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The following figures relate to the war and other pensions paid by the Department during the year on behalf of other Governments : —

Family Allowances. The estimate of the number of applications which would be made has so far not been realized. At the end of the first year allowances had been granted in respect of 10,000 children in excess of two in a family, representing, in round figures., 3,000 families, the total children of which numbered 16,000. It must be remembered that the experience in connection with the old-age pension and the widows' pension law was that in the early years of both these schemes there was on the part of certain classes of people either a lack of knowledge of the legislation passed to benefit them, or a diffidence to take advantage of such legislation. In regard to the family allowance at least another full year's working will be required to enable anything like reliable estimates to be adduced. The claims lodged during the year totalled 3,980, of which 3,154 were granted and 579 rejected. Of the rejected claims, 411 represent cases where the income of the family was in excess of the limit allowed. In 74 cases the application was withdrawn or the necessary evidence was not forthcoming. During the year, of the 3,154 granted, 25 were voided by the death of the father, and 123 were cancelled, leaving 3,006 in force at the close of the year. The total children of the 3,154 granted and those in excess of two numbered respectively 16,066 and 9,758, the average per family being 5-09 and 3-09. The total amount paid during the year was £37,652. The total annual value of all allowances granted was £49,000, and of those in force at the close of the year £46,557. The latter averaged £15 9s. 9d. per annum each, or just a trifle under 6s. weekly, the maximum for three children. Of the claims dealt with 302 were from Maoris, 265 being granted and 37 rejected. The principal occupations of the fathers of the beneficiaries are :— Labourer .. .. .. 1,350 Public servant .. .. 122 Farmhand.. .. .. 298 Waterside worker .. 101 Farmer . . .. .. 290 The number in no other class occupation reached 100. Invalids totalled 80, old-age, miners, and blind pensioners 20, and prisoners 19. Weekly Rales at which Allowances Granted. Weekly Rate. Number. Weekly Rate. Number. Is. .. .. .. 17 lis. .. .. .. 1 2s. .. .. .. 583 12s. .. .. .. 144 3s. .. .. .. 36 14s. .. .. .. 43 4s. .. .. .. 749 15s. .. .. .. 1 ss. .. .. 22 16s. .. .. 21 6s. .. .. .. 712 18s. .. .. .. 6 7s. .. .. .. 20 20s. .. .. .. 1 Bs. .. .. .. 488 9s. .. .. .. 8 3.154 10s. .. .. .. 302 Weekly Incomes of Families. Number. Number. £1 and under . . . . 110 Over £3 and up to £4- .. 1,691 Over £1 and up to £2.. .. 342 Over £4 and up to £5 .. 222 Over £2 and up to £3.. .. 789 3,154 Numbers according to Size of Family. Number of Children Number of Number of Children Number of in excess of Two. Families. in excess of Two. Families. 1 .. .. .. 54-9 7 .. .. 51 2 .. .. .. 751 8 .. .. 26 3 .. .. .. 706 9 .. 7 .4 .. .. ..542 10 .. ..1 5 .. .. .. 343 6 .. .. .. 178 | 3,154

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Government. ' Class of Pension. 4™ ual £ vera g e P , a 0 y ,r" tS ' 1928 Value. Pension. 1927-28. £ £ £ Great Britain .. .. .. War .. .. 1,768 I 89,530 51 \ ,,,, ,, .. .. .. Army and civil .. 787 ' 55,039 70J" ' Australia .. .. .. War and civil .. 550 24,357 44 24,954 India .. .. .. .. Armv and civil .. 83 22,789 275 28,823 South Africa .. . . .. War' . . .. 2 114 57 207 .. Civil .. .. 25 2,722 109 2,865 Crown Colonies .. .. .. ,, .. 24 5,591 233 8,813 Canada .. .. . . War . . . . 2 334 167 463 Totals .. .. .. 3,241 200,476 : .. 227,544