3

H.—lB

Pensions payable outside New Zealand as at the 31st March, 1922.

Appeals to the War Pensions Medical Appeal Board. The, War Pensions Medical Appeal Board set up in terms of section 2 of the Finance Act, 1920, commenced its sittings in June, 1921, and the appeals heard up to the 31st March, 1922, were dealt with as follows :—

OLD-AGE PENSIONS. European. Maori. Total. Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1921 .. .. .. 18,999 838 19,837 New pensions granted, 1921-22 .. .. .. ..2,414 139 2,553 Deaths during 1921-22 .. .. .. .. ..1,513 65) IaQQ Cancellations 1921-22 .. .. .. .. .. 313 81 i,Baa Net increase . . . . .. .. .. .. 654 Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1922 .. .. .. 19,587 904 20,491 Year 1921-22. Total European population at the 31st March, 1922 .. .. .. .. 1,248,216 Total European pensioners, sixty-five and over, at the 31st March, 1922 .. . . 15,488 Female European pensioners, sixty to sixty-four, at the 31st March, 1922 .. . . 4,099 Percentage of European pensioners to total European population .. .. .. 1-6 New claims lodged .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,278 New claims rejected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 680 Annual liability at the 31st March, 1922 . . . . . . . . . . . . £751,121 Average pension '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £36 13s. Gross expenditure for year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £743,620 Increase on figures of previous year .. .. . . . . . . . . £12,277 Cost per head of European population . . . . . . . . . . . H s . lid. Credit from national endowment .. .. .. .. .. .. £30.744 Refunds paid to Public Account .. .. .. .. .. .. £1,504 Number of pensioners in homes and hospitals .. . . . . .. . . 1 ; 052 Amount paid to controlling authorities of these .. .. .. .. £40,624 Number of pensioners in mental hospitals .. .. .. . . . . 93 Amount paid to Mental Hospitals Department on account of these .. .. £3,345 Absolutely forfeited instalments .. .. . . .. .. .. .. £3,724 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid .. .. .. .. .. £4,231 Total claims lodged to date .. .. .. .. .. 75,313 Total claims established .. .. .. .. 58,767 Total deaths .. .. . .. .. .. .. 30,536 Total cancellations .. . . . . . . 7,740 Grand total paid since 1898 .. .. .. .. £9,403,751 Total credit from national endowment . .. . . .. £329,898

Soldiers. Permanent. Temporary. Wives of Soldiers. Depei idants. Annual Liability. Other Dependants. Temporary. Widows. jlreat Britain \ustralia Dther countries 92 254 45 241 ' 3 20 92 45 3 140 ■ 254 241 ' 20 515 20 8 1 193 76 2 728 177 9 £ 62,130 28,746 2,103 Totals 140 515 29 271 914 92,979

Result of Appeal. 1 Number of Appeals by Soldiers. Number of Appeals by Dependants. Total. Dismissed Upheld Pension reduced Pension made permanent Pension cancelled 319 23 29 4 14 319 23 29 4 14 5 2 324 25 29 4 14 Totals 389 389 7 396 J_ •