H,— lB.

Section 17 of the Finance Act, 1935, increased by 7-§ per cent, those dependants' pensions which had been reduced by 17| per cent, under the National Expenditure Adjustment Act, 1932. Economic pensions to ex-soldiers and their dependants were also increased by 1\ per cent. Wab Veterans' Allowances. The War Veterans' Allowances Act, 1935, which came into force on the 24th October, 1935, made provision for the payment of allowances to veterans who served with a unit in actual engagement with the enemy and to members of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service who served overseas, if they are now unfit for permanent employment. A veteran includes a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, a member of any other of the British Forces who was domiciled in New Zealand at the commencement of the Great War, and a member of any New Zealand contingent raised for service in the South African War who was domiciled in New Zealand at the commencement of that war. The following rates of allowances are provided : Unmarried veteran, £52 per annum ; married veteran, £52 per annum, with an additional £39 in respect of his wife and £13 on account of each dependent child, the maximum allowance payable under the Act being £143 per annum. Income exemptions of £26 and £39 are provided in the cases of single and married applicants respectively.

Statistics in regard to Civil Pensions.

Total European population at 31st March, 1936, 1,491,708.

5

1-1 Old-age. i Widows'. Maori War. ! Miners'. Blind. Epidemic. Pensions in force at 31st March, 1935 .. 40,141 4,505 65 115-f-J 34 New pensions granted, 1935-36 .. .. 6 ,476 696 .. J" Deaths during 1935-36 .. .. .. 2,746 10 22 70' 13 Cancellations during 1935-36 .. .. 562 822 4 9 24 Net increase or decrease .. .. .. +3,168 —136 — 22 +68 +33 —24 Pensions in force at 31st March, 1936 .. 43,309 4,369 43 851 507 10 Total children in. receipt of pension, 31st .. 8,901 .. 335 .. 10 March, 1936 Total European pensioners sixty-five years and 34,205 . . .. over at 31st March, 1936 Total female European pensioners sixty years 7,156 to sixty-four years at 31st March, 1936 Total Maori pensioners .. .. .. 1,901 395 14 .. 66 { Pensioners under section 7 (6), Pensions Act, 50 1926 Percentage of European pensioners to total 2-8 European population New claims lodged .. .. .. 7,851 797 .. 219 83 New claims rejected .. .. .. 1,264 92 .. 69 24 Number of children on whose account pension .. 1,678 granted Annual liability at 31st March, 1936 .. £1,828,150 £321,605 £2,107 £73,331 £23,961 £501 Average pension per annum .. .. £42 4 3 £73 12 3 £49 0 0 £86 3 5 £47 5 3 £50 2 1 Gross expenditure for year 1935-36 .. £1,718,601 £311,864 £2,577 £67,834 £22,991 £907 Increase or decrease on figures of previous +£198,712 +£15,299 —£1,030 +£9,094 +£1,764 —£] ,076 year Cost per head of European population . . £] 3s. Od. 4s. 2d. 0'4d. 10-9d. 3-7d. 0-15d. Credit from national endowment .. .. £41,129 Refunds paid to Public Account .. .. £830 £158 .. £8 £1 Number of pensioners in homes and hospitals 1,139 .. 4 13 110 Amount paid to controlling authorities of £51,134 .. £278 £914 £6,860 these Number of pensioners in mental hospitals .. 161 2 .. 1 Amount paid to Mental Hospitals Depart- £6,664 £50 .. £61 ment on account of these Unpaid instalments as at 31st March, 1936 .. £7,723 £1,624 £13 £114 £75 £3 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid.. £2,009 £482 .. £37 £71 Average of family under fifteen years ' .. .. 2-04 Total claims lodged to date .. .. 148,972 19,913 1,893 3,076 966 Total claims established .. .. .. 117,810 17,020 1,698 2,391 706 972 Total claims rejected .. .. 30,384 2,839 195 659 250 Total number of children benefited.. .. .. 41,129 Total deaths .. .. .. .. 60,506 144 1,649 972 139 14 Total guardians appointed .. .. .. 388 Total cancellations .. .. .. 13,995 12,507 6 568 60 948 Grand total paid to date .. .. .. £25,095,618 £4,851,386 £607,437 £820,205 £173,857 £473,834 Total amount paid on account funeral expenses .. .. .. £8,952 Total credit from national endowment .. £819,449 * Miners. t Widows of miners. J Pensions may be granted to males sixty years and over and to females fifty-five years and over in cases where two or more children under fifteen are being maintained. The fifty cases above comprise : European — Males, 60 and under 65, 39 ; females, 55 and under 60, 8 ; Maori— Males, 60 and under 65, 3.