TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1927.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1927 Session I, H-18

H.—.18.

1927. NEW ZEALAND.

TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1927.

Presented to both Homes of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 90 of the Pensions Act, 1926.

The Commissioner, op Pensions to the Hon. the Minister of Pensions. Sir, — Pensions Department, Wellington, 31st May, 1927. I have the honour to furnish herewith, for the information of Parliament, the report of the Department relating to war, old-age, widows', Maori War, miners', epidemic, blind, and sundry pensions for the year ended 31st March, 1927. The following comparative statement relates to the annual value and gross payments of all pensions administered by the Department for the past two years : —

Pensions in Force: Annual Value and Total Payments.

Cost per head of European population : 1925—26, £1 16s. 9d. ; 1926-27, £1 16s. 9d. The following figures relate to the war and other pensions paid by the Department during the year on behalf of other Governments : —

As at 31st March. 1926. As at 31st March, 1927. Class of Pension. Total • Total Number. Annual Value. Payments, Number. Annual Value. Payments, 1925-26. 1926-27. £ £ £ £ War .. .. .. 20,716 1,122,843 1,185,161 20,625 1,126,206 1,128,988 Old-age .. .. .. 22,905 981,886 903,577 23,751 995,353 982,356 Widows' .. .. .. 3,833 301,121 286,450 3,970 305,586 301,861 Maori War.. .. .. 444 21,756 23,067 374 18,326 19,458 Miners' .. .. .. 640 40,462 40,239 668 41,951 41,940 Epidemic .. .. .. 313 11,802 14,522 259 9,016 10,951 Blind .. .. .. 196 9,396 8,053 232 11,090 10,338 Boer War .. .. .. I 60 2,445 2,902 64 2,689 2,624 Special annuities .. .. 102 9,292 8,752 113 11,410 10,054 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 55 15,278 16,855 50 13,929 14,659 Totals .. .. | 49,264 2,516,281 2,489,578 50,106 2,535,556 2,523,229

Number at \ i a d Government. Class of Pension. 31st March, PeZion. 1926-"" 8 ' £ £ £ Great Britain .. .. .. Wax .. .. 1,917 109,409 57 \ 1fi „ „_ g ,, .. .. .. Army and civil 651 36,900 57 j ' Australia .. .. .. War" .. .. 564 23,779 42 26,094 India .. .. .. •• Army and civil 82 20,382 249 26,398 South Africa .. .. • ■ War . . .. 2 252 126 299 .. Civil .. .. 25 2,697 108 2,550 Crown Colonies .. .. 29 7,131 246 7,607 Canada .. . • • • War .. .. 2 484 242 488 Totals .. .. -. 3,272 201,034 .. 226,808

