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1911. NEW ZEALAND.

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT: OLD-AGE PENSIONS BRANCH (THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1911.

Presented to both Houses of the, General Assembly pursuant to Section 69 oj the Old-age Pensions Act, 1908. The Commissioned uv Old-age Pensions to the Right Hon. the Minister of Finance. Sir. — Old-age Pensions Office, Wellington, 30th June, 1911. 1 have the honour to submit, for the information of Parliament, a resume of the work of the Old-age Pensions Office for the year ended the 31st March, 1911. Points of interest at the close of the year are as follows, a comparison being shown with the figures of the previous year :— At 31st March, 1911. At 31st March, 1910. European population of New Zealand .. .. 1,008,407 987,480 Maori population of New Zealand .. .. 49,343 47,731 (1906 census) Estimated European population, sixty-five years and over .. .. .. 46,586 44,838 Estimated European population, sixty-five years of age, and twenty-five years in New Zealand .. 11,556 40,238 Number of pension-claims lodged since Act came into operation on Ist January, 1899 .. .. 42,271 39,316 Number of pensions granted since Act came into operation on Ist January, 1899 .. 32,433 30,034 Number of European pensioners on the roll .. 15,336 14,626 Number of Maori pensioners on the roll .. .. 684 694 Percentage of European pensioners to total European population .. .. .. .. 1-52 1-48 Percentage of European pensioners to European population, sixty-five years and over .. .. 320 320 Percentage of European pensioners to European population eligible by age and residence .. 36-0 36-0 Percentage of Maori pensioners to total Maori population .. .. .. .. 1-38 1-45 Number of pensioners in receipt of full pension of £26 13,936 11,£27 Percentage of these to total number of pensioners .. 87-0 77-0 Amount paid in pensions during year .. .. £383,393 £362,496 Cost per head of European population .. .. 7s. 7d. 7s. 4d. Total amount paid in pensions since Act came into operation.. .. .. .. £3,150,404 £2,767,011 Cost of administration during year .. .. £3,803 £3.290 Percentage of cost of administration to annual payi ments .. .. .. .. .. 0-99 0-90 Cost of administration since Act came into operation £51,181 £47,378 Percentage of total cost of administration to total - payments.. .. .. .. 1*62 1-71 __

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