H.—lB

6

1917-18. Number of pensioners previously in receipt of old-age pension .. .. . . . . 292 New claims lodged .. .. .. .. *.. . . . . .. 20 Annual liability at close of year (statutory pension) .. .. . .- .. .. £4.1,508 Annual liability at close of year (including allowance, under Finance Act, 1917) . . .. £53,208 Average pension (statutory) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £36 Average pension (total) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £46 Gross expenditure for year .. .. .. . . . . .. .. .. £50,734 Cost per head of European population .. .. .. .. .. .. lid. Increase on figures of previous year .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £5,060 Pensioners in homes and hospitals . . .. . . . . .. . . .. 50 Amount paid to controlling authorities of these .. .. .. .. .. £2,192 Absolutely forfeited instalments .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £303 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid . . . . . . . . . . . . £358 Total claims lodged to date .. .. .. .. .. 1,860 Total, claims established .. .. .. .. . . .. 1,674 Total deaths .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 519 Total cancellations Grand total paid to date .. .. .. .. .. .. £225,425 MINERS' PENSIONS. Pensions in force at 31st March, 1917 .. .. .. .. .. .. 238 New pensions granted 1917-18 .. .. .. .. . . . . 91 Deaths during 1917-18 .. .. .. .. .. .. 34' Cancellations, 1917-18 .. .. .. .. .. .. 25} Net increase . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 32 Pensions in force at 31st March, 1918 .. .. .. .. .. .. 270 1917-18. New claims lodged .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 114 New claims rejected .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 Annual liability at close of year (statutory pension) .. .. .. .. .. £10,972 Annual liability at clo-ic of year (including allowance under Finance Act, 1917) .. .. £13,572 Average pension (statutory) .. . . .. . . .. .. .. £4.0 Average pension (total) .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. £50 Gross expenditure for year (statutory pension) .. .. .. .. .. £11,968 Gross expenditure for year (including allowance under Finance Act, 1917) .. .. £13,275 Increase on figures of previous year . . . . .. . . .. . . £5,209 Cost per head of European population .. .. .. .. .. .. 2fd. Credit to vote from gold duty .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £4,703 Absolutely forfeited instalments . . .. .. .. .. .. .. £79 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid .. .. .. .. .. .. £109 Total claims lodged to date .. .. .. .. .. 427 Total claims established .. . . .. .. .. .. 364 Total claims rejected .. .. .. .. .. .. 5L Total deaths .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 69 Total amount paid to date .. .. .. .. .. .. £22,850 Total credit from gold duty .. .. .. .. .. £11,403 Total amount paid on account of funeral expenses . . .. .. £738 Number of Pensions at each Hate ghanted since Commencement. Annual Value. £ 147 at £52 per annum .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,644 76 at £39 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,964 140 at £32 JOs. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. "4,550 lat £50 .. .. .. .. .. ■ .. .. 50 364 £15,208 Ages (in Groups) of Pensioners at 31st March, 1918. Ages, Miners. Widows. 32-40 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..5 10 41-50 .. .. .. .. ■ • • • .. 20 38 51-60 31 37 61-64 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..16 13 65-70 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..35 14 Over 70 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..45 6 152 118 270