OLD AGE PENSIONS MORTALITY TABLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11643, 3 May 1901, Page 6

OLD AGE PENSIONS MORTALITY TABLES.

INTERESTING RESULTS. The deputy-registrar of old ago pensions at Auckland (Mr. John Jung), whose district is the County of Eden, has at our request made some investigation into the mortality of his district during the period from April lof last year to March 30 just ended. Mr. King has special opportunities for making comparisons, owing to his connection with electoral matters for the Parbamentary districts of the City of Auckland, Men, Parroll, and Mamikau. In the latter capacity ho obtains Departmental returns from the registrar both at Auckland and Onehunga of those who die between 21 years and upwards. Several months ago a very interesting controversy and correspondence appeared in our columns, in which Professor Sea gar, Dr. Bakewell, and others took port, as to the expected percentage of increase of old age pensioners. The letters reviewed statistics generally in regard to mortality. The figures which we are now able to give are important, to. any further investigations. The County of Eden is a good example to take. It extends from the Auckland wharf to the Onehunga wharf, and from the Whan portage to Panmure Bridge. The county contains about 75.000 persons. It has the largest population of any county in New Zealand, and the greatest proportion of old age pensioners. PENSIONERS IN THE PRINCIPAL CITIES. The following return shows the numbers and total amounts paid in connection with old gge pensions in the four principal cities for the year ending March 31, 1900, and the average percentages: — No. of Gross Per Citv. Pensioners. Amounts. cent. Christchurch ... 1.076 £18,300 17.03 Auckland SS6 16,500 16.6 Dunediu 843 14.500 17.?, Wellington 441 7,700 17.5 THE EAST TWO YEARS. The following table shows the present position of pensions in the County of Eden as on March 30, 1901, as compared with the year ending March 31, 1900: — Number of pensioners on the books, April 1, 1900 986 Total number of new certificates issued between April 1, 1900, and to January 31. 1901 113 Number of new claims passed and instalments authorised during the months ot February and March, 1901, but which do not become a charge on the revenue during the financial year ending: March 30, 1901 ■. 15 Number of inward transfers during: the year from all other districts 54 Total 1,168 Deaths in 12 months 72 Outward transfers in 12 months ... ■-... 49 Rejections under all heads 31 Pensicners on the books, March 30, 1901 1,025 1,177 OFFICIAL RECORD OF DEATHS.

Looking at the results, it appears that there has been no increase in pensions in the periods referred to, and we believe that a considerable decrease in the expenditure in the latter year is assured. The records also prove that there are over 200 recipients receiving less than the maximum amount of £18. The monthly record of deaths among the old people is very curious. The greater number of deaths (11) take place in July the coldest month, and the next highest in the warm months of November and December. The ratio of allowance granted to the recipients in the large centres shows that the magistrates and other officers at Auckland take extra v and interest in their duties. It is somewhat remarkable that Christchurch last year should liavo such a large excess of old age pensioners as against Auckland, and this is the more surprising when the special circumstances of both Onehunga and Panmuro settlements are taken into account.

etS g£ g£ 5 G) O Year wo "-a "-a m Pensioners. , and j= g -5 9 5 B a . Ages. Month. SgSiS^.S 1900— April 31 7 8 46 4 66.76.77,88 May ... ... 26 6 13 45 5 71.78,79,83, 84 Juno 50 8 17 75 4 69,76,84.87 July 29 5 16 50 11 66,67,71.72, •* 74, 75. 77, 84, 86, 89 August ... 34 8 12 54 4 72.75,81,83 September ... 25 5 7 37 6 66,69,71,74, 75, 83 October ... 33 7 14 59 7 72,78,80,81, 82, 84,89 November ... 51 10 16 57 8 67,63,69,70, 72, 77, 79, % December ... 27 15 11 53 9 66,67,70.71, 73. 76, 77, 82, 85 1901— _ „„ January ... 30 6 23 59 7 70.72,72.78, 78, 93, 95 February ... 24 2 7 33 3 74,79.85, March ... 30 4 6 40 4 66,79.80.87 375 83 150 608 72