H.—fB

1922. NEW ZEALAND.

TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1922.

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

The Commissioner of Pensions to the Hon. the Minister of Pensions. Sir, — Pensions Department, Wellington Ist July, 19122, I have the honour to furnish herewith, for the information of Parliament, 'the report of the Department relating to war, old-age, widows', M'aori War, miners', epidemic, and police pensions for the year ended 31st March, 1922. The following comparative statements relate to the annual value and gross payments of all pensions administered by this Department for the past two years : —

Pensions in Force, and Annual Value.

Gross Payments.

1— H. 18.

At ,'ilst larch, 1921. At 31st March, 1922. Class of Pension. Number. Annual Value. j Number. Annual Value. War Old-age . . Widows' . . Maori War Miners' . . Epidemic Police 31 ,764 19,837 3,42.1 811 474 849 5 £ 1,748,865 737,378 198,767 39,739 29,686 71,486 390 29,091 20,491 3,343 740 506 683 5 £ 1,513,263 751,121 207,029 o6,260 31,505 54,994 446 Totals 57,161 2,826,311 54,859 2,594,618

Class of Pension. 1920-21. 1921-22. War .. Old-age Widows' Maori War Miners' Epidemic Police £ 1,886,952 731,343 187,430 40,213 26,972 72,456 136 £ 1,726,174 743,620 186,457 37,737 31,212 65.486 433 Totals 2,945,802 2,791,119 Cost per head of European population £2 8s. lid. £2 4s. 9d.