EL—lB

1920. NEW ZEALAN D.

TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1920.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 70 of the Pensions Act, 1913.

The Commissioner oi? Pensions to the Hon. the Minister op Pensions. Sir, — Pensions Department, Wellington, 31st July, 1920. I have the honour to furnish herewith, for the information of Parliament, the report of the Department relating to war, old-age, widows', military (Maori War), and miners' pensions for the year ended 31st March, 1920. The following summaries show at a glance the position at the close of the year : —

Pensions in Force and Annual Value at 31st March, 1920.

Gross Payments, Year 1919-20.

Cost per head of European population, £2 6s. 9d.

PENSION LEGISLATION. During the year legislation was embodied in the Finance Act, 1919, amending certain of the provisions relating to war, widows' (civil), and miners' pensions, providing for pensions in respect of the death and disablement of police officers, and extending the benefits of the War Pensions Acts to persons already in receipt of pensions payable in respect of service in the Boer War.

Number of Pensions. „ f „ . Allowances T . , Avora S e Pension - Statutory , ... Total Pensions. Aot 1917 Pensions. Statutory. Total. Par .. ild-age ■/idows' lilitary liners' 34,571 19,993 3,444 939 415 ~T~ I £ £ £ £ £ 1,869,366 .. 1,869,366 54 54 471,826 259,909 731,735 23 36 185,968 .. 185,968 54 "54 33,804 9,490 43,294 36 46 23,543 .. 23,543 56 56 Totals .. 59,362 2,584,507 269,399 ,2,853,906 i

Statutory Pensions. T ° tal PensioM> War .. Old-age Widows' Military (Maori War) Miners' Totals .. £ £ £ 1,812,419 .. 1,812,419 475,869 257,099 732,968 136,815 .. 136,815 34,973 10,112 45,085 16,652 .. 16,652 2,476,728 267,211 2,743,939