PENSIONS DEPARTMENT

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 7

PENSIONS DEPARTMENT

ANNUAL REPORT. (Fnoai Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 30. The annual report of the Pensions Department gives the following information regarding the number and annual value of the pensions in force on March 31: Number. Value. Old-age 19.697 £480,559 Widows 2.024 39,336 Military (Maori war) ... 1,232 44.352 Miners 233 9.584 War 5,169 257,771 Total 28,360 £332,052 The cost per head of the population for 1916-17 was 13s Bd, as against 10s 6d foi 1915-16. A summary relating to war pensions shows that pensions (permanent and upwards of 12 months) were granted to 1003 soldiers and 2075 dependents. Temporary pensions were granted to 3194 soldiers and 258 dependents; 687 claims were declined, and 237 remained on hand on March 31. The gross annual value of the 6530 pensions granted is £342.195. giving an average pension of £52. Including the 1018 jhildren, the average of the grand total of 7548 pensions granted to March 31, 1917, is £45 per annum. Tho total number of old-age pensions claims lodged to date is 60..63J ; the total number of claims established, 47,392 : total number of deaths, 21,732; total number of cancellations, 5963; the grand total naid since 1893, £5,809,580; total credit from national endowment. £172.373.

During the year tho staff of tho Pensions Department increased in number from 40 to 60, and the cost of administration increased from £9883 in 1915-16 to £15,300 in 1916-17.