H.—lB

Session 11. 1918. NEW ZEALAND.

TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR, ENDED 31st MARCH, 1918.

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, 31st October, 1918. I have the honour to furnish herewith, for the information of Parliament, the report of the Department relating to old-age, widows', military (Maori War), minors', and war pensions for the year ended 31st March, 1918. The following summaries show at a glance the position at the close of the year:—

Pensions in Force and Annual Value at 31st March, 1918.

Gross Payments, Year 1917-18.

Cost per head of European population, £1 3s. 2d,

I—H. 18.

Number of Pensions. Statutory Pensions. Allowances rp , i under Finance ., Act, 1917. i'™«™»Average T 'ension. S fcatutory. Total. Old-age Widows' Military Miners' War .. 19,960 2,192 1,153 270 14.497 £ 481,369 4-3.872 41.508 10,972 904,383 £ £ 259,480 740,849 30,000 73,872 11,700 53,208 2.600 13,572 904,383 £ 24: 20 36 40 62 £ 37 33 46 50 62 i Totals .. 38,072 1,482,104 303.780 1,785,884 I

0 . . , t> „• Allowances under Statutory Pensions. Knanoe Aot> 1917 , Total Pensions. 4d-age Widows' lilitary liners' . . Far Totals .. £ £ 502,085 141,092 41,986 15,966 44,840 5,894 11,968 1,307 515,445 1,116,324 164,259* * Six and a half months' payments onh > £ 643,177 57,952 50,734 13,275 515,445 1,280,583