H.—lB.

Disabled Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment Act, 1930. Although this Act to provide for re-establishment of disabled ex-soldiers in civil employment or occupation became law in October, 1930, it was not possible, owing to lack of finance, to put the Act into operation until July, 1931, when local advisory committees representative of the returned soldiers of the Dominion, South African War veterans, War Funds Societies, organizations of employers and of workers, the New Zealand Branch of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John, and the Government, were set up in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. These committees appointed sub-committees in the smaller centres. To act in conjunction with the committees, an employment officer was appointed at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Up to the present the efforts of the committees and employment officers have been confined to the classification of applicants, to the finding of employment for disabled soldiers and to the providing of vocational training at technical schools. While the procuring of suitable employment for disabled men is difficult during the present economic depression, when there are thousands of able-bodied unemployed available, the committees and employment officers have been able, in addition to procuring work of a casual nature, to obtain positions for sixty-two men. As it is trusted that the corner of the economic depression has been turned, and that trade and industrial conditions will improve from now on, it is hoped that the efforts of the committees and employment officers will slowly but surely meet, with better success, particularly so if it is possible at an early date to place some funds at their disposal to assist in the work of enabling these disabled ex-soldiers to regain their place in civil life.

Statistics in regard to Civil Pensions.

5

■ - j - Old-age. Widows'. Maori War. Miners'. Blind. Epidemic. Pensions in force at 31st March, 1931 .. 28,995 4,566 170 / \ 330 138 New pensions granted, 1931-32 .. .. 5,806 798 .. 175 45 Deaths during 1931-32 .. .. .. 2,188 8 27 56 13 Cancellations during 1931-32 .. 296 647 .. 4 2 ' 27 Net increase or decrease .. .. .. +3,322 +143 — 27 +115 +30 —27 Pensions in force at 31st March, 1932 .. 32,317 4,709 143 / Anlt\ 36 0 111 Total children in receipt of pension. 31st .. 9,695 irr March, 1932 '" "" 10 ° Total European pensioners sixtv-five years and 25,716 over at 31st March, 1932 Total female European pensioners sixty years 4,991 to sixty-four years at 31st March, 1932* Percentage of European pensioners to total 2-1 European population Total Maori pensioners .. .. .. 1,572 346 50 39 New claims lodged .. .. .. 7,079 922 .. "236 71 New claims rejected .. .. .. 1,284 113 .. 56 17 Number of children on whose account pension .. 1,829 granted Annual liability at 31st March, 1932 .. £1,353,360 £345,471 £7,007 £74,035 £17,179 £4 998 Average pension per annum .. .. £41 18s. £73 7s. £49 £74 14s. £47 14s ' 'f45 Gross expenditure for year 1931-32 .. £1,277,107 £340,162 £7,582 £69,785 £16,710 £5,580 Increase or decrease on figures of previous +£118,319 +£14,164 —£1,520 +£11,344 +£914 —£742 year Cost per head of European population .. 17s. 7d. 4s. 8d. l-3d. Hid. 2-8d. 0-9d Credit from national endowment .. .. £34,018 Credit from gold duty .. .. .. .. .. ,. £2 832 Refunds paid to Public Account .. .. £2,641 £1,142 £4 ' '£3Q £59 Number of pensioners in homes and hospitals 1,066 .. 10 5 88 Amount paid to controlling authorities of £49,479 £416 £323 £5 059 these Number of pensioners in mental hospitals .. 125 .. .. 2 2 Amount paid to Mental Hospitals Depart- £5,504 .. .. £94 £81 ment on account of these Unpaid instalments as at 31st March, 1932 .. £5,312 £2,449 £20 £220 £46 £37 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid.. £1,707 £578 £4 £49 £26 Average of total family of pensioners .. .. 3-99 Average of family under fifteen years .. .. 2-06 Total claims lodged to date .. .. 120,117 16,710 1,893 632 Total claims established .. .. .. 94,357 14,203 1,698 1,955 469 "972 Total claims rejected .. .. .. 25,099 2,429 195 397 150 Total number of children benefited.. .. .. 34,653 Total deaths .. .. .. .. 50,385 124 1 1,550 751 "81 " 14 Total guardians appointed .. .. .. 293 Total cancellations ... .. .. 11,655 9,370 5 213 "28 "847 Grand total paid to date .. .. .. £19,234,989 £3,629,620 £590,900 £574,258 £92,268 £463 457 Total credit from gold duty .. .. .. .. £51 023 Total amount paid on account funeral expenses .. .. £6 ,'682 Total credit from national endowment .. £695,878 ,. * Miners. f Widows. Total European population at 31st March, 1932, 1,455,167.