THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1930.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1930 Session I, H-18

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1930 NEW ZEAL A N D.

THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1930.

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

The Commissioner of Pensions to the Hon. the Minister op Pensions. Sir,-- Pensions Department, Wellington, 26th June, 1930. 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, and family allowances for the year ended 31st March, 1930. 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.

As at 31st March. 1929. As at 31st March, 1930. Class of Pension. Total ~ Total Number. Annual Value. Payments, Number. Annual Value. Payments, 1928-29. 1929-30. - . £ £ i £ £ War .. •• 20,686 1,161,799 1,184,003 20,739 1,187,574 1,207,748 Old-age .. •• 26,110 1,091,262 1,060,760 26,909 1,125,673 1,107.993 Widows' .. •• 4,332 322,861 313,964 4,373 323,250 323,419 Maori War .. .. .. 259 12,691 13,653 209: 10,241 11,498 Miners' .. 760 48,367 48,074 779 53,354 51,684 Epidemic .. •• 188 8,030 7,988 160 6,629 7,302 Blind .. •• 282 13,529 13,334 311 14,956 14,737 Boer War .. .. •• 62 2,643 2,700 60 2,578 2,606 Sundry pensions and annuities.. 109 10,186 10,296 113 10,330 11,055 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 39 11,772 12,260 33 10,059 10,548 Family allowances .. .. 3,763 57,304 54,79] 3,868 59,205 61,008 Totals .. .. 56,590 2,740,444 2,721,823 57,554 2,803,849 2,809,598 Cost per head of European population : 1928-29, f 1 18s. 9d. ; 1929-30, £1 19s. 6d.

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The following figures relate to the war and other pensions paid by the Department during the year on behalf of other Governments: —

Legislation. Miners' Pensions. —Legislation embodied in the Finance Act, 1929 (section 36), made provision for extending the miners' pension benefits in three directions—firstly, by widening the requirement as to total incapacity by miners' phthisis to serious and permanent incapacity ; secondly, by including in the definition of miners' phthisis tuberculosis of the lungs, and any other disease of the respiratory organs commonly associated with or a sequel to miners' phthisis (pneumoconiosis) ; and, thirdly, by providing pensions for children under fifteen years of age of miners on pension at the rate of 10s. weekly for each child. With regard to these pensions to the children, the number of children on whose behalf pension was payable at the 31st March, 1930, was 136. War Pensions. —By section 35 of the Finance Act, 1929, property or income from any source of a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who is in receipt of a pension for total blindness, or of his wife or of any of his children, shall not be taken into account by the War Pensions Board in determining the rate of pension of a child of such member. Family Allowances. The claims lodged during the year totalled 1,187, which, with the 157 outstanding from the previous year, made a total of 1,344 dealt with. Of these, 1,004 were accepted and 198 rejected. Of the rejected claims 103 represent cases where the income of the family was in excess of the limit allowed. 271 new claims from Maoris were finally dealt with during the year, 212 being granted, and 59 rejected. The total children of the 3,868 allowances in force as at 31st March, 1930, and those in excess of two in a family numbered 19,474 and 11,738, the average per family being 5-03 and 3-03 respectively. The total amount paid during the year was £61,008. The total annual value of all allowances in force at the close of the year was £59,205. The latter averaged £15 6s. 2d. per annum each, or just a trifle under 6s. weekly, the maximum for three children. Weekly Pates at which Allowances granted. Weekly Rate. Number. Weekly Bate. Number. Is. .. 7 9s. .. 1 2s. .. .. .. 291 10s. .. .. 56 3s. .. .. .. 9 12s. .. .. 21 4s. .. .. . . 279 14s. .. .. .. 9 ss. .. .. .. 5 16s. .. . . . 1 6s. -. .. . . 215 18s. .. . . .. 1 7s. .. .. . . 5 Bs. .. .. ..104 1,004 Numbers according to Size of Family. Number of Children Number of . Number of Children Number of in excess of Two. Families. in excess of Two. Families. 1 ■• .. .. 272 7 . . . . 8 2 .. .. .. 294 8 .. .. 2 3 .. .. .. 222 9 . . .. 1 4 .. .. 112 5 .. .. ..65 1,004 6 .. .. .. 28

