13

H.—lB

Comparative Statement of Pensions in Force, and Payments made in each Financial Year since the Act came into Operation.

Comparative Return of the Number of Payments made in each Postal District throughout the Colony during the Years ended 31st March, 1903, and 31st March, 1904. r, . , t%i , • , Number of Payments, Number of Payments, Postal District. Vj(&-L 1903-4. Auckland ... ... ... ... 31,903 29,529 Blenheim ... ... ... ... 2,007 1,931 Christchurch ... ... ... 21,182 21,108 Dunedin ... ... ... ... 22,706 22,168 Gisborne ... ... ... ... 1,380 1,324 Greymouth ... ... ... ... 6,524 6,467 Hokitika ... ... ... ... 6,278 6,115 Invercargill.. ... ... ... 9,429 9,598 Napier ... ... .. ... 5,710 5,524 Nelson ... ... ... ... 4,233 4,032 New Plymouth ... ... ... 2,950 2,646 Oamaru ... ... ... 2,960 2,752 Thames ... ... ... ... 5,885 5,702 Timaru ... ... ... ... 4,611 4,418 Wanganui ... ... ... ... 4,628 4,175 Wellington ... ... ... ... 12,796 13,054 Westport ... .. ... ... 3,494 3,383 Totals ... ... ... 148,676 143,926

Cost of Administration for the Financial Year ended 31st March, 1904. £ s. d. £ s. d. Salaries ... ... ... ... ... 2,259 17 1 Other charges—Clerical assistance ... ... 420 16 0 Contribution to Post Office to pay salaries of officers employed on old-age pensions work ... ... ... 520 0 0 Travelling-expenses of Registrar, Stipendiary Magistrates, Deputy Registrars, Police Constables, Interpreters' fees, &c. ... 274 9 5 Contingencies ... ... ... 179 19 8 —— 1,395 5 1 Total ... ... .. £3,655 2 2 3-H. 18.

Date. Number of Pensions in Force. Payments to End of Financial Year. Expenditure. Pensions. Increase. Decrease. Increase. Deorease. £ 3,124 157,342 197,292 207,468 210,140 203,164 £ £ .t 31st March, 1899 ... 1900 ... 1901 ... 1902 ... 1903 ... 1904 ... 7,443 11,285 12,405 12,776 12,481 11,926 154,218 39,950 10,176 2,672 3,842 1,120 371 6,976* 295 555 Totals £978,530 850 * Decrease in actual expenditure Plus— Refunds to Public Account Refunds by way of fine Refunds obtained since the books closed, as result of year's work £ 6,976 2,319 30 700 £10,025