H.—lB.

3

The liability in regard to these at the end of the year was £412,408, being an average of £24 19s. 7d. per pension. The decrease above referred to, which is the first recorded since the year 1905, when the pension was increased from £18 to £26 per annum, is due to the fact that of the 613 cancelled pensions some 380 represent conversions into military pensions. Leaving these out of consideration, the figures otherwise would show an increase of 240. The percentage of pensioners to the population eligible by age and to those eligible by age and residence, which in the previous year had shown a slight upward tendency, has returned to what it was in the two preceding years —namely, 32 per cent, and 36 per cent, respectively—the numerical decrease above referred to being responsible for this. The following table shows the variation in the percentage from 1906 onwards: —

Widows' Pensions. —The number of pensioners on the roll at the end of the year, including 16 Maoris, was 1,313, being an increase on the figures of the previous year (which, it may be mentioned, represented the results of three months' working only) of 525, thus : — Europeans. Maoris. Totals. New grants ... ... ... ... 641 16 657 Deduct deaths ... ... ... ... 3 Deduct cancellations ... ... ... ... 129 ... 132 Increase ... ... ... 525 The liability in regard to these was £24,768, being an average of £18 17s. 3d. per pension. The three deaths referred to represent cases where advantage was not taken of the provision for continuance of the pension to the guardian of the children. Military Pensions. —The number of pensions in force under this head at the 31st March, being the result of four months' operation of the Act passed in November, 1912, was 568, of which number 6 were payable to Maoris. The total number granted was 577, there being 9 deaths, including 1 Maori, recorded before the close of the year. The liability in regard to these was £19,026, an average of £33 10s. per pension. Summarized, the total pensions and the liability thereon at the close of the year were as follows : — Number of Liability. Pensions. £ Old-age ... ... ... ... ... ... 16,509 412,408 Widows' ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,313 24,768 Military ... ... ... ... ... .... 568 19,026 Totals ... ... ... ... 18,390 £456,202 The percentages of pensioners drawing the full pension are as follows: Old-age, 84 per cent.; widows', 95 per cent. ; military, 80 per cent. Thirty-two old-age pensioners are, drawing the increased pension provided by the Act of 1911 for males at 60 and females at 55 who have two or more children under 14 years of age. The number of these last year was 18. The distribution of old-age and widows' pensioners in the various districts throughout the Dominion, together with the annual amount payable in these districts, is embodied in Table I of the appendix. The distribution of the military pensions in postal districts is set out in Table 11. Table 111 shows the number of all classes of pensions payabie at each rate. Table IV shows the number of old-age pensioners remaining on the roll of the various groups admitted year by year since the Act came into operation. The ages of all pensioners on the 31st March are embodied in Table V, wherein it will be noted that, of the old-age pensioners, there are no less than 119 of the advanced age of 90 and upwards, while 17 are 95 and upwards. The total deaths during the year were: Old-age, 1,569; widows, 10; military, 9. The percentage of deaths of old-age pensioners to the total number drawing pensions during the year was 8 per cent. Table VI shows the ages at death of the European section of these, a distinction being made between those who were on the roll at the beginning'of the year and those who were admitted during the year. Five old-age pensioners of 96 and upwards died during the year. Included among the old-age pensioners are 1,780 married couples. The original nationalities and occupations of the old-age and widows' pensioners are set out in Tables VII and VIII. Particulars relating to the sex and conjugal condition of the old-ace pensioners appear in Table IX. .

At 31st March. (a.) European | (b.) European PopuPopulation eligible lation eligible by by Age. Age and Residence. European Pensioners. Percentage to (a). Percentage to (6). 1906 (actual) 1907 (estimated).. 1908 1909 ,,J 1910 1911 (actual) 1912 .. 1913 40,788 42,337 43,371 44,562 44,838 47,700 48,294 48,915 37,367 38,611 39,336 40,176 40,238 41,990 42,772 43,557 11,915 12,597 12,912 13,705 14,626 15,336 15,984 15,830 29 29 29 30 32 32 33 32 31 32 32 34 36 36 37 36