Government. Class of Pension. 31st March, v'alulf' Penskm S ' £ £ s. d. £ Great Britain .. .. War .. .. 1,696 87,570 52 0 0\ lfi9 , 7n ,, .. .. Army and civil .. 785 59,840 76 0 Of ' Australia .. .. .. War .. .. 542 25,445 ! 46 19 0 25,818 India .. .. .. Army and civil .. 72 19,390 269 0 0 20,358 South Africa .. .. War .. .. 2 115 57 7 0 118 .. Civil .. .. 29 4,191 144 0 0 3,885 Crown Colonies .. .. „ .. 24 6,496 270 0 0 8,825 Canada .. . . .. War .. . . 1 181 180 15 0 712 Totals.. .. .. 3,151 203,228 | .. 222,186 I I

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Weekly Incomes of Families. Number. Number. £1 and under .. . . 42 Over £4 and up to £5 .. 41 Over £1 and up to £2 .. 162 Over £2 and up to £3 .. 264 1,004 Over £3 and up to £4 .. 495 Cost of Administration. The cost of administration for the year amounted to £76,755, the principal items of expenditure being £35,863 for salaries of officers of the Department, who numbered 171 as at 31st March, 1930 ; £15,476 and £2,689 paid to the Postal Department respectively for payment of pensions and postage and telegrams ; £6,756 for medical fees ; £4,488 for salaries and other expenses of the War Pensions Appeal Board ; and £2,357 for salaries of the War Pensions Board. The percentage of cost of administration to the total payments made of £3,031,784 was 2-53.

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

Summary of Annual Liability as at 31st March, 1930.

Claims lodged. Pensions granted. Year. I . , . Soldiers. Dependants. Number. Annual Average - | j j 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 1927-28 .. .. .. 180 368 330 24,502 74 1928-29 .. .. .. 231 407 398 30,545 77 1929-30 .. .. 223 411 347 26,633 77 Totals .. .. 42,162 22,136 55,792 3,639,397 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 , , T7 , Average Class of Pension. Pensioners. Children. j Annud Value Pension. I i I £ " £ Soldiers (permanent) .. .. . ■ 1 9,285 13 ] 472,864 51 Soldiers (temporary) .. .. . • 3,368 32 248,811 74 Dependants of disabled soldiers . .. 1.102 2,260 101,543 92 Widows (without children) .. . . 740 .. 67,210 91 Widows (with children).. .. ... 657 996 96,550 147 Other dependants of deceased soldiers — Parents .. .. ■■ 4,920 6 176,437 36 Other adult dependants . . . . 116 8 4,074 35 Guardians of children .. .. 551 743 I 20,085 36 Totals, &c I 20,739 4,058 | 1,187,574 57_

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Number of War Pensions in Force at each Rate on 31st March, 1930.

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

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On account of Death. Wives and Soldiers | Soldiers Parents (on Rate (nearest £1). (Perma- (Tem- Account of Widows. | Other Dependants. nent). ! porary). | Disable- , ment). w;th I without | Guardians oth Children, j Children. arents - of Children. utller9 ' £ 301-350.. .. 4 1 .. 1 261-300.. .. 3 4 3 .. .. ! .. 234-260.. .. 37 5 3 11 1 201-233.. .. 20 3 ,20 31 191-200.. .. 3 8 6 21 1 181-190.. .. 178 292 33 74 1 .. 1 171-180.. .. 24 10 .. 1 8 161-170.. .. 140 125 14 48 2 .. .. 1 151-160.. .. 90 126 93 139 2 .. 1 141-150.. .. 63 58 8 2 22 1 131-140.. .. 50 8 7 43 2 121-130.. .. 154 293 129 247 33 13 3 111-120.. .. 43 25 14 1 102 7 3 101-110.. .. 126 . 116 177 16 20 10 7 1 91-100.. ..294 30 25 .. 8 47 81- 90.. ..287 3 20 1 82 15 71- 80.. .. 358 110 154 17 446 163 20 4 61-70.. ..299 91 29 .. .. 70 .. 3 51- 60.. .. 1,180 279 201 .. 7 419 107 16 41- 50.. .. 337 160 30 .. .. 104 31- 40.. .. 1,580 491 37 1 1 1,381 43 9 21- 30.. .. 2,827 910 81 .. .. 2,645 363 79 6- 20.. .. 1,188 220 21 2 45 3 3 .. Totals .. j 9,285 3,368 1,102 657 740 4,920 551 116

