H.—.18.

1927. NEW ZEALAND.

TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1927.

Presented to both Homes of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 90 of the Pensions Act, 1926.

The Commissioner, op Pensions to the Hon. the Minister of Pensions. Sir, — Pensions Department, Wellington, 31st May, 1927. I have the honour to furnish herewith, for the information of Parliament, the report of the Department relating to war, old-age, widows', Maori War, miners', epidemic, blind, and sundry pensions for the year ended 31st March, 1927. The following comparative statement relates to the annual value and gross payments of all pensions administered by the Department for the past two years : —

Pensions in Force: Annual Value and Total Payments.

Cost per head of European population : 1925—26, £1 16s. 9d. ; 1926-27, £1 16s. 9d. The following figures relate to the war and other pensions paid by the Department during the year on behalf of other Governments : —

As at 31st March. 1926. As at 31st March, 1927. Class of Pension. Total • Total Number. Annual Value. Payments, Number. Annual Value. Payments, 1925-26. 1926-27. £ £ £ £ War .. .. .. 20,716 1,122,843 1,185,161 20,625 1,126,206 1,128,988 Old-age .. .. .. 22,905 981,886 903,577 23,751 995,353 982,356 Widows' .. .. .. 3,833 301,121 286,450 3,970 305,586 301,861 Maori War.. .. .. 444 21,756 23,067 374 18,326 19,458 Miners' .. .. .. 640 40,462 40,239 668 41,951 41,940 Epidemic .. .. .. 313 11,802 14,522 259 9,016 10,951 Blind .. .. .. 196 9,396 8,053 232 11,090 10,338 Boer War .. .. .. I 60 2,445 2,902 64 2,689 2,624 Special annuities .. .. 102 9,292 8,752 113 11,410 10,054 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 55 15,278 16,855 50 13,929 14,659 Totals .. .. | 49,264 2,516,281 2,489,578 50,106 2,535,556 2,523,229

Number at \ i a d Government. Class of Pension. 31st March, PeZion. 1926-"" 8 ' £ £ £ Great Britain .. .. .. Wax .. .. 1,917 109,409 57 \ 1fi „ „_ g ,, .. .. .. Army and civil 651 36,900 57 j ' Australia .. .. .. War" .. .. 564 23,779 42 26,094 India .. .. .. •• Army and civil 82 20,382 249 26,398 South Africa .. .. • ■ War . . .. 2 252 126 299 .. Civil .. .. 25 2,697 108 2,550 Crown Colonies .. .. 29 7,131 246 7,607 Canada .. . • • • War .. .. 2 484 242 488 Totals .. .. -. 3,272 201,034 .. 226,808