8.—6

XXVI

WAR PENSIONS. In the gross payments under this head there has been, as was of course expected, a heavy increase in the total. The figures are as follow : — 1917-18. 1918-19. £ £ Payments made in New Zealand .. 495,060 1,159,455 Payments made in London . . ~ 12,567 28,623 Payments made in Australia, . . 2,925 10,870 Payments made in Canada, .. . . . . 192 Other foreign payments .. . . 294 295 Allotments paid after casualty . . 4,494 120 Lump sums . . . . . . 105 200 Sundry . . . . . . .. 2 Totals .. ~£515,447 £1,199,755 The total new claims to date, including those lodged during the year, are : — From Soldiers. From Dependants. Prior to the 31st March, 1918 .. .. 12,904 6,452 For year ended the 31st March, 1919 .. 14,749 5,292 Totals .. . . ..27,653 11,744 The annual liability at the 31st March, 19.19, was £1,615,827, and the average pension is £59. The following table, shows the various classes of pension n force at end of -year : — Number AnnUa] Average Value. Pension. £ £ Permanent pensions to soldiers .. .. 1,316 69,669 53 Temporary pensions to soldiers .. .. 18,329 1,097,303 60 Temporary pensions to dependants (including 1,240 children) .. .. .. 1,076 55,940 52 Pensions to widows (including 2,209 children) 1,970 233,451 119 Pensions to other dependants .. .. 4,736 159,464 34 27,427 1,615,827 59 The pensions granted to date, and the annual value thereof, are as follow: — Number. Annual Value. £ 1915-16 .. .. .. 1,214 56,488 1916-17 .. .. .. 5,316 285,707 1917-18 .. .. .. 10,587 . 780,057 1918-19 .. .. .. 16,954 1,167,081 34,071 £2,289,333 f It is estimated that an. expenditure of £2,000,000 under this head will have to be provided for during the current year. DEPARTMENT OF IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES. The purchase of the Dominion's primary products by the Imperial Government has been continued during the past year. The contract for the purchase of frozen meat commenced on the 3rd March, 1915, and from that date to the 31st March, 1919, the following shipments were made : 2,452,259 quarters beef, 8,392,329 carcases mutton, 9,864,344 carcases lamb. The Imperial Government agreed to extend the contract for the purchase of frozen meat to the 30th June, 1920, under the existing terms with an additional condition to the effect that if there should be any accumulation of meat in store on the date mentioned the meat purchased by the Imperial Government should have