H.—lB

6

instalments direct, if not at a money-order office, then by registered letter through the sub-post-office nearest to where they reside, and no inconvenience has been occasioned by the change. When, however, a pensioner resides at some considerable distance from the nearest post-office, and there is no other way by which his pension can be paid, a storekeeper agent is accepted, the pensioner being required to state on a form supplied for the purpose that it is his express desire that the storekeeper shall draw his pension. This provision also applies in the case of the European pensioner, who must, if he is physically fit and handy to a post-office, collect in person. Time has not permitted of a table being placed before you in this report showing the total income earned and the total property owned by pensioners, such as money in banks, money out on mortgage, freehold and leasehold lands, &c. All this information, together with the amount of money owing by pensioners by way of mortgage on their properties, the amount of annuities drawn, the values of life interests held in property, and the amount of life insurance carried, has been collected during the year, and will be placed before you in my next report. The return, when compiled, should be very interesting reading. The new pensions granted for the year, as before mentioned, number 1,063, of which number forty-four represent pensions which were cancelled in previous years for various reasons. Twentyfive new pensions granted to Maoris are also included in this number. A comprehensive return is appended showing the total number of claims lodged in each district since the Act came into force, the number of claims received during the past year, together with the number of such claims granted and rejected, and the total number of claims awaiting investigation on the 31st March last. The number of claims received last year —namely, I,s44—represents 40 per cent, of the estimated number of those persons who became eligible by age and residence, the number actually granted being 27 per cent. Of the 24,013 claims made altogether, pensions have been granted to 18,561.

Total Number of Claims received since Act came into Force. For Financial Year ending 31st March, 1904. Claims awaiting Investigation on 31st Mar., 1904. District. Deputy Registrar. Claims Claims c , aims received. rejected. Auckland Coromandel ... Dargaville Hamilton Helensville Kaitaia Mangonui Maungaturoto Otahuhu Baglan Bawene Botorua Bussell Taupo Warkworth ... Whangarei Whangaroa ... Thames Opotiki Paeroa Tauranga Te Aroha Whakatane ... Gisborne Port Awanui ... Napier Dannevirke ... Waipawa Wairoa New Plymouth Stratford Wanganui Hawera Marton Patea Wellington Feilding S. Euddock ... D. Banks S. Thompson W. Shanaghan J. Watt W. Sefton ... J. Henry J. Hemphill... G. Foreman ... W. McCarthy F. A. Moore W. Bern W. J. Pardy J. Byan S. Stacey T. Kirk A. G. Douthet J. Jordan C. O'Keilly ... H. B. Bush ... W. A. Thorn H. B. Bush... P. Stackpoole G. J. A. Johnstone W. Kelly ... B. B. Mathias S. Tansley ... J. Bccleton ... H. H. Carr ... W. A. D. Banks C. J. Hewlett C. A. Barton A. Trimble ... J. E. Patrick M. O'Brien ... F. W. Mansfield J. M. Bodgers 2,324 230 182 341 415 24 120 70 671 173 268 159 282 101 168 270 80 474 73 131 236 55 314 269 270 506 285 39 228 440 64 382 137 196 50 952 150 162 10 21 12 8 7 73 6 3 10 5 4 85 1 7 4 2 8 71 7 6 4 1 8 3 15 8 8 11 6 3 7 18 1 27 6 24 20 5 1 17 5 41 19 3 7 33 4 29 19 27 2 66 14 [ 2 7 4 3 4 7 1 6 10 1 23 1 10 6 3 1 9 1 24 15 3 3 18 5 14 12 15 2 50 12 1 4 1 12 1 3 3 2 5 4 1 3 9 2 4 6 9 1 1 4 13 24 16 7 5 3 3 3 6 1 14 5 2 11 2 5 7 5 6 9 3 5 21 2 2