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Legislation. Family Allowances Act. Under the Family Allowances Act, 1926, which came into force on the Ist April, 1927, provision is made, on application by a father of three or more children under fifteen years of age, for an allowance in respect of each child in excess of two at the rate of 2s. weekly, but so that the average weekly iticome from all sources of the family of the applicant, including any allowance under the Act, does not exceed £4, plus 2s. for each child in excess of two. " Family " includes the applicant and his wife (if living with him) and their children under fifteen years of age as defined in the next paragraph. " Child" means a child under the age of fifteen years, and includes a stepchild, a child legally adopted by the applicant or his wife, and a child, not being a member of the applicant's family but being maintained by him, who the Minister decides shall be regarded as a member of the family; but does not include an illegitimate child, a child who is not maintained as a member of the family, a child in respect of whom a pension out of public moneys is payable under the Pensions Act, 1926, the War Pensions Act, 1915, or other enactment, a child of an alien or a child of an Asiatic, whether naturalized or not or whether a British subject by birth or not. An allowance already payable .may be continued after the age of fifteen years in any case where the Minister of Pensions is satisfied that any child is by reason of physical or mental defect totally incapacitated from earning a living. Except in exceptional cases to be determined by the Commissioner of Pensions, all allowances under the Act shall be paid to the wife of the applicant and must be applied towards the maintenance or education of the children. An allowance is not payable unless the applicant, and also his wife (if the allowance is to be paid to her), have been permanently residing in New Zealand for one year, and unless the children in respect of whom the allowance is payable have also been residing in New Zealand for not less than one year or have been born in New Zealand. For the purpose of computing the average weekly income of the family under the Act, there shall be taken into account all moneys or money's worth received within the period of one year immediately preceding the date of the application from all sources by any member of the family, and also interest at the rate of 5 per cent, (or such higher rate as may be actually received) on the value of any real or personal property of any member of the family, except that property on which the family resides or furniture and personal effects in the possession of the family is exempted from this computation. Pensions for the Members of the New Zealand Defence or Naval Forces. Legislation was also embodied in the Finance Act, 1926, making provision for pensions in respect of death or disablement of members of the New Zealand Defence Force or the New Zealand Naval Force at the same rates payable under the War Pensions Act, 1915, where such death or disablement occurs by reason of misadventure suffered in the performance of a, member's duties. Cost of Administration. £ Salaries (including medical officers) .. .. .. .. .. 32,666 Contribution to Post Office for payment of pensions .. .. .. 13,623 Medical fees .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,053 Travelling-expenses of officers and pensioners .. .. .. 3,445 War Pensions Appeal Board (all expenses) .. .. .. .. 3,656 War Pensions Board (salaries) .. .. .. .. .. 2,475 Printing, stationery, and advertising .. .. .. .. 2,152 Postage and telegrams .. .. .. . . .. 2,106 Rent of offices .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,069 Office fittings and requisites .. .. .. . . .. 270 Exchange and commission .. .. .. . . .. .. 125 Telephones .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 237 Overtime .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 171 Fuel, light, cleaning, and water . . .. .. .. .. 120 Sundry repairs and cartage.. .. .. .. . . .. 22 Fees and legal expenses .. . . .. .. .. .. 22 £68,212 Number of officers on 31st March, 1927, 159. Percentage of cost of administration to total payment (£2,750,037), 2-48.

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WAR PENSIONS. Total Claims lodged and Annual Value of all Pensions granted to Date.

Summary of Annual Liability at 31st March, 1927.

Number of War Pensions in Force at each Rate on 31st March, 1927.

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Claims lodged. ! Pensions granted. Soldiers. Dependants, j Number. Annual Average Value. Pension. , _ £ 1915-16 .. .. .. 798 681 1,214 56,488 46 1916-17 .. .. .. 3,958 2.017 5,316 285,707 53 1917-18 .. .. .. 8,148 3,754 10,587 780,057 73 1918-19 .. .. .. 14,749 5,292 16,954 1,167,081 68 1919-20 .. .. .. 11,493 3,990 15.183 872,627 57 1920-21 .. .. .. 1,081 1,878 2,207 163,713 66 1921-22 .. .♦. .. 367 891 945 63,685 67 1922-23 .. .. .. 198 635 625 43,867 70 1923-24 .. .. .. 160 550 551 40,836 74 1924-25 .. .. .. 197 505 432 31,241 72 1925-26 .. .. .. 161 379 353 26,046 74 1926-27 .. .. .. 218 378 350 26,369 75 Totals .. . 41,528 20,950 54,717 3,557,717 65 _ Note.—The number of pensions granted as shown herein does not include children's pensions, the value of which, however, form part of the pensions payable to parents (or guardians), and are included in the annual value totals.

„ . Number of Number of . , , Average Glass ot Pension. Pensioners, j Children. Annual Valuo ' Pension. £ £ Soldiers (permanent) .. .. .. 8,646 .. 418,333 48 Soldiers (temporary) .. .. .. 3,717 15 252,024 68 Dependants of disabled soldiers .. .. 798 1,529 68,405 86 Widows (without children) . . 4 . 623 . . 54,954 88 Widows (with children).. .. .. 744 1,148 115,300 155 Other dependants of deceased soldiers — Parents .. .. .. .. 5,346 17 189,435 35 Other adult dependants .. .. 149 29 5,910 39 Guardians of children .. .. 602 812 21,845 36 Totals, &c. „ . : 20,625 _3,550 1,126,206 55

