OLD-AGE PENSIONS. (STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1899.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1899 Session I, H-18

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1899. NEW ZEALAND.

OLD-AGE PENSIONS. (STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1899.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 62 of " The Old-age Pensions Act, 1898."

The Ebgisteae, Old-age Pensions, to the Hon. the Colonial Teeasueee. Old-age Pensions Office, Wellington, 19th June, 1899. I have the honour to make the following report for your information, and to supply the particulars required for the statement to be laid before Parliament in terms of section 62 of " The Old-age Pensions Act, 1898." The Act came into force on the Ist day of November, 1898. In the same month a Eegistrar was appointed, and in December old-age pension districts were constituted, deputy registrars were appointed, and notices were issued throughout the colony that forms of claim were obtainable at all post-offices. The number of pensions granted during January, 1899, in respect of which payments were made up to the 31st day of March, 1899, inclusive, was 2,133, and the amount paid in respect thereof was £3,124 Is. Bd. The amount paid in respect of other than pensions up to the 31st day of March, 1899, inclusive, was £510 Bs. Id. The total number of pensions granted up to the 31st day of March, 1899, inclusive, was 7,487, representing a yearly payment of £128,082; the average pension being about £17 2s. Tables are attached showing (1) the number of pensions at each rate ; (2) the number of pensions granted in each old-age pension district. The amount of absolutely forfeited instalments up to the 31st day of March, 1899, inclusive, was £12 ss. The number of pensioners who died before the 31st day of March, 1899, inclusive, was thirtyeight, and the number of pensions cancelled up to that date was six, representing altogether a yearly pament of £763. The number of pension-certificates transferred from one old-age pension district to another, up to the 31st day of March, 1899, inclusive, was twenty-three. It is scarcely to be expected that the administration of a new measure will be altogether smooth at first. It is, therefore, a matter for congratulation that few difficulties have presented themselves, and that an entirely new experience had been generally anticipated in the detailed provisions of the Act and regulations. Under the existing Act no provision is made for any payment to the representatives of a deceased pensioner. It seems reasonable that the portion of an instalment accrued up to the date of the pensioner's death should be paid to the person who has defrayed the expenses of burial. It seems desirable also that near relatives from whom a pensioner may legally claim maintenance should not be relieved by the Old-age Pensions Act of such responsibility. I recommend also that the Colonial Treasurer should be empowered to pay an instalment of pension which has been forfeited through non-delivery of the pension-certificate or other cause, not being the fault or neglect of the pensioner. In many districts no resident Government officer is qualified to give a certificate as required on claims made by aboriginal natives. I suggest that whenever a Maori claimant has a knowledge of English the Stipendiary Magistrate might be authorised to accept the claim without such certificate. Subsection (3) of section 13, relating to the method of calculating the joint income of husband and wife has not been uniformly interpreted. It might be well to remove all doubt as to the intention of this provision. The claims of some persons; who are otherwise qualified, have been rejected on the ground that they have not been naturalised subjects for five years, as prescribed by section 64 of the Act. I suggest some modification of this disability. For the past six months the work has been done at high pressure, as well as under difficulties by reason of inconvenient office accommodation, and I gladly acknowledge the industry and care of

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those clerks who have been entrusted with responsible work, as well as the efficient co-operation of the officers of the General Post Office, so that, notwithstanding the rush of work, the monthly instalments have been punctually paid to the pensioners. Edmund Mason, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer. Eegistrar of Old-age Pensions.

