at £65 per annum ..' .. .. .. 5,525 0 0 271 at £45 10s. per annum .. .. .. .. .. 12,330 10 0 506 £31,505 10 0 Ages (in Groups) of Pensioners at the 31st March, 1922. Miners. Miners' Widows. 20-30 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..1 2 31-40 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..5 8 41-50 .. .. .. .. ..29 66 51-60 .. .. .. .. .. ..62 99 61-70 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..80 59 71-75 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..38 21 Over 76 .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 9 24-2 264 ». —j 506 EPIDEMIC PENSIONS. Total. Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1921.. .. .. .. .. .. 84-9 New pensions granted, 1921-22 .. . . . . .. .. .. 6 Cancellations, 1921-22 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 172 Net decrease . . .. .. .. .. . . .. 166 Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1922 .. .. . . . . .. 683 Year 1921-22. New claims lodged .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 New claims rejected . . .. . . .. . . . . 4 Annual liability at close of year . . . . .. . . .. £54,994 Average pension .. .. .. . . .. .. . . £80 Gross expenditure for year .. . . .. ■ . . .. £65,486 Absolutely forfeited instalments .. . . .. . . .. £178 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid .. . . .. .. £31.7

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IMPERIAL PENSIONS. The administration of all Imperial pensions (war, civil, and others) was transferred to this Department as from the Ist October, 1921, and the figures hereunder show the number in force and annual liability as at the 31st March, 1922 :— Number. Annual Value. Average Pension. £ £ 2,083 107,100 51 COST OP ADMINISTRATION. £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25,975 Temporary assistance .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11,273 Advertising .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 Exchange and commission on money-orders . . . . .. . . . . 1,408 Fees for certificates of age . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 6 Fuel, light, power, and water .. . . . . 92 Interpreters' fees .. .. . . . . .. .. 3 Medical fees .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..9,225 Office-cleaning .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Office fittings and requisites, including printing and stationery . . . . . . . . 2,329 Overtime and meal allowances . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Contributions to Post Office (fifteen months) . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,416 Postage, telegrams, and rent of boxes . . . . . . . . 3,195 Proportion of rent, High Commissioner's Office (two years) . . . . .. .. 400 Rent of offices .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Telephones .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Travelling-expenses .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,382 Repairs to typewriters and office furniture . . . . . . . . 26 Cartage .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ■ . . . 11 Sundry payments .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 £72,006 Number of officers on staff at the 31st March, 1922 .. .. .. .. .. 142 Percentage of cost of administration to total expenditure for year (£2,791,119) .. .. 2-6

APPENDIX.

Table I. —Number of War Pensions in Force at each Rate on the 31st March, 1922.

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On Accoui it of Death. liato (nearest £1). Soldiers (Permanent). Soldiers (Temporary). Wives and Parents (on Account of Disablement). Widows (including Children's Pensions). Parents and other Dependants £ £ 261-300 .. 234-260 .. 201-233 .. 191-200 .. 181-190 .. 171-180 .. 161-170 .. 151-160 .. 141-150 .. 131-140 .. 121-130 .. 111-120 .. 101-110 .. 91-100 .. 81- 90 .. 71- 80 .. 61- 70 .. 51- 60 .. 41- 50 .. 31- 40 .. 21- 30 .. 6-20 24 7 6 66 1 2 10 3 8 59 20 57 91 386 396 222 836 158 864 1,122 312 9 5 11 939 5 4 46 18 17 316 7 109 137 1 707 465 2,255 82 3,071 7,015 83 11 2 21 7 58 3 9 13 114 20 14 266 44 256 30 114 91 30 7 28 65 26 103 10 88 187 14 65 390 60 35 8 36 506 8 65 1 45 235 4 5 7 8 8 171 61 463 53 1,697 3,476 101 Totals 4,650 15,302 1,103 1,986 6,050

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GENERAL. Table II.—Pensions granted, Deaths, and Cancellations in each Year, with Number in Force and Annual Variation.