Payments made in Period ending j — j ; -— Tota]> 31st March, j L 0n d 0 ri. Australia. Canada. South Africa.! New Zealand. Countries. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 1916 .. .. .. .. .. .. 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 2,876 367 316 1,606,855 1,726,174 1923 .. 60,878 32,130 116 107 338 1,395,823 1,489,392 1924 .. 59,064 33,625 2,229 397 732 1,219,513 1,315,560 1925 .. 57,329 41,138 2,296 154 320 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 1928 .. ! 62,080 36,361 5,263 547 631 1,047,097 1,151,979 1929 .. 73,464 39,122 2,674 421 669 1,067,653 1,184,003 1930 .. 58,973 40,237 j 2,582 624 872 1,104,480 1,207,748 Totals .. 739,709 j 384,471 21,507 2,889 5,947 16,087,835 17,242,358

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War Pensions payable outside New Zealand as at 31st March, 1930.

War Pension Appeals. Appeals outstanding on 31st March, 1929 . . .. . . .. 145 Appeals lodged during 1929-30 .. .. .. .. .. 507 — 652 Appeals dismissed during 1929-30 . . . . . . . . . . 194 Appeals upheld during 1929-30 .. . . .. .. .. 277 Appeals withdrawn and struck out, 1929-30. . . . . . 26 497 Appeals outstanding on 31st March, 1930 .. .. .. 155 Percentage upheld, 56 per cent.

Summary since Creation of Appeal Board in 1923.

Economic Pensions payable at 31st March, 1930.

Medical treatment of war pensioners during 1929-30 cost £84,650. Railway concessions to war pensioners with locomotive disabilities in excess of 50 per cent, cost £1,837 during the year. The loading paid on life-insurance policies of war pensioners due to war-service disability amounted to £205 for the year. Temporary war pensions to soldiers decreased by 32, while permanent pensions to soldiers were increased by 147 during the year. The 405 deaths among war pensioners are made up as follows : Soldiers, 159 ; widows of soldiers, 5 ; other dependants, 24-1.

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Wives and Soldiers. Parents of Dependants. Soldiers. . . Annual Liability. Permanent. Temporary. Temporary. Widows. Dependants j » 1 r ~i £ Great Britain .. 220 113 22 145 607 | 59.267 Australia .. . 246 199 1 7 60 184 39 773 Other countries . . ' 55 j 26 ..17 36 5 .733 Totals . . 521 338 39 212 827 104 773 I ' • | j

To 31st March, . „ on „„ r „ , IQ29 ! 1929-30. Total. Appeals dismissed .. . . . . . . . . 1,294 194 1,488 Appeals upheld .. .. .. .. 1,175 277 1.452 Appeals withdrawn and struck out . . . . .. 102 26 128 Appeals not under Act .. .. .. .. 7 .. 7 Pensions made permanent .. .. .. .. 11 .. 11 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 2,589 497 3,086 Total appeals lodged .. .. .. .. 2,734 507 3,241 Percentage upheld, 47 per cent.

