H.—lB

4

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

1915-16. 1916-17. European pensioners, 65 and over .. .. .. .. 16,639 16,600 Female European pensioners, 60 to 64 .. .. .. .. 2,418 2,341 Total European population (estimated) 1,100,406 1,100,761Percentage of European pensioners to total population .. .. 1-73 1-72 European population, 65 and over (estimated) .. . . • • . . 51,110 51,647 Percentage of European pensioners to these . . . . .. 32% 32% Female European population, 60 to 64 (estimated) . . .. .. 15,757 18,302 Percentage of European pensioners, 60 to 64, to these .. .. 15% 12% New claims lodged .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,621 2,289 New claims rejected .. .. .. .. .. .. 515 537 Annual liability at close of year .. .. .. .. .. 484,232 480,559 Average pension .. .. .. .. .. .. £24 9s. £24 Bs. Gross expenditure for year .. .. .. .. .. £479,339 £480,230 Cost per head of population .. .. .. .. .. Bs. Bd. Bs. Bd. Increase on figures of previous year .. .. .. .. £18,525 £891 Credit from National Endowment .. .. .. .. £27,796 £25,791 Refunds paid to Public Account .. .. .. .. .. £691 £1,252 Pensioners in homes and hospitals .. .. .. .. 862 891 Amount paid to controlling authorities of these .. .. .. £23,080 £23,470 Pensioners in mental hospitals .. .. .. .. .. 73 84 Amount paid to Mental Hospital Department .. * .. .. £1,858 £2,165 Absolutely forfeited instalments .. .. .. .. .. £1,678 £1,882 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid .. .. .. £1,682 £2,112 Total claims lodged to date .. .. .. .. .. 60,631 Total claims established .. .. .. .. .. 47,392 Total deaths .. .. .. ... .. .. .. 21,732 Total cancellations .. .. .'. .. .. .. 5,963 Grand total paid since 1898 .. .. .. .. .. £5,809,580 Total credit from National Endowment .. .. .. ..' £172,373 Old-age and Invalid Pensions in Australia. The latest figures available relating to the working of the Commonwealth Act are for the year ended 30th June, 1916, from which the following have been extracted :■ — Old-age Pensions. Invalid Pensions. Number of pensions in force .. .. .. .. 91,793 23,479 Increase for year .. .. .. .. .. 891 3,022 Claims dealt with .. .. .. .. .. 12,159 6,507 Claims rejected .. .. .. .. .. 1,263 1,028 Claims established .. .. .. .. .. 10,222 4,992 Total pensions granted .. .. .. .. .. 144,819 31,831 Total claims rejected .. ..... .. .. 13,603 7,229 Total deaths of pensioners .. .. .. .. 45,827 6,742 Annual liability ..' £2,302,742 £597,610 Payments for year (old-age and invalid) .. .. .. .. .. .. £2,891,597 Cost of administration (old-age and invalid) .. .. .. .. .. £44,401

191J i-16. IS 1916-17. 916-17. r. Euro|ieon. Maori. European. European. Maori. Maoi New pensions granted Deaths Cancellations Pensions in force at close of year 2,137 1,475 260 19,057 131 64 ■ 17 747 1,725 1,545 296 18,941 98 65 24 756