I On account of Death. Wives and Soldiers Soldiers Parents (on Kate (nearest £1). (Perma- (Tem- Account of Widows. Other Dependants. nent). porary). Disablement). With ] Without i t> Guardians ! Children. ! Children. Parents ' of Children. I 0thers - ' I • I i | £ 301-350.. .. 2 4 .. .. .. j 261-300.. .. 3 3 .. 4 .. .. .. 234-260.. .. 29 1 5 13 201-233.. .. 19 4 9 46 191-200.. .. 1 6 2 21 1 181-190.. .. 123 347 15 94 1 1 1 171-180.. .. 19 4 2 2 5 161-170.. .. 76 98 4 63 1 .. .. 1 151-160.. .. 38 79 51 165 .. .. .. 1 141-150.. .. 30 64 .. 2 16 131-140.. .. 35 10 12 53 1 121-130.. .. 94 168 64 257 24 14 2 4 111-120.. ..37 19 18 65 7 1 !. .. 101-110.. .. 110 125 127 14 15 9 ; 7 2 91-100.. ..317 55 30 .. 7 43 81-90.. ..317 6 14 .. 35 11 .. 1 71- 80.. .. 360 138 120 8 449 173 37 1 4 61- 70 .. 294 128 38 .. .. 84 2 2 51- 60.. .. 1,203 382 148 .. J 428 103 26 41- 50.. .. 331 183 -22 .. .. 103 31-40.. .. 1,503 518 39 1 1 1,476 ' 47 16 21- 30.. .. 2,588 1,171 60 1 .. 2,933 394 88 6- 20.. .. 1,117 204 18 1 64 j 8 4 Totals .. 8,646 3,717 j 798 744 623 5,346 602 149 |

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Summary of Payments. The payments for war pensions show a decrease during the year, the figures compared with those of the previous years being as follows: —

War Pensions payable outside New Zealand as at 31st March, 1927.

Appeals. Appeals outstanding on 31st March, 1926 .. . . .. 93 Appeals lodged during 1926-27 .. . . ... .. . . 383 476 Appeals dismissed during 1926-27 .. . . . . .. . . 150 Appeals upheld during 1926-27 .. . . . . .. .. 177 Appeals withdrawn and struck out 1926-27 . .. .. 16 Appeals not under Act, 1926-27 .. . . . .. .. 1 Pensions made permanent, 1926-27 . . . . . . . . 3 347 Appeals .outstanding on 31st March, 1927 .. .. .. 129

Summary since Creation of Appeal Board.

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Payments made in Period ending : : , T , . , — — lot a I. 31st March, „ . London. Australia. Canada. South Africa, Countries New Zealand. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 1916 .. .. .. .. .... 4 13,910 13,910 1917 .. 3,454 152 .. •• 213 176,570 180,389 1918 .. 12,567 2,925 .. .. 294 499,659 515,445 1919 .. 28,623 10,870 192 .. 295 1,159,775 1,199,755 1920 .. 58,447 .. 474 .. 258 1,753.240 1,812,419 1921 .. 72,994 30,849 .. •• 252 1-782,857 1,886,952 1922 .. 64,772 50,988 2,876 367 1 316 1.606,855 1,726,174 1923 .. 60,878 32,130 116 107 j 338 1,395.823 1,489,392 1924 .. 59,064 33,625 2,229 397 j 732 1,219,513 1,315,560 1925 .. 57,329 41,138 2,296 154 j 320 1,143,246 1,244,483 1926 .. 76,585 39,473 2,591 .. 265 1,066,247 1,185,161 1927 .. 50,479 26,621 214 272 492 1,050,910 1,128,988 Totals ..£ 545,192 268,771 10,988 1,297 3,775 12,868,605 13,698,628

Wives and I Soldiers. Parents of Dependants. Soldiers. Annual Liability. Permanent. Temporary. Temporary. ( Widows. „ r J I Dependants. £ Great Britain .. 167 152 18 148 703 60,502 Australia .. .. 179 202 11 56 177 34,169 Other countries .. 25 34 .. 6 '38 4,254 Totals .. 371 388 29 210 918 98,925

