H.—9.

War Pensions Appeal Board. The following table summarizes the operations of the War Pensions Appeal Board during the year with respect to appeals under war pension and related legislation : —

Medical treatment of war pensioners during 1941-42 cost £26,214. (This item includes the cost of treatment of pensioners resident in overseas countries.) Railway concessions to ex-members of the forces pensioned for total and permanent disablement and those with locomotor disabilities on permanent pensions in excess of 50 per cent, cost £4,003.

Benefits and Pensions in Force and Total Payments.

COST OF ADMINISTRATION. Excluding expenditure of £2,556 on capital items, administration costs for the year amounted to £326,195, including £36,140 in respect of the administration of war pensions and allowances. This represents 2-52 per cent, on total payments. GENERAL. Under arrangements made with the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific the facilities of the Social Security Department were made available for the payment of allowances to evacuees from Tonga, and as at 31st March, 1942, a total of twenty-five persons were being paid allowances on behalf of the Tongan Government. The number of officers absent on war service on 31st March, 1942, was 449, 9 of whom have made the supreme sacrifice. The heavy drain on trained personnel owing to war conditions has proved a severe handicap, but the ready response at all times of the remaining members of the staff, together with the temporary assistance engaged, has enabled the Department to function efficiently^. In submitting this report I would like to place on record my appreciation of the staff's wholehearted co-operation in bringing to a successful conclusion a very strenuous and trying year's work. H. Digby-Smith, Chairman, Social Security Commission. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (517 copies), £8 10s.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington. —1942.

Price. 3d.]

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War 1X7 T> ■ War P ens i° ns War Veterans' W « P r M | Extension Allowances Totals. I A * 1M0 ' ES& 1940. I i I Appeals outstanding at 31st March, 1941 55 21 .. I 77 Appeals lodged 1941-42 .. .. 217 357 3 5 582 Total to be dealt with .. 272 378 3 6 659 Appeals upheld, 1941-42 .. .. 92 111 2 2 207 Appeals dismissed, 1941-42 .. .. 127 146 1 3 277 Appeals withdrawn and struck out .. 22 25 .. . 47 Total disposed of, 1941-42 .. 241 282 3 5 531 Appeals outstanding at 31st March, 1942 31 96 . . 1 128 Percentage upheld . . . . 38-1 39-3 66-6 40-0 38-9 i

As at 31st March, 1941. As at 31st March, 1942, Number in v ,i,„. Total Payments Number in | Aul VaIu . Total Payments Force. Annual Value. 1940.41.. Force, j Annual value. 1941.42. £ £ £ £ Universal superannuation .. .. 36,602 366,020 240,336 41,021 512,762 445,686 4„ e . .. .. 97,606 7,127,821 7,101,346 99,152 7,337,248 7,190,694 Widows •• •• 10,569 843,516 836,368 10,765 849,363 844,928 Orphans .. .. 350 17,888 17,713 372 18,909 18,275 Family " 16,626 485,337 411,811 I 18,316 631,902 539,183 Invalids •• 11,936 998,792 999,648 ' 12,107 1,022,611 1,011,375 Miners !.. • • •• 931 85,394 88,656 888 80,403 83,258 Maori War .. .•• 7 546 744 4 312 • 440 Unemployment .. .. 1,906 .. 299,161 841 .. 138,528 Sickness 3,452 .. 279,581 3,672 .. 304,154 Emergency .. •• •• 2,034 .. 130,096 2,170 .. 126,718 War (War Pensions Act, 1915) 1 23,458 1,653,534 1,649,076 22,894 1,619,206 1,617,481 War (War Pensions Extension Act, 1940) 551 61,644 14,376 3,297 313,399 178,135 War Veterans'allowances .. .. 2,033 209,445 211,325 1,888 216,864 210,5/5 Boer War (Defence Act, 1909) .. 47 1,777 > 1,858 45 1,478 1,581 Mercantile Marine pensions .. .. 9 1,128 j 916 3 266 617 Emergency Reserve Corps .. .. 1 104 3 2 127 1 > 062 Sundry pensions and annuities .. 83 9,832 10,152 76 9,377 9,329 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. .. 6 2.337 2,647 6 2,337 2,354 War and other pensions.paid on behalf 2,721 175,900 214,795 3,037 210,455 184,039 of the Governments of Great Britain, Australia, India, Canada, South Africa, and Crown colonies , ~~ Totals .. .. ■ 210,928 12,041,015Hl2,510,008 I 220,556 12,827,019 12,908,412