H,— lB

Family Allowances. The claims lodged during the year totalled 3,196, which, with the 448 outstanding from the previous year, made a total of 3,644 to be dealt with. Of these, 3,022 were accepted and 360 rejected. Of the rejected claims 149 represent cases where the income of the family was in excess of the limit allowed. 450 new claims from Maoris were finally dealt with during the year, 351 being granted and 99 rejected. The total children of the 12,145 allowances in force as at 31st March, 1934, and those in excess of two in a family numbered 53,367 and 29,077, the average per family being 4-39 and 2-39 respectively. The total amount paid during the year was £146,766, while the total annual value of all allowances in force at the close of the year was £151,765.

Weekly Rates at which Allowances granted.

Numbers according to Size of Family.

Weekly Incomes of Families.

Cost of Administration. The cost of administration for the year amounted to £58,336, the principal items of expenditure being £28,235 for salaries of officers of the Department, who numbered 164 as at 31st. March, 1934 ; £17,183 and £3,086 paid to the Postal Department respectively for payment of pensions and postage and telegrams ; £3,006 for salaries and other expenses of the War Pensions Appeal Board ; and £2,018 for salaries of the War Pensions Board. The percentage of cost of administration to the total payments made of £3,388,552 (including £238,655 paid on behalf of other Governments) was 1-72.

WAR PENSIONS. Summary of War Pension Payments.

The amount paid for the year ended 31st March, 1934, shows an increase over the preceding year of £28,855.

2

p " I I i I I Weekly Bate. Is. 2s. 3s. 4s. 5s. 6s. 7s. 8s. 9s. ' 10s. | 12s. 1 14s. , 16s. • , ! 1 ' • 1 i, I 1- ! I j * If ' I ' Number granted .. 2 1,653 5 j 758 5 332 ; 1 155 2 73 21 12 3

Number of Children u 2 . ' 3. 4. 5. 6. I 7. 8. in Jixcess 01 lwo. Number of families .. .. 1,584 776 348 j 177 93 22 18 4

. T nl j j Over £1 and up Over £2 and up Over £3 and up I 0(y K Weekly Income. £1 and under. tQ £2 to £3. to £3 5s. er Number of families .. 157 1,719 762 371 13 I I

Payments made in — Total, London, j Australia. Canada, j Africa Countries ew Zealand £ £ £ £ £ ! £ £ Total payments to 31st 901,290 506,747 29,100 3,963 8,351 19,517,770 20,967,221 March 1933 Payments in 1933-34 64,338 37,395 2,799 1,326 684 1,139,899 j 1,246,441 Total payments to 31st 965,628 544,142 31,899. 5,289 ; 9,035 ' 20.657,669 |22,213,662 March, 1934 j i i