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MINERS' PENSIONS. The Miner's Phthisis Act, which was. brought into operation immediately it received the Governor's assent on the 11th October, 1915, provides for the following classes of pension : — To miners incapacitated for work (married) .. . . £52 per annum. To miners incapacitated for work (single) .. .. £39 per annum. To widows of miners (for two years only) .. . . . . £32 10s. per annum. . 1915-16. 1916-17. New pensions granted .. .. .. .. .. .. 120 153 Deaths . . .. . . .. . . .. .. .... 35 Pensions in force at end of year .. . . . . .. .. 120 238 Annual liability at close of year .. .. .. .. .. £5,445 £9,984 Average pension . . .. .. .. .. .. .. £45 £41 1.95. Gross expenditure for year .. .. .. .. .. .. £1,509 £8,066 Credit to vote from gold duty .. , .. .. .. .. £4,028 £2,672 Absolutely forfeited, instalments . . .. .. .. .. £7 £44 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid .. .. .. .. £13 £112 Total, claims lodged to date . . .. .. .. .. .. 313 Total claims established . . .. . . .. . . .. 273 Total claims rejected .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Total deaths .. . . .. . . .. .. .. 35 Total amount paid on account of funeral expenses .. .. .. £438 Number of Pensions at each Rate granted since Commencement. Annual Value. £ 123 at £52 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,396 60 at £39 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,340 90 at £32 10s. ... .. .. .. ..' .. 2,925 273 11,661 Less 35 deaths .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,677 Net 238 £9,984 Ages (in Groups) op Pensioners at 31st March, 1917. Ages. Miners. Widows. 32-40 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..10 12 41-50 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 30 51-60 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..39 25 61-70 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..43 15 Over 70 .. .. .. .. .. .. 39 5 151 87 238 COST OF ADMINISTRATION. 1918-16. 1.916-17. £ £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,880 6,416 Contribution to Post Office .. .. .. .. .. ..3,000 3,750 Fees for certificates of age . . . . .. .. .. .. 8 11 Honoraria of members of War Pensions Board . . .. .. .. 81 158 Interpreters' fees .. .. .. . . .. .. . . 2 2 Light, firing, and water .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 16 Medical fees .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 65 1,670 Office requisites .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 124 Postage, telegrams, and rent of boxes .. .. .. .. .. 808 1,238 Printing and stationery . . .. .. .. .. 734 832 Telephones ..' .. .. .. .. . . .. 56 78 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. ... , .. .. ~ 145 480 Contingencies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 78 525 Totals ' .. .. .. .. £9,883 £15,300 Number of officers on staff at 31st March .. .. .. -.. 40 60 ROLL OF HONOUR. List op Officers with Expeditionary Forces. Morgan, G. 0., killed in action (Gallipoli), 11/5/15 Fulton, E. W. Robertson, A. W., killed in action (France), 22/6/16 Smyth, R. P. Mcßride, D. J., killed in action (France), 7/6/17 Smith, H. D. Keddell, P. A., wounded (France), 2/10/16. Waters, B. F. Murphy, B. E. Cunningham, P. Parfitt, A. H. " ".".. G. 0. Fache, Commissioner of Pensions.