Year ended 31st March. Number of Pensions Deaths, granted. Canoella- In Force at Tn „„ pn ,„ Decrease tions. End of Year. inoreaso - decrease. 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 Old-age. .. j 7,487 38 4,699 786 2,227 815 1,694 935 1,391 1,064 1,063 928 ] ,210 890 2,075 1,038 2,031 1,097 1,740 1,189 2,113 1,112 2,304 1,169 2,399 1,423 2,318 1,469 2,072 1,569 3,320 1,479 3,158 1,582' 2,268 1,539 1,823 1,610 2,146 1,535 2,235 2,013 2,289 1,798 2,152 1,880 2,553 " 1,578 7,487 4,699 2,227 1,694 1,391 1,063 1,210 2,075 2,031 1,740 2,113 2,304 2,399 2,318 2,072 3,320 3,158 2,268 1,823 2,146 2,235 2,289 2,152 2,553. Old-age. 38 786 815 935 1,064 928 890 1,038 1,097 1,189 1,112 1,169 1,423 1,469 1,569 1,479 1,582 ' 1,539 1,610 1,535 2,013 1,798 1,880 1,578 6 ! 7,443 71 11,285 3,842 292 12,406 1,120 388 12,776 371 622 12,481 .. 295 690 11,926 .. 555 476 11,770 .. 156 225 12,582 812 259 13,257 675 239 13,569 312 174 14,396 827 211 15,320 924 276 16,020 700 220 16,649 629 643 16,509 .. 140 300 18,050 1,541 274 19,352 1,302 277 19,804 452 320 19,697 .. 107 348 19,960 263 310 19,872 .. 88 370 19,993 121 428 19,837 .. 156 321 20,491 654 6 71 292 388 622 690 476 225 259 239 174 211 276 220 643 300 274 277 320 348 310 370 428 321 7,443 11,285 12,406 12,776 12,481 11,926 11,770 12,582 13,257 13,569 14,396 15,320 16,020 16,649 16,509 18,050 19,352 19,804 19,697 19,960 19,872 19,993 19,837 20,491 3,842 1,120 371 812 675 312 827 924 700 629 295 555 156 140 1,541 1,302 452 107 263 88 121 156 654 Totals 58,767 30,536 30,536 7,740 7,740 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 Widows'. 791 657 3 421 1 458 2 444 4 421 2 509 6 1,349 11 767 18 627 8 523 3 Widows'. 3 788 129 1,313 525 193 1,540 227 208 1,788 248 338 1,890 102 285 2,024 134 335 2,192 168 319 3,211 1,019 516 3,444 233 642 3,421 .. 23 598 3,343 .. - 78 788 1,313 1,540 1,788 1,890 2,024 2,192 3,211 3,444 3,421 3,343 525 227 248 102 134 168 1,019 233 3 1 2 4 2 6 11 18 8 3 3 129 193 208 338 285 335 319 516 642 598 \ 23 - 78 Totals 6,967 58 3,566 3,566 Maori Win r. | 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 577 9 747 74 256 108 60 124 10 101 24 103 12 125 5 106 2 130 1 72 568*1 .. 1 1,240 672 1,388 148 1 1,323 .. 65 1,232 .. 91 1,153 .. 79 1,040 .. 113 939 .. 101 811 .. 128 740 .. 71 1 1 568 1,240 1,388 1,323 1,232 1,153 1,040 939 811 740 672 148 65 91 79 113 101 128 71 Totals 1,694 952 952 2 2

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Table II.—Pensions granted, Deaths, and Cancellations in each Year, etc.—continued.

G. C. Faohe, Commissioner of Pensions.

Approximate Coat of Paper.. —Preparation, not given; printing (700 copies), £9.

Authority : W. A. G. Skinn.br, Government Printer. Wellington.—l922

Price 6d.~\

Number of Year ended 31st March. Pensions granted. Deaths. Cancella- In lorce at T ,, -„ , . v 7 Increase. Decrease, tions. End ol; Year. Miners'. 1916 '-.. .. .. [ 120 1917 .. .. .. 153 1918 .. .. .. I 91 1919 .. .. .. 82 1920 .. .. .. 237 1921 .. .. .. 107 1922 .. .. .. 78 35 34 41 23 43 38 120 | 238 118 25 270 32 71 240 .. 30 39 415 175 5 474 59 8 506 32 Totals .. ..I 868 214 214 148 1916 .: .. .. 1,214 1917 .. .. .. 5,316 1918 .;' .. .. 10,587 1919 .. .. .. 16,954 1920 .. .. .. 15,183 1921 .; .. .. 2,207 1922 .. .. .. 945 War. 1 44 86 531 291 358 369 War. 22 1,191 1,294 5,169 3,978 1,173 14,497 9,328 3,493 27,427 12,930 7,748 34,571 7,144 4,656 31,764 .. 2,807 3,249 29,091 .. 2,673 1 44 86 531 291 358 369 3,978 9,328 12,930 7,144 2,807 2,673 Totals .. .. 52,406 1,680 21,635 Police. 3 5 5 1920 .. .. .. 3 1921 .. .. .. 2 1922 .. .. .. 1 Totals ., .. 6 3 5 2 1 5 1 - 2 1 ■ Epidemic. Number of pensions taken over 939 from. Public Health Department on 1st April, 1920 1921 .. .. .. 27 1922 .. .. .. 6 117 849 . . 90 172 683 .. 166 117 172 849 683 90 166 Totals .. .. 972 972 289 289