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8

Cost of Administration. The total cost under this head for the year amounted to ti1,591, including a special contribution to the Post Office of £1,849 for payments made by it during the year 1912 13 on account of salaries and other charges subsequent to the recreation of the Department on the 14th November, 1912. The details are as follows :— £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,905 Contributions to Post Office for paying pensions .. .. .. 3,000 Postage and telegrams .. .. .. .. .. .. 733 Printing and stationery .. .. .. .. .. .. 598 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. 163 Bonuses for military pensions .. .. .. 105 Telephones .". .. .. .. .. 92 Office-cleaning .. .. .. .. .. .. 72 Fees for certificates of age (net) .. .. .. .. .. 11 Contingencies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 63 Special contribution to Post Office (expenses 1912-13) .. 1,849 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £11,591 Of the increase of £6,330 on the cost in the previous year, no less than £5,074 represents payments made to the Post and Telegraph Department, including the special contribution of £1,849 for 1912-13 already mentioned, and £3,825 for services not charged for when pension matters were controlled by that Department. The proportion of the actual cost of administration for the year—i.e., £9,742 —to the gross amount paid in pensions during the year — i.e., £473,300 —is 2-05 per cent. The 'jross (list of administering all classes of pension to date from the passing of the original Oldage Pension Act is £72,415. Comparing this amount with the gross payments on account of pensions over the same period —namely, £4.473,480— the percentage is 1-61 per cent., as compared with 1-51 in 1913, and 1-50 in 1912. Pensions in Australia. A comparison of the last available figures relating to old-age pensions in Australia with the figures of the Dominion is submitted hereunder, from which it will lie seen that the percentages in many directions are practically identical. Australia, at New Zealand, at 30th June, 1913. 31st March, 1914. European population .. .. .. .. 4,802,155 1,089,825 European population eligible by age .. .. 251,900 49,473* Number of old-age pensioners (European) .. 82,943f 17,379 Percentage of pensioners to population eligible by age 32-93 32-75* Percentage of pensioners to total population .. 1-72 1-69 Total pensions granted since Act passed .. .. 110,174 10,143 Total deaths since Act passed .. .. .. 23,771 17,001 Claims dealt with (last year) .. .. .. 14,417 4,885 Claims rejected (last year) .. .. .. 1,450 689 Percentage rejected (last year) .. .. .. 10 14 Pensions granted (last year) .. .. .. 11,304 3,320 Percentage granted (last year) .. .. .. 78 67 Pensions granted to females 60 to 64 (last year) .. 3,553 1,100 Deaths (last year) .. .. .. .. 6,557 1,479 Percentage of deaths (last year).. .. .. 7-25 7-45 Pensions cancelled (last year) .. .. .. 875 300 Increase in number of pensions (last year) .. 3,872 1,541 Liability at close of year .. .. ■.. £2,098,798 £447.705 Average pension .. .. .. .. £25 7s. £24 16s. Total payments (last vcar) .. .. .. £2,302,335J C!73,300§ Cost per head of European population (last year) .. 9s. 7d. Bs. Bd. Cost of administration (last year) .. .. £44,523 £9,742 Percentage of cost of administration to payments T93 2-05 (last year) Percentage increase of population during last three 9-95 8-0(5 years Percentage increase of pensioners during last three 26-65 13.32 years The latest figures from Australia relating to invalid pensions are as follows :— Pensions in force on 30th June, 1913 .. .. .. .. 13,739 Tensions in force on 28th November, 1913 .. .. .. .. 14,647 Net increase on previous year .. ... .. .. .. 2,976 Claims dealt with, 1912-1913 .. .. .. .. .. 6,156 Pensions granted, 1912 1913 .. .. .. .. .. 1,389 Liability at 30th June, 1913 .. .. .. .. .. £350,636 * Women at age DO In 64 not included. f 87,680 on 30th June, 1914. J Includes invalid pensions. £2,704,000, for year ended :i()tli .I line. 1014. !j Includes widows' and military pensions.