Average Class, Number. j Annual Value. Annual Grant. _ _ Soldiers with, permanent pensions .. .. .. 649 45,492 70 Soldiers with temporary pensions .. .. .. 964 67,974 7] Widows with children .. .. ... 106 3,211 30 Widows without children .. .. .. .. 83 2,893 35 Widowed mothers .. .. .. .. .. 183 5,282 29 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 1,985 124,852 63

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Nature of Disabilities foe which War. Pensions payable as at 31st March, 1930. Wounds —- Permanent. Temporary. Total. Percentage. Upper extremity . . .. .. 2,180 85 2,265 Lower extremity .. .. .. .. 2,332 176 2,508 Head and neck .. .. , . .. 713 59 772 Thorax .. .. .. .. ..382 60 442 Abdomen .. .. .. .. 130 7 137 5,737 387 6,124 48-4 Fractures (not due to wounds)— Upper extremity .. .. .. 62 4 66 Lower extremity .. .. .. .. 62 5 67 124 9 133 1-1 Amputations — Upper extremity .. .. .. .. 242 .. 242 Lower extremity .. .. .. 574 2 576 Double .. .. .. .. .. 29 .. 29 845 2 847 6-6 Special senses — Ocular — Totally blind .. .. .. 23 .. 23 Loss of one eye .. .. .. 281 1 282 Other disabilities of eye . . .. 149 17 166 453 18 471 3-7 Auditory .. .. .. 321 28 349 Nasal .. .. .. .. .. 13 13 26 334 41 375 3-0 Respiratory system — Pulmonary tuberculosis .. .. .. 119 867 986 7-8 Other diseases .. .. . . .. 387 611 998 7-9 506 1,478 1,984 Circulatory system .. . . . . .. 188 229 417 3-3 Nervous system — Organic diseases (including mental diseases) ..27 88 115 0-9 Functional diseases .. .. .. 163 448 611 4-8 190 536 726 Gastro-intestinal .. .. .. .. 107 118 225 1-8 Genito-urinary .. .. .. .. 80 73 153 1-2 General diseases .. .. .. .. 221 224 445 3-5 Diseases of bone .. .. .. .. 44 21 65 0-5 Injuries of joints (not due to wounds) .. .. 264 101 365 2-9 Spinal diseases .. .. .. .. 35 80 115 0-9 Deformities .. .. .. .. .. 51 4 55 0-5 Diseases of skin .. .. .. .. 6 9 15 0-1 Miscellaneous.. .. .. .. .. 100 40 140 1-1 9,285 3,370 12,655 100

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Statistics in regard to Civil Pensions.

Total European population at 31st March, 1930, 1,421,597. * Miners. t Widows. Return of Double Pensions at 31st March, 1930. War — Number. Maori War— Number. Old-age .. .. 1,525 Special annuity .. 1 Widows' .. .. 128 Widows' — Family allowance . . 165 Epidemic . . . . 159 Miners' .. .. 14 Miners' .. . . 46 Blind . . . . 7 Special annuity . . ] Boer War .. . . 2 Miners'— Special annuity .. 2 Maori War .. 2 Old-age — Special annuity . . 1 Miners' .. .. 208 Blind— Maori War .. .. 54 Family allowance . . 9 Family allowance . . 16 Special annuity . . 1 Boer War .. . . 2 Special annuity .. 12 2,355 Return of Triple Pensions at 31st March. 1930. War-Old-age and miners' .. .. .. . . . . 6 Old-age and family allowance .. .. .. . . 1 Widows' and miners' .. .. . . . . . • 1 8