Total Numbee of Pensions, at each Eate, granted up to the 31st of March, 1899. Yearly Pension. Number of Pensions. Amount. 18 ... ... 6,399 ... ... £115,182 17 ... ... 123 ... ... 2,091 16 128 2,048 15 124 1,860 14 ... ... 78 ... ... 1,092 13 ... ... 99 ... ... 1,287 12 ... ... 109 ... ... 1,308 11 ... ... 65 ... ... . 715 10 71 710 9 ..: ... 47 ... ... 423 8 ... ... 60 ... ... 480 7 ... ... 46 ... ... 322 6 ... ... 28 ... ... 168 5 ... ... 37 ... ... 185 4 ... ... 27 ... ... 108 3 18 54 2 21 42 1 ... ... 7 ... ... 7 Totals ... 7,487 ... ... £128,082

Total Numbee of Pensions in each Old-age Pension Disteict granted up to the 31st March, 1899. Akaroa ... ... ... 31 506 Nelson ... ... ... 241 4,040 Amberley ... ... 4 72 New Plymouth ... ... 152 2,566 Ashburton ... ... 136 2,382 Oamaru ... ... ... 150 2,596 Auckland ... ... 436 7,262 Onehunga ... ... 221 3,698 Balclutha ... ... 93 1,571 Otaki ... ... ... 24 428 Blenheim ... ... 105 1,732 Paeroa .. ... ... 20 345 Chatham Islands ... .... 3 54 Pahiatua ... ... 34 575 Christchureh ... ... 824 14,060 Palmerston North... ... 84 1,426 Clyde ... ... ... 72 1,288 Palmerston South... ... 37 . 616 Coromandel ... ... 54 893 Patea ... ... ... 8 143 Culverden ... ... 4 72 Port Awanui ... ... 8 144 Dannevirke ... ... 70 1,158 Port Chalmers ... ... 112 1,865 Dargaville ... ... 21 345 Queenstown ... ... 67 1,202 Dunedin... ... ... 613 10,387 Eaglan ... ... ... 12 207 Fairlie .., ... ... 5 90 Eawene ... ... ... 13 232 Feilding ... .. ... 34 573 Eeefton ... ... ... 102 1,787 Geraldine ... ... 54 918 Eiverton... ... ... 68 1,175 Gisborne ... ... 42 756 Eotorua ... ... ... 45 809 Greymouth ... ... 297 5,241 Eussell ... ... ... 44 674 Grey town ... ... 57 992 Stratford ... ... 23 414 Hamilton ... ... 124 2,115 Taupo ... ... ... 10 180 Havelock ... ... 2 36 Tauranga ... .. 57 990 Hawera ... ... ... 18 303 Te Aroha ... ... 10 180 Helensville ... ... 145 2,502 Thames ... ... ... 209 3,578 Hokitika ... ... 382 6,715 Timaru ... ... ... 98 1,689 Invercargill ... ... 354 6,145 Waimate ... ... 47 820 Kaiapoi ... ... ... 177 2,967 Waipawa ... ... 14 252 Kaikoura ... ... 17 286 Wairoa ... ... ... 7 126 Lawrence ... ... 116 1,990 Wanganui ... ... 91 1,600 Marton ... ... ... 37 655 Warkworth ... ... 56 923 Masterton ... ... 63 1,087 Wellington ... ... 364 6,335 Maungaturoto ... ... 44 735 Westport ... ... 156 2,730 Milton ... ... ... 81 1,354 Whakatane ... ... 18 297 Mongonui ... ...-18 294 Whangarei ... ... 110 1,900 Motueka ... ... 61 967 Whangaroa ... ... 7 117 Napier ... 122 2,027 Naseby 52 893 Totals 7,487 £128,082

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Bbtubn showing Cost of Administbation of "The Old-age Pensions Act, 1898," for the Financial Year ended 31st March, 1899. Salaries— £ s. d. £ s. d. Eegistrar ... ... ... ... 100 1 1 Deputy Registrars ... ... ... 40 3 10 140 4 11 Other Expenses— Advertising and printing... ... ... 16 6 0 Clerical assistance ... ... ... 247 18 0 Interpreting (S.M. Courts) ... ... 7 9 3 Shorthand-writer (S.M. Courts) .. ... 19 0 0 Travelling allowance and expenses ... ... 7622 Sundries ... ... ... ... 3 7 9 370 3 2 Total ... ... ... £510 8 1 Robbet J. Collins, The Treasury, 23rd June, 1899, Accountant to the Treasury.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB99.