ll.—lB

1928. NEW ZEALAND.

THIRTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1928.

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

The Commissioner or Pensions to the Hon. the Minister of Pensions. Sir, — Pensions Department, Wellington, 30th June, 1928. 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, and family allowances for the year ended 31st March, 1928. 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 : 1926-27, £1 16s. 9d. ; 1927-28, £1 17s. Bd.

As at 31st March, 1927. As at 31st March, 1928. Class of Pension. Total ; Tofci] Number. Annual Value. Payments, Number. Annual Value.! Payments, 1926-27. I 1927-28. £ £ £ £ War .. .. .. 20,625 1,126,206 1,128,988 20,560 1,131,752 1,151,979 Old-age .. .. .. 23,751 995,353 982,356 24,875 1,038,249 1,010,575 Widows' .. .. .. 3,970 305,586 301,861 4,098 307,865 304,066 Maori War .. .. .. 374 18,326 19,458 308 15,092 16,390 Miners' .. .. .. 668 41,951 41,940 721 45,773 45.096 Epidemic .. .. .. 259 9,016 10,951 209 8,142 8,747 Blind .. .. .. 232 11,090 10,338 259 12,479 12,264 Boer War .. .. .. 64 2,689 2,624 63 2,663 2,710 Special annuities .. .. 113 11,410 10,054 108 10,569 11,031 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 50 13,929 14,659 42 12,220 13,260 Family allowances .. .. .. .. .. 3,006 46,557 37,652 Totals .. .. 50,106 2,535,556 2,523,229 54,249 2,631,361 2,613,770