H.—9

Medical treatment of war pensioners during 1942-43 cost £30,004. (This item includes the cost of treatment of pensioners resident in overseas countries.) Railway concessions to ex-members of the forces pensioned for total and permanent disablement and those with locomotor disabilities on permanent pensions in excess of 50 per cent, cost £4,158.

Benefits and Pensions in Force and Total Payments

COST OF ADMINISTRATION Excluding expenditure of £2,91.8 on capital items, administration costs for the year amounted, to £351,219, including £44,769 in respect of the administration of war pensions and allowances. Thisrepresents 2-43 per cent, on total payments. GENERAL Under arrangements made by the Rehabilitation Board, the Secretary for War Pensions was authorized from the Ist March, 1943, to pay rehabilitation allowances to demobilized servicemen and women for periods up to thirteen weeks following the cessation of Service pay for the purpose of assisting in their reabsorption into civil life. To meet the claims of servicemen and women whose Service pay had ceased, 2,319 cases were reviewed, and of these 849 individual grants were awarded. The large majority of the others had already been successful in obtaining employment and were not in need of assistance. As at the 31st March, 1943, 763 allowances were current representing a weekly value of £2,837, while for the period Ist to the 31st March, 1943, payments totalling £7,861 were made. The number of officers absent on war service on the 31st, March, 1943, was 511, and of these 17 had made the supreme sacrifice. In spite of the large number of officers engaged on military service, the Department, with the help of temporary female assistance, has been able to render the community very efficient service. In submitting this report I would again like to emphasize the splendid service rendered by the staff and express my appreciation of the manner in which a difficult year's work has been brought to a successful conclusion. H. Digby-Smith, Chairman, Social Security Commission.

Approximate Cost, of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (572 copies), £8.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 943. Price 3d.]

4

As at 31st March, 1942. As at 31st March, 1943. Number in AnnU al Value Total Payments Number in Annual value Total PaymentsForce. An uai value - 1941-42. Force. Annual value. 1942-43. £ £ £ £ Universal superannuation .. .. 41,021 512,762 445,686 44,448 666,720 603,124 Age .. .. .. .. 99,152 7,337,248 7,190,094 99,671 7,903,910 7,783,084 Widows .. .. .. .. 10,765 849,363 844,928 10,589 864,062 866,597 Orphans .. .. .. .. 372 18,909 18,275 395 21,033 20,628 Family .. .. .. .. 18,316 631,902 539,183 14,190 764,841 790,719 Invalids .. .. .. .. 12,107 1,022,611 1,011,375 11,938 1,029,055 1,036,373 Miners .. .. .. .. 888 80,403 83,258 841 76,362 80,100 Maori War .. .. .. 4 312 440 2 164 190 Unemployment .. .. .. 841 .. 138,528 373 .. 49,639 Sickness .. .. .. .. 3,672 .. 304,154 3,699 .. 362,088 Emergency .. .. .. 2,170 .. 126,718 1,821 .. 124,268 War (War Pensions Act, 1915) .. 22,894 1,619,206 1,617,481 22,161 1,602,777 1,574,062 War (War Pensions Extension Act,1940) 3,297 313,399 178,135 7,666 714,640 479,477 War Veterans' allowances .. .. 1,888 216,864 210,575 1,807 222,173 224,942 Boer War (Defence Act, 1909) .. 45 1,478 1,581 42 1,453 1,504 Mercantile Marine pensions .. .. 3 266 617 6 498 350 Emergency Reserve Corps .. 2 127 1,062 19 1,477 1,985 Sundry pensions and annuities .. 76 9,377 9,329 139 15,069 13,581 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. .. 6 2,337 2,354 5 1,903 2,176 War and other pensions paid on behalf 3,037 210,455 184,039 3,224 242,718 352,104 of the Governments of Great Britain, Australia, India, Canada, South Africa, and Crown colonies ; Totals .. .. .. 220,556 12,827,019 12,908,412 223,036 14,128,855 14,366,991