H.—lB

5

Widows' Pensions. Pensions in Force. —The number of pensioners under this head on the 31st March, including 15 .Maoris, was 1,540, being an increase on the figures of the previous year of 227, thus : — Europeans. Maoris. Total. New grants . . .. .. .. .. .. 418 3 421 Deduct— Deaths .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Cancellations .. .. .. .. ..189 4 194 Increase .. .. .. .. .. .. 227 There were in reality 10 deaths of widows during the year, but in 9 cases continuation of the pension was authorized in favour of the guardian of the children in accordance with the Act, thus leaving the pensions of these still in force. The total deaths since of pension was introduced number 20, and the total number of guardians appointed 16. The liability at the close of the year was £29,320, an average of £19 per pension. The percentage of pensioners drawing the full pension at the various rates for families of different sixes is 96 per cent. New ('taints. The claims lodged during the year totalled 500, being a decrease of 168 on the figures of the previous year. These, with the 79 awaiting investigation at the commencement of the year, made a total of 579 dealt with, which were accounted for as follows : — Granted .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..421 Rejected .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 77 On hand awaiting investigation .. .. .. .. 81 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. ..579 The total claims lodged now numher 2,305, of which number 1,869 have been established as pensions. 82 per cent, being still on the roll at the end of the year. No statistics are available regarding the number of widows in the Dominion beyond the figures of the 191 I census, which show approximately 8,500 between the ages of 20 and 55. It is from these that the pensioners are mostly drawn, and the percentage now on the roll is 17 per cent. Last year it was 15 per cent. Of the 14,200 widows of the age of 60 and upwards, as shown by the same census, there are 5,694 on the old-age-pensions roll. Last year, out of 10,900 of the age of 65 and over, 4,906 were old-age pensioners. Of the new pensioners, 3 were Maoris and 288 were Xew-Zealand-born whites ; 6 only were of foreign extraction. Of the rejected claims, numbering 77, 38 represent cases where the income or applicant was in excess of the amount allowed by law. The total families of the new pensioners range from 1 to Hi, and the number of children under 14 In one family from Ito !i the averages being—Total family, 4-4; family under 14, 2-5. Theaverage of Ihe tolal family in the two preceding years was 5. Details are set out in Table KILL of the appendix. The children on whose account the pension has been granted, to date number 4,617, and the total children of pensioners 9,165, thus : — I'elisions Children Total granted. under Fourteen. Children. Year 1911-12 .. .. .. .. 791 1,923 3,992 „ 1912-13 .. .. .. .. 657 1,604 3,295 „ 1913-14 .. .. .. .. 421 1,090 1,868 Totals .. .. ..1,869 4,617 9,155 Deduct from these figures the children of the 329 pensioners wdiose pensions have ceased, mostly on account of the said children having reached the age of ft, and there remains the number of children of the 1,540 on the roll at the 31st March, as follows : — Children under 14 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..3,971 Total children (of all ages) .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,583 Particulars relating to the distribution of pensioners throughout the Dominion, to the number payable at each rate, and to the ages and nationality of the new pensioners as well as of all pensioners will be found in Tables 1, HI, V, and VI of the appendix. In Table IX details are supplied of the pensions granted in each year, the deaths and cancellations over the same period, and the annual liability. Payment*. —The gross payments on account of widows' pensions for the year amounted to £27,077, an increase of £4,963 on the figures of the previous year, the cost per head of the European population being a fraction under Od. After deducting £1 10s. for overpaid instalments refunded, the net charge against the Consolidated Fund was £27,073. The gross payments in each year to date have been as follows : — £ 1911 12 (two months) .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,963 1912-13 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22,115 1913-14 .. .. .. .. .. .. 27,077 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £51,155 The instalments absolutely forfeited during the year amounted to £140.