H.—lB.

War Veterans' Allowances Appeals. Appeals outstanding on 31st March, 1936 j. .. ~ . . 36 Appeals lodged during 1936-37 .. .. . . .. . . 96 — 132 Appeals dismissed during 1936-37 .. .. .. .. .. 67 Appeals upheld during 1936-37 . . .. . . . . 42 Appeals withdrawn and struck out, 1936-37 .. .. .. . . 5 — 114 Appeals outstanding on 31st March, 1937 .. .. .. jg Percentage upheld, 36'8 Family Allowances. The claims lodged during the year totalled 1,417, which, with the 225 outstanding from the previous year, made a total of 1,642 to be dealt with. Of these, 1,131 were accepted and 308 rejected. n re ject e d. claims represent cases where the income of the family was in excess of the limit allowed. Three hundred and seventy-nine new claims from Maoris were finally dealt with during the year, 241 being granted and 138 rejected. The total children of the 9,515 allowances in force as at 31st March, 1937, and those in excess of two ib a family numbered 43,454 an d 24,424, the average per family being 4-56 and 2*56 respectively. The total amount paid during the year was £130,730, while the total annual value of all allowances m force at the close of the year was £125,702.

Weekly Rates at which Allowances granted.

Numbers according to Size of Family.

Weekly Incomes of Families.

Co,st op Administration. Tie-cost of administration for the year amounted to £88,039, the principal items of expenditure being £45,385 for salaries of officers of the Department, who numbered 265 as at 31st March, 1937 ; £15,745 and £4,601 paid to the Postal Department for payment of pensions and postage and telegrams respectively ; £5,230 for salaries and other expenses of the War Pensions Appeal Board ; and £2,427 for salaries of the War Pensions Board. The percentage of cost of administration to the total pension payments made of £5,163,756 (including £223,328 paid on behalf of other Governments) was 1-70, or 4-Id. in the pound. LEGISLATION. Civil Pensions. The Pensions Amendment Act, 1936, and the Finance Act, 1936 (No. 2), widened the scope of the civil-pensions legislation, and the following brief summary shows the principal benefits to the pensioners coming within the various categories — Old-age Pensions. The maximum pension has been increased from £45 10s. to £58 10s. per annum. Any income which has ceased may now be exempted.

4

Weekly Rate. J Is. 2s. j 3s. 4s. , ōs. j 6s. 7s. 1 8s. 9s. : 10s. I 12a. 14s. 16s. 18s. Number granted .. 4 625 ' 5 | 279 ' i 109 1 66 1 22 10 3, 1 1 _. J I ! I 1 I

Number of Children . 0 I in Excess of Two. i • 8. 9. ' 10. — L 1 1 Number of families .. 606 281 115 I 77 30 14 6 1 1

Weekly Income. £1 and under 0ver £1 and U P 0ver £2 and U P ° Teir £3 an d up ; fl ,,, to £2. to £3. to £4 ' i Uver Number of families .. 29 196 525 171 210