H.—lB.

4

OLD-AGE PENSIONS. European. Maori. Total. Pensions in force at 31st March, 1919 .. .. .. 19,099 773 19,872 New pensions granted, 1919-20 .. .. .. .. 2,161 128 2,289 Deaths during 1919-20 .. .. .. .. 1,704 941 „ IftH Cancellations, 1919-20.. .. .. .. .. 358 12) ' Net increase .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 121 Pensions in force at 31st March, 1920 .. .. ..19,198 795 19,993 Year 1919-20. Total European population at 31st March, 1920 .. .. .. .. .. 1,174,139 Total European pensioners, 65 and over, at 31st March, 1920.. .. .. .. 16,690 Female European pensioners, 60 to 64, at 31st March, 1920 .. .. .. .. 2,508 Percentage of European pensioners to total European population .. .. .. 1-6 New claims lodged .. .. .. . . .. .. , . .. 3 029 New claims rejected .. . . ~ .. .. .. .. . . 634 Annual liability at 31st March, 1920 (statutory pension) .. .. .. .. £471,826 Annual liability at 31st March, 1920 (including allowance under Finance Act, 1917) . . £731,735 Average pension (statutory) . . .. .. .. .. . . .. £23 12s. Average pension (total) . . .. . . .. .. .. .. . . £36 12 S . Gross expenditure for year (statutory pension) .. . . .. . . .. £475 ; 869 Gross expenditure for year (including allowance under Finance Act, 1917) . . .. £732,968 Decrease on figures of previous year ... .. .. .. .. .. £10,095 Cost per head of European population . . .. .. .. .. . . 12s. 6d. Credit from National Endowment .. .. .. .. .. .. £33,851 Refunds paid to Public Account .. .. .. .. . . .. .. £645 Number of pensioners in homes and hospitals .. .. .. . . . . 864 Amount paid to controlling authorities of these .. .. . . . . .. £34,578 Number of pensioners in mental hospitals .. .. .. .. .. .. 79 Amount paid to Mental Hospitals Department on account of these . . . . .. £2,970 Absolutely forfeited instalments .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £3 301 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid .. .. .. . . . . £5 151 Total claims lodged to date .. .. .. .. .. 09,275 Total claims established .. . . .. . . .. . . 54,062 Total deaths .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27,078 Total cancellations .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,991 Grand total paid since 1898 .. .. .. .. .. £7,928,788 Total credit from National Endowment .. .. .. .. £269,020 WIDOWS' PENSIONS. European. Maori. Total. Pensions in force at 31st March, 1919 .. .. .. .. 3,152 59 3,211 New pensions granted, 1919-20 .. .. .. .. 671 96 767 Cancellations during 1919-20 .. .. .. 522 12 534 Net increase .. .. .. .. .. .. 233 Pensions in force at 31st March, 1920 .. .. .. ..3,301 143 3,444 Total children in receipt of pensions at 31st March, 1920.. .. .. .. .. 8 314 Year 1919-20. New claims lodged . . .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. 934 New claims rejected . . .. . . .. .. .. . . . . 177 Annual liability at close of year .. .. .. .. .. , . .. £185 968 Average pension .. .. .. .. . . . . .. .. . . £54 Gross expenditure for year .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ £136,815 Increase on figures of previous year . . . . . . . . . . .. £55 963 Cost per head of European population . . .. . . .. .. .. 2s. 4d. Refunds paid to Public Account .. . . . . .. .. , . . . £76 Absolutely forfeited instalments .. .. . . .. . . . . ~ £1 709 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid .. .. . . . . .. £\ 778 Average of total family of pensioners .. . . ~ . . . . . , 3.6 Average of family under fourteen years . . .. .. .. .. .. 2-4 Total claims lodged to date .. . . . . . . . , 6,993 Total claims established .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,817 Total number of children benefited .. .. .. ~ 14,350 Total deaths .. .. . . .. .. .. .. 100 Total guardians appointed . . .. . . .. . . 53 Total cancellations .. . . .. .. .. .. 2,326 Grand total paid to date .. .. .. .. .. .. £432,686