T ° 3^r Cl1 ' 1926-27. Total. Appeals dismissed .. . . . . . . . . 830 150 980 Appeals upheld . . . . . . . . . . 500 177 677 Appeals withdrawn and struck out . . . . . . 58 16 74 Appeals not under Act . . . . . . . . 6 1 7 Pensions made permanent . . . . . . . . 5 3 8 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 1,399 347 1,746 Total appeals lodged .. .. .. .. ... 1,492 383 1,875

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Economic Pensions payable at 31st March, 1927.

Medical treatment of war pensioners during 1926-27 cost £86,311. Railway concessions to war pensioners with disabilities in excess of 50 per cent, cost £2,375 during the year. The loading paid on life-insurance policies of war pensioners due to war service disability amounted to £236 for the year. Temporary war pensions to soldiers decreased by 457, while permanent pensions to soldiers were increased by 452 during the year. The 353 deaths among war pensioners are made up as follows : Soldiers, 131 ; widows of soldiers, 5 ; other dependants, 217.

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i Average Class. Number. Annual Value. Annual Grant. £ £ Soldiers with permanent pensions . . . . . . 342 23,890 70 Soldiers with temporary pensions .. .. .. 805 54,456 68 Widows with children .. .. .. .. 97 2,763 28 Widows without children .. , . .. . . 28 Si47 34 Widowed mothers .. .. .. .. . . 178 5,159 29 Totals .. .. .. .. 1,450 87,215 60 f

I * I j Old-age. j Widows', j Maori War. Miners'. Blind. Epidemic. Pensions in force at 31st March, 1926 .. 22,905 3,833 444 640 196 313 New pensions granted, 1926-27 .. .. 3,302 705 .. 84 .46 Deaths during 1926-27 .. .. .. 2,049 6 70 51 6 2 Cancellations during 1926-27 .. .. 407 562 .. 5 4 52 Net increase or decrease .. .. .. , +846 +137 —70 .+28 +36 —54 Pensions in force at 31st March, 1927 .. 23,751 3,970 374 668 232 259 Total children in receipt of pension, 31st .. 8,917 March, 1927 Total European pensioners sixty-five years and 19,284 over at 31st March, 1927 Total female European pensioners sixty years 3,014 to sixty-four years at 31st March, 1927 Percentage of European pensioners to total 1-62 European population New claims lodged .. .. .. 4,411 867 116 50 New claims rejected .. .. .. 1,182 166 .. 28 13 Number of children on whose account pension .. 1,725 .. • granted Number of pensioners in receipt of old-age .. .. 91 pension Annual liability at 31st March, 1927 .. £995,353 £305,586 £18,326 £41,951 £11,090 £9,016 Average pension .. .. .. £41 18s. £76 19s. £49 £62 16s. £47 16s. £34 16s. Gross expenditure for year 1926-27 .. £982,356 £301,861 £19,458 £41,940 £10,338 £10,951 Increase or decrease on figures of previous +£78,779 +£15,411 —£3,609 +£1,701 +£2,285 —£3,571 year Cost per head of European population .. 14s. 3d. 4s. 4d. 3'4d. 7 3d. l'8d. l-9d. Credit from national endowment .. .. £37,948 Credit from gold duty .. .. .. .. .. .. £2,482 Refunds paid to Public Account .. .. £2,955 £709 dumber of pensioners in homes and hospitals 1,034 .. 14 2 59 Amount paid to controlling authorities of £49,001 .. £662 £129 £3,017 these Number of pensioners in mental hospitals .. 114 Amount paid to Mental Hospitals Depart- £4,459 ment on account of these Unpaid instalments as at 31st March, 1927 .. £6,583 £2,495 £142 £247 £49 £60 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid. . £4,575 £2,156 £86 . £161 £145 £47 Average of total family of pensioners .. .. 4-34 .. Average of family under fifteen years .. .. 2-25 Total claims lodged to date .. .. 93,621 12,266 1,889 1,583 328 Total claims established .. .. .. 73,153 10,304 1,697 1,343 252 972 Total claims rejected and outstanding .. 20,468 1,962 192 240 76 Total number of children benefited.. .. .. 25,434 Total deaths .. .. .. .. 39,692 92 1,318 485 15 10 Total guardians appointed .. .. .. 160 Total cancellations ... .. .. 9,707 6,242 5 190 5 703 Grand total paid to date .. .. .. £13,619,766 £2,022,011 £532,675 £301,178 £19,427 £427,518 Total credit from gold duty .. .. .. .. .. £38,214 Total amount paid on account funeral expenses .. .. .. £4,352 Total credit from national endowment .. £504,412 Total European population at 31st March, 1927, 1,373,746.

