H.—lB.

War Vetekans' Allowances Appeals. Appeals outstanding on 31st March, 1938 .. .. .. . . 6 Appeals lodged during 1938-39 .. .. .. .. .. 27 — 33 Appeals dismissed during 1938-39 .. .. .. .. 16 Appeals upheld during 1938-39 .. .. .. .. .. 16 Appeals withdrawn and struck out, 1938-39 . . . . .... — 32 Appeals outstanding on 31st March, 1939 .. . . . . 1 Percentage upheld, 50. FAMILY ALLOWANCES. The claims lodged during the year totalled 1,861, which, with the 86 outstanding from the previous year, made a total of 1,947 to be dealt with. Of these, 807 were accepted and 610 rejected. Of the rejected claims, 383 represent cases where the income of the family was in excess of the limit allowed. Four hundred and thirty-eight new claims from Maoris were finally dealt with during the year, 248 being granted and 190 rejected. The total children of the 5,606 allowances in force as at 31st March 1 , 1939, and those in excess of two in a family numbered 26,992 and 15,780, the average per family being 4-81 and 2-81 respectively. The total amount paid during the year was £84,436, while the total annual value of all allowances in force at the close of the year was £79,739.

Weekly Rates at which Allowances granted.

Numbers according to Size of Family.

Weekly Incomes of Families.

COST OF ADMINISTRATION. The cost of administration for the year amounted to £113,070, the principal items of expenditure being £62,932 for salaries of officers of the Department, £26,315 and £4,889 paid to the Postal Department for payment of pensions and postage and telegrams respectively, £4,791 for salaries and other expenses of the War Pensions Appeal Board, and £2,477 for salaries of the War Pensions Board. The number on the staff at 31st March, 1939, was 406, and of these, 69 were appointed during March in connection with work - preparatory to the coming into operation of the Social Security Department. The percentage of cost of administration to the total pension payments made of £6,967,926 (including £187,582 paid on behalf of other Governments) was 1-62, or 3-9 d. in the pound. Preliminary expenses incurred on account of the Social Security Department amounted to £12,149 as at 31st March, 1939. LEGISLATION. On the 14th September, 1938, the Social Security Act, 1938, was passed and with the coming into operation of that Act from the Ist April, 1939, the Pensions Department will lose its identity, it then being absorbed in the new Social Security Department, and all the officers of the Pensions Department will be transferred to the new department. The War Pensions Act, 1915, and the War Veterans' Allowances Act, 1935, which have been administered by the Pensions Department under the Commissioner of Pensions, will in future be administered by the Social Security Department under the Secretary for War Pensions. In submitting this last report of the Pensions Department I would like to pay a tribute to the efficiency and loyalty of the staff during the years that the Pensions Department was operating.

1

Weekly Kate Is. j 2s. 3s. 4s. 5s. 6s. 7s. 8s. 10s. 12s. 14s. 16s. _J _ J Number granted .. .. 10 353 9 198 3 130 2 58 29 10 2 3 _] I 1 i. i

Number of Children , 0 Q . r a „ o in Exoesa of Two. Number of families .. .. ..338 203 141 78 28 13 5 1 'ill

Weekly Income. £1 and under. ' ° Ter £ 1 J £ ld Up [ Oret^^ d UP 0 ™ r %f Up | Over £4. i I Number of families .. 24 72 194 472 45