H.—lB

1929. NEW ZEALAND.

THIRTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1929.

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

The Commissioner of Pensions to the Hon. the Minister of Pensions. Sir,' — Pensions Department, Wellington, 29th June, 1929 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, 1929. 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.

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. 1928. As at 31st March, 1929. Class of Pension. I m . , j ' , , Total Total Number. Annual Value. Payments, Number. Annual Value. Payments, 1927-28. 1928-29. £ £ £ £ War .. .. .. 20,560 1,131,752 1,151,979 20,686 1,161,799 1,184,003 Old-age .. .. .. 24,875 1,038,249 1,010,575 26,110 1,091,262 1,060,760 Widows' .. .. .. 4,098 307,865 304,066 4,332 322,861 313,964 Maori War .. .. .. 308 15,092 16,390 259 12,691 13,653 Miners' .. .. .. 721 45,773 45,096 760 48,367 48,074 Epidemic .. .. .. 209 8,142 8,747 188 8,030 7,988 Blind .. .. .. 259 12,479 12,264 282 13,529 13,334 Boer War .. .. .. 63 2,663 2,710 62 2,643 2,700 Sundry pensions and annuities.. 108 10,569 11,031 109 10,186 10,296 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 42 12,220 13,260 39 11,772 12,260 Family allowances .. .. 3,006 46,557 37,652 3,763 ; 57,304 54,791 __ ' !__ I Totals .. .. | 54,249 | 2,631,361 | 2,613,770 56,590 2,740,444 2,721,823 Cost per head of European population : 1927-28, £1 17s. 8d. ; 1928-29, £1 18s. 9d.

Number at I . . . Government. Class of Pension. 3lst March, ' ,1,Lua average ay men s, I9'>9 Value. Pension. 1928-29. £ £ s. d. £ Great Britain .. .. War .. .. 1,746 89,186 51 0 0\ .. Army and civil .. 779 55,865 72 0 Of Australia .. War and civil .. 532 24,070 45 5 0 2.5,203 India .. .. .. Army and civil .. 76 19,078 251 0 0 23,663 South Africa .. .. War . . . . 3 146 48 10 0 125 .. Civil .. .. 26 3,345 129 0 0 3,159 Crown Colonies .. .. „ .. 24 I 8,366 348 0 0 6,627 Canada .. .. .. War .. .. II 182 182 0 0 433 Totals.. .. .. 3,187 200,238 .. 214,763