H.—lB.

1936. NEW ZEALAND.

THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1936.

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 op Pensions. g IB Pensions Department, Wellington, 23rd July, 1936. 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, family allowances, and war veterans' allowances, for the year ended 31st March, 1936. 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 : 1934-35, £2 ss. ; 1935-36, £2 9s. Id.

As at 31st March, 1935. As at 31st March. 1936. Class of Pension. Total Total Number. Annual Value. Payments, Number. Annual Value. Payments, 1934-35. 1935-36. £ £ £ £ War .. ..21,678 1,264,375 1,264,110 22,631 1,384,340 1,349,447 .. .J 40,141 1,583,413 1,519,889 43.309 1,828,150 1,718,601 Widows' .. .. •• 4,505 294,437 296,565 4,369 321,605 311,864 Maori War .. .. .. 65 3,185 3,607 43 2,107 2,577 Miners' .. 783 60,510 58,740 851 73,331 67,834 Epidemic 34 1,563 1,983 10 501 907 Blind .. .. •• 474 22,151 21,227 507 23,961 22,991 Boer War .. .. .. 53 2,108 2,084 55 2,086 2,127 Sundry pensions and annuities.. 139 12,176 12,120 151 15,065 13,053 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 15 5,073 5,211 13 4,460 4,676 Family allowances .. .. 12,321 151,169 152,818 11,691 144,856 149,043 War veterans'allowances .. .. •• 1,043 58,358 16,544 Totals .. .. 80,208 3,400,160 3,338,354 84,673 3,858,820 3,659,664