H.—lB.

1937. NEW ZEALAND.

THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1937.

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

Tlie Commissioner of Pensions to the Hon. the Minister of Pensions. Sir, — Pensions Department, Wellington, 30th August, 1937. 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, invalidity, and sundry pensions, family allowances, and war veterans' allowances for the year ended 31s't March, 1937. 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 : 1935-36, £2 9s. Id. ; 1936-37, £3 ss. 9d.

* Blind pensions formerly payable have been merged with invalidity pensions.

As at 3Xst March, 1936. As at 31st March, 1937. Class of Pension. ~ ~Total _ Total Number. Annual Value.l Payments, Number. Annual Value. Payments, | 1935-36. 1936-37. £ £ £ £ War .. .. .. 22,631 1,384,340 1,349,447 23,711 1,532,424 1,483,345 Old-age .. .. .. 43,309 1,828,150 1,718,601 54,134 3,068,293 2,413,103 Widows' .. .. 4,369 321,605 311,864 4,753 464,879 412,280 Maori War .. .. 43 2,107 2,577 36 2,106 1,972 Mines' .. .. .. 851 73,331 67,834 1,040 87,838 83,253 Epidemic .. .. •• 10 501 907 3 76 253 * Invalidity .. .. .. 507 23,961 22,991 7,491 478,165 284,760 Boer War .. .. 55 2,086 2,127 57 2,131 2,067 Sundry pensions and annuities 151 15,065 13,053 144 13,161 13,892 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 13 4,460 4,676 11 3,933 4,106 Family allowances .. .. 11,691 144,856 149,043 9,515 125,702 130,730 War veterans'allowances .. 1,043 58,358 16,544 2,079 151,713 110,667 Totals .. .. | 84,673 3,858,820 3,659,664102,974 5,930,421 ; 4,940,428