PENSIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 3419, 26 September 1919, Page 41

PENSIONS

The Minister of Finance stated, in his Budget speed on the 23rd, that the amounts for pensions, otner than recent wax pensions, during the year 1918-19 were as follow:

Under the provisions of the Finance Act, 1917, the bonus granted under that Act to old-age, widows’, military, and miners’ phthisis pensioners continues till 12 months after the terminatioi .of the war, which-is a day to Jao fixed by Proclamation. It will be seen, therefore, that the payment oi the bonus can be continued until late in 1920 without further legislation. It was considered desirable to defer the necessary legislation till it could be considered by a new Parliament next session. The annual liability in respect of each class of pension, the -total number in force as close of year, and the amount of the average pension are set out hereunder; No. in force Total Average

In. the gross payments of war pensions there had been, as was of course expected, a heavy increase in the total. The figures

Totals £515,447 £1,109,755 The total new claims to date, including those lodged during the year, were :

The annual liability at March 31, 1919, was £1.615,827, and the average pension was £59. The following table shows the various classes of pension in force at the end of the year: — : Annual

It was estimated that an expenditure of £2.000,000 under this head would have to be provided for during the current year.

Old-age pensions Allowance Statutory under FinPensions. once Act. ... £482.438 £260,605 Total Pensions. £743,043 Widows’ pensions ... 44,714 36,058 80,772 Military ■ War) Miners’ (Maori pensions ... 30,477 11,033 50,510 pensions 10,722 2,555 18,277 Totals ... £577,351 £310,251 £887,602

March 31, 1919. liabilities. Pension. Old-age pensions ... 19,872 £731,910 £36 Widows’ pensions ... 3,211 112,618 35 Military (Maori War) pensions ... 1,040 47,814 Miners’ pensions ... 240 12,603 52 Total £904,945

were: — 1917-18. 1918-19. Payments made in N.Z. £495,060 £1,159,455 Payments m-a.de in Ixmdon ... 12,567 28,623 Payments made in Australia 2,925 10,870 Payments made in Canada ... — Other foreign payments 294 Allotments paid alter casualty 4,494 Lump sums 105 200 Sundry

Prom Prom soldiers. dependents. Prior to March 31, 1918 ... 12,901 6,152 For year ended Mar. 31, 1919 11,749 5,293 Totals . 27,653 11,741

Number. Value. Permanent pensions to soldiers 1,318 18-,32‘J £ 69,669 Temporary pensions to soldiers 1,097,303 Temporary pensions to dependents (including 1240 children) 1,07G 55,9-10 Pensions to widows (including 2209 children) 1,970 233,451 Pensions to other dependents ... 4,736 169,464

Totals 27,427 1,616,327 The pensions granted to date, and the annual value were; — Animal Value. Number. 1016-16 1,214 £ 56,488 1916-17 5,316 10.587 285,707 1917-18 780,057 1918-19 16,954 1,167,081 Totals 34,071 £2,280,333