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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 1943-44 cost £35,850. (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 £4,775.

Benefits and Pensions in Force and Total Payments

COST OF ADMINISTRATION Excluding expenditure of £1,566 on capital items, administration costs for the year amounted to £364,525, including £53,374 in respect of the administration of war pensions and allowances. This represents 2-29 per cent, on total payments. GENERAL Under the heading of rehabilitation allowances, which, by arrangement with the Rehabilitation Board, are made available to demobilized servicemen and servicewomen for periods up to thirteen weeks following the cessation of Service pay for the purpose of facilitating reabsorption into civil life, a total of 14,730 cases were reviewed during the year, representing 14,462 servicemen and 268 servicewomen. Grants were made in 7,196 cases, representing 7,024 servicemen and 172 servicewomen.. Included in these grants were allowances in respect of 4,396 children. The large majority of the others had already been successful in returning to civil employment or had otherwise indicated that they did not require assistance. The total amount paid out by way of rehabilitation allowances for the period Ist April, 1943, to 31st March, 1944, was £235,522. As at 31st March, 1944, there were 909 allowances, current, representing a weekly expenditure of £4,019. The number of officers absent on military service as at 31st March, 1944, was 470, and of these, 24 had made the supreme sacrifice. The absence of so many of its trained personnel with the Armed Forces has thrown a very heavy burden on the existing staff of the Department, but I am happy to say that the year's achievements have been accomplished with general satisfaction to the community. In submitting this year's report I would again like to express my full appreciation to the staff of the Department for their willingness and co-operation in bringing to a close another difficult year's work. H. Digby-Smith, Chairman, Social Security Commission. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing ((>O2 conies), £9.

Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington. —1944.

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War Pensions and War, 1914-18. Present War. War Veterans - Totals.. Marine) Act, j 1940. Appeals outstanding at 31st March, 1943 j 52 350 .. . . 402 Appeals lodged 1943-44 .. .. 290 1,958 3 7 2,258 Total to be dealt with .. 342 2,308 3 7 2,660 Appeals upheld, 1943-44 .. .. 79 619 .1 1 700 Appeals dismissed, 1943-44 .. ..159 845 1 4 1,009 Appeals withdrawn and struck out, 1943-441 19 153 .. 1 173 Total disposed of, 1943-44 .. | 257 1,617 2 6 1,882 Appeals outstanding at 31st March, 1944 j 85 691 1 1 778 Percentage upheld .. ..I 30-7 38-2 50 16-6 37-1

As at 31st March, 1943. As at 31st March, 1944. Class. j Number in Annllal Val]lp Total Payments Number in : «__..., Va ,,.„ 'L'otal Payments Force. Annual vaiue - 1942-43. Force. Annual value - 1943-44. £ £ £ £ Universal superannuation .. .. 44,448 066,720 603,124 4!),289 862,558 778,758 Age .. .. .. .. 99,671 7,903,910 7,783,084 102,530 8,489,484 8,101,668 Widows .. .. .. .. 10,589 864,062! 866,597 10,836 981,742 949,099 Orphans .. .. .. .. 395 21,033 20,628 412 21,939 22,442 Family .. .. .. .. 14,190 764,841 790,719 15,950 1,052,700 876,858 Invalids .. .. .. .. 11,938 1,029,055 1,036,373 12,126 1,076,789 1,067,409 Miners .. .. .. .. 841 76,362 80,100 795 74,983 76,652 Maori War .. .. .. 2 164 190 I 85 119 Unemployment .. .. .. 373 .. 49,639 292 .. 32,316 Sickness'.. .. .. .. 3,699 .. 362,088 4,446 .. 376,878 Emergency .. .. .. 1,821 .. 124.268 1,915 .. 115,574 War (1914-1918) .. .. .. 22,161 1,602,777 1,574,062 21,038 2,039,779 1,973,069 War (present war) . . .. .. 7,666 714,640 479,477 13,037 1,108,493 917,855 War Veterans' allowances .. .. 1.807 222,173 224,942 1.791 230,038 224,705 Boer War (Defence Act, 1909) .. 42 1,453 1,504 44 3,245 2.550 Mercantile Marine pensions .. .. 6 498 350 12 1,073 719Emergency Reserve Corps .. 19 1,477 1,985 10 1,037 1,404 Sundry pensions and annuities .. 139 15,069 13,581 150 18,505 15,462 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. .. 5 1,903 2,176 4 1,683 1,662 War and other pensions paid on behalf 3,224 242,718 352,104 3,208 256,074 290,496 of the Governments of Great Britain, Australia, India, Canada, South Africa, and Crown colonies ■ Totals .. .. 223,036 14,128,855 14,366,991 237,886 16,220,207 15,825,695