ll.—lB.

1939. NEW ZEALAND.

FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT. FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1939.

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 of Pensions. Sir,— Pensions Department, Wellington, 31st March, 1939. 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', invalidity, and sundry pensions, family allowances, and war veterans' allowances for the year ended 31st March, 1939. 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.

As at 31st March, 1938. As at 31st March, 1939. Class of Pension. , Total " Total Number. Annual Value. Payments, Number. Annual Value. Payments, 1937-38. 1938-39. £ £ £ £ War 24,096 1,579,724 1,597,524 24,257 1,024,544 1,616,248 Old-age .. .. .. 59,953 3,373.331 3,235,057 66,694 3,733,238 3,577,129 Widows' .. .. .. 4,982 476,907 471,287 5,196 496,831' 487,216 Maori War .. .. 27 1,580 j 1,806 20 1,170 j 1,338 Miners' .. .. .. 1,060 86,537 88,167 1,062 85,938 ! 87,094 Epidemic .. .. .. j .. .. 14 .. .. Invalidity.. .. .. 10,633 674,934 632,829 12,489 794,636 750,748 Boer War .. .. .. 55 1,939 1,991 r>4 1,917 1,905 Sundry pensions and annuities I 142 12,642 12,554 137 11 ,772 i 12,390 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 10 3,500 3,632 9 3,183 3,25(1 Family allowances .. .. 6,853 j 94,168 106,402 5,606 79,739 j 84,436 War veterans'allowances .. 2,204 159,279 161,267 2,223 159,031 158,584 Totals .. ..110,015 6,464,541 6,312,530 1117,747 6,991,999 1 6,780,344 1 I Cost per head of European population : 1937-38, £4 3s. 2d. ; 1938-39, £4 8s. 3d.