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APPENDIX. TABLE X.—NATURE OF DISABILITIES FOB WHICH WAR PENSIONS WERE GRANTED TO 31st MARCH, 1927. Wounds — Permanent. Temporary. Total. Per Centage. Upper extremity .. .. .. 2,153 112 2,265 Lower extremity .. .. 2,265 203 2,468 Head and neck . . .. .. .. 691 78 769 Thorax . . . . .. 357 73 430 Abdomen .. .. .. .. 121 13 134 5,587 479 6,066 "49-1 Fractures (not due to wounds)— Upper extremity .. . . 62 4 66 Lower extremity . . . . .58 6 64 120 10 130 1 1 Amputations — Upper extremity . . . . *244 .. 244 Lower extremity . . . . . . 564- 8 572 Double .. .. . .. . . .. 29 .. 29 837 8 845 6-8 Special senses — Ocular — Totally blind . . .. .. 17 1 18 Loss of one eye .. . . . . 288 3 291 Other disabilities of eye .. . . 147 17 164 452 21 473 3-8 Auditory .. .. .. .. 291 35 326 Nasal .. .. .. .. .. 10 10 20 301 45 346 2-8 Respiratory system — Pulmonary tuberculosis .. .. .. 93 1,115 1,208 9-8 Other diseases .. .. .. . . 210 646 856 6-9 303 1,761 2,064 Circulatory system .. .. .. ~ 152 231 383 3-1 Nervous system — Organic disease (including mental diseases).. 15 5C 73 0-6 Functional disease .. .. .. 112 412 524 4-2 127 470 597 4-8 Gastro-intestinal .. ... .. .. 86 106 192 1-6 Genito-urinary .. .. .. 63 91 154 1-3 General diseases .. .. .. 194 241 435 3-5 Diseases of bone . . .. .. 34 23 57 0-5 Injuries of joints (not due to wounds) .. 234 88 322 2-6 Spinal disease . . . . .. . . 22 70 92 0-7 Deformities .. .. .. .. .. 49 4 53 0-4 Disease of skin .. .. . . . . 4 10 14 0-1 Miscellaneous ... .. .. .. 81 59 140 1-1 8,646 3,717 12,363 100 * The figures in previous year's reports were in error.

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TABLE II.—PENSIONS GRANTED, DEATHS, AND CANCELLATIONS IN EACH YEAR, WITH NUMBER IN FORCE.

A/pproccimate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (750 copies), £11 17s. 6d.

Authority : W. A. G. Sklnner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 927.

Price 6d.

