H.—lB

1934. NEW ZEALAND

THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1934.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 90 of the Pensions Act, 1926.

The Commissioner of Pensions to the Hon. the Minister of Pensions. Sir, — Pensions Department, Wellington, 30th June, 1934. I have the honour to furnish herewith, for the information of Parliament, the report of the Department relating to war, old-age, widows', Maori War, miners', epidemic, blind, and sundry pensions, and family allowances for the year ended 31st. March, 1934. The following comparative statement relates to the annual value and gross payments of all pensions administered by the Department for the past two years : —

Pensions in Force: Annual Value and Total Payments.

Cost per head of European population: 1932-33, £2 Is. 4d. ; 1933-34, £2 2s. Bd. Payments on behalf of other Governments. The following figures relate to the war and other pensions paid by the Department during the year on behalf of other Governments : —

1 H. 18,

As at 31st March,. 1933. j As at 31st March, 1934. Class of Pension. j- ~ Total Number. Annual Value. Payments, Number. Annual Value. Payments, 1932-33. 1933-34. £ £ I £ £ War.. .. .. ,. 21,104 1,200,468 1,217,586 21,314 ! 1,228,572 1,246,441 Old-age .. .. .. I 34,932 j 1,305,772 1,271,157 37,507 1,403,375 : 1,350,982 Widows' .. .. : 4,687 307,926 311,317 4,619 301,388, 302,020 Maori War .. .. .. 106 5,194 5,831 86 4,214 4,522 Miners' .. .. .. 743 1 56,618 62,563 736:. 56,184 56,810 Epidemic .. .. .. 98 3,690 4,197 j 68 2,635 1 3,290 Blind .. .. .. 395 18,422 18,065 438 1 20,399 19,306 Boer War .. .. .. 55! 2,157 2,176 j 52 2,082 2,163 Sundry pensions and annuities.. 120 10,090 9,626 135 i 12,367 11,678 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 20 6,142 6,453 16 4,933 5,917 Family allowances .. .. 10,320. j 131,118 122,810 12,145 151,765 146,766 Totals .. .. 72,580 I 3,047,597 ! 3,031,781 77,116 ' 3,187,914 3,149,895

o i I m t n : 'u Annua! Average Payments, Government. Class of Pension. j.SIst March, Va!ue> Pengio *. mS-U- £ £ s. d. £ Great Britain .. .. War .. .. 1.463 ! 75,931 52 0 0 07 c ,, .. .. Army and civil .. 746 52,011 74 0 0 f ' ' Australia .. .. .. War .. .. 498 22,990 46 3.4 23,525 India .. .. .. Army and civil.. 68 14,526 214 0 0 27,763 South Africa .. .. War .. .. 3 136 45 0 0 169 .. Civil .. .. 30 3,406 114 0 0 4,896 Crown Colonies .. .. i „ .. .. 38 10,641 280 0 0 15,832 Canada . . . . . . War .. .. 1 215 215 7 4 496 Totals.. | .. | 2,847 179,856 .. 238,656