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, r , , iNumberof |„ „ In Force „ , , 'Number of „ In Force Q1 e f ® n e , c Pensions Deaths, i -*® 00 a " at End of 1 Pensions' Deaths. a - Ilu at End of 31st March, | granted _ I tions. j Year> 31st March, j grant ed. | I tl0ns ' Year. Old-age. Maori War. 1913 .. 577 9 .. 568 1899 .. 7,487 38 6 7,443 1914 .. 747 74 1 1,240 1900 .. 4,699 786 71 11,285 1915 .. 256 108 .. 1,388 1901 .. 2,227 815 292 12,406 1916 .. 60 124 1 1,323 1902 .. 1,694 935 388 12,776 1917 .. 10 "101 .. .1,232 1903 .. 1,391 1,064 622. 12,481 1918 .. 24 103 .. 1,153 1904 .. 1.063 928 690: 11,926 1919 .. 12 125 .. 1.040 1905 .. 1,210 890 476 11,770 1920 .. 5 106 .. 939 1906 .. 2,075 1,038 225 12,582 1921 .. 2 130 .. 811 1907 .. 2,031 1.097 259 13,257 1922 .. 1 72 740 1908 .. 1,740 1,189 239 13,569 1923 .. 1 71 1 669 1909 .. 2,113 1,112 174 14,396 1924 .. 1 80 1 589 1910 .. 2,304 1,169 211 15,320 1.925 .. 1 71 519 1911 .. 2,399 1,423 276 16,020 1926 .... 74 1 444 1912 .. 2,318 1,469 220 16,649 1927 .... 70 374 1913 .. 2,072 1,569 643 16,509 1914 .. 3.320 1,4-79 300 18,050 Totals.. 1,697 1,318 5 1915 .. 3,158 1,582 274 19,352 ! 1916 .. 2,268 1,539 277 19,804 1917 - 1,823 1,610 320 19,697 War. 1918 .. 2,146 1,535 348 19,960 1916 .. I 1,214 1 1 22 1.191 1919 .. 2,235 2,013 310 19,872 1917 .. ! 5,316 44 1,294 5,169 1920 .. 2,289 1,798 370 19,993 1918 .. I 10,587 86 1,173 14,497 1921 .. 2,152 1,880 428 19,837 1919 .. 16,954 531 3,493 27,427 1922 .. 2,553 1,578 321 20,491 1920 .. 15,183 291 7,748 34,571 1923 .. 2,781 1,763 328 21,181 1921 .. 2,207 358 4,656 31,764 .1924 .. 2,549 1,870 392 21,468 1922 .. 945 369 3,249 29,091 1925 .. 2,654 1,635 425 22,062 1923 .. 625 358 2,898 26,460 1926 .. 3,100 1,839 418 22,905 1924 .. 551 361 3,484 23,166 1927 .. 3,302 2,049 407 23,751 1925 .. 432 334 1,946 21,318 1926 .. 353 369 586 20,716 Totals.. 73,153 39,692 9,707 .. 1927 .. 350 353 88 20,625 Totals.. 54,717 3,455 30,637 Widows'. 1912 .. 791 .. 3 788 Miners'. 1913 .. 657 3 129 1,313 1916 .. 120 .. .. 120 1914 .. 421 1 193 1,540 1917 .. 153 35 .. 238 1915 .. 458 2 208 1,788 1918 .. 91 34 25 270 1916 .. 444 4 338 1,890 1919 .. 82 41 71 240 1917 .. 421 2 285 2,024 1920 .. 237 23 39 j 415 1918 .. 509 6 335 2,192 1921 .. 107 43 5 474 1919 .. 1,349 11 319 3,211 1922 .. 78 38 8 506 1920 .. 767 18 516 3,444 1923 .. 96 52 6 544 1921 .. 627 8 642 3,421 1924 .. 88 48 4 580 1922 .. 523 3 598 3,343 1925 .. Ill 70 14 607 1923 .. 616 12 536 3,411 1926 .. 96 50 13 640 1924 .. 730 8 607 3,526 1927 .. 84 51 5 668 1925 .. 602 6 524 3,598 1926 .. 684 2 447 3,833 Totals.. 1,343 485 190 1927 .. 705 6 562 3,970 Totals.. 10,304 92 6,242 .. Epidemic. 1920 .. 939 i 1921 .. 27 '4 113 ' 849 1922 .. 6 .. 172 683 1923 .. .. 2 112 569 Blind. 1924 .. .. 1 111 457 1925 .. 114 ... .. 114 1925 .. .. .. 92 365 1926 .. 92 9 1 196 1926 .. .. 1 51 313 1927 .. 46 6 4 232 1927 .. .. 2 52 ! 259 I I l_ I Totals.. 252 15 5 Totals.. 972 i 10 703 I ' ' _ 6. C. Fache, Commissioner of Pensions.