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Old-age. Widows'. Maori War. Miners'. Blind. Epidemic. Pensions in force at 31st March, 1929 .. 26,110 4,332 259 381f / 282 188 New pensions granted, 1929-30 .. .. 3,506 702 .. 86 47 Deaths during 1929-30 .. .. .. 2,242 6 50 59 10 1 Cancellations during 1929-30 .. .. 465 655 .. 8 8 27 Net increase or decrease .. .. .. +799 +41 —50 +19 +29 —28 Pensions in force at 31st March, 1930 .. 26,909 4,373 209 385f } 811 160 Total children in receipt of pension, 31st .. 9,255 .. 136 .. 287 March, 1930 Total European pensioners sixty-five years and 21,724 over at 31st March, 1930 Total female European pensioners sixty years 3,661 to sixty four years at 31st March, 1930 Percentage of European pensioners to total 1-79 European population Total Maori pensioners .. .. .. 1,493 311 70 .. 33 New claims lodged .. .. .. 4,435 818 1 124 61 New claims rejected .. .. .. 895 117 1 33 16 Number of children on whose account pension .. 1,714 granted Annual liability at 31st March, 1930 .. £1,125,673 £323,250 £10,241 £53,354 £14,956 £6,629 Average pension per annum .. .. £41 17s. £73 18s. £49 £68 10s. £48 2s. £41 9s. Gross expenditure for year 1929-30 .. £1,107,993 £323,419 £11,498 £51,684 £14,737 £7,302 Increase or decrease on figures of previous +£47,233 +£9,455 —£2,155 +£3,610 +£1,403 —£686 year Cost per head of European population .. 15s. 7d. 4s. 7'd. l-9d. | 8-7d. 2Jd. l-2d. Credit from national endowment .. .. £37,466 Credit from gold duty .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 £2,478 Refund paid to Public Account .. .. £2,967 £571 .. .. £13 Number of pensioners in homes and hospitals 977 .. 7 3 91 Amount paid to controlling authorities of £49,723 .. £357 £415 £4,841 these Number of pensioners in mental hospitals .. 116 .. .. 1 2 Amount paid to Mental Hospitals Depart- £5,102 .. .. £53 £91 ment on account of these Unpaid instalments as at 31st March. 1930 .. £6,812 £2,701 £61 £268 £70 £13 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid £2,253 £746 £16 £98 £106 Average of total family of pensioners .. .. 3'95 Average of family under fifteen years .. .. 2-11 Total claims lodged to date .. .. 107,120 14,872 1,891 1,943 493 Total claims established .. .. .. 83,911 12,590 1,697 .1,627 381 972 Total claims rejected .. .. .. 22,724 2,212 194 303 111 Total number of children benefited.. .. .. 30,895 Total deaths .. .. .. .. 45,995 107 1,483 644 50 14 Total guardians appointed .. . . .. 239 Total cancellations .. .. .. 11,007 8,110 5 204 20 798 Grand total paid to date .. .. .. £16,799,094 £2,963,460 £574,216 £446,032 £59,762 £451,555 Total credit from gold duty .. .. .. .. .. £45,683 Total amount paid on account funeral expenses .. .. .. £5,753 Total credit from national endowment .. £621,358

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Pensions granted, Deaths, and Cancellations in each Year, with Number in Force.

J. H Boyes, Commissioner of Pensions.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (700 copies), £11

By Authority : W. A. G. Sktnner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l93o.

Price 6d.]

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v „,i a Number of „ „ In Force „ , , Number of ,, „ : In Force h Pensions Deaths. Can0ella - at End of ?,Tm» if Pensions Deaths. CanceUa - at End of 31st March, tions. period 31st March, grant(jd tions. period Old-age. Maon War - 1899-1900 12,186 824 77 11,285 ]qi?~ 192 ° 1,69 i Ion 2 1901-1910 17,848 10,237 3,576 15,320 " f ™ " 740 1911-1920 24,028 16,017 3,338 19,993 " \ 'f " '* q 1921 .. 2,152 1,880 428 19,837 " 1 «0 1 589 1922 .. 2,553 1,578 321 20,491 {££ " 1 7? 519 1923 .. 2,781 1,763 328 21,181 jIf " 74 " l 444 1924 .. ,2,549 1,870 392 21,468 o 74 1925 .. 2,654 1,635 425 22,062 tj,' " " RR " ?ns 1926 .. 3,100 1,839 418 22,905 .... bb cvo 1927 .. 3,302 2,049 407 23,751 \ Q Z[ " " " n n o 1928 .. 3,638 2,093 421 24,875 19dU " " _ 1929 .. 3,614 1,968 411 26,110 T , , fiQ7 , - " 1930 .. 3,506 2,242 465 26,909 Totals.. 1,697 1,483 5 Totals.. 83,911 45,995 11,007 .. War. — 1916-1920 49,254 953 13,730 34,571 1921 .. 2,207 358 4,656 31,764 1922 .. 945 369 3,249 29,091 1923 .. 625 358 2,898 26,460 w ., , 1924 .. 551 361 3,484 23,166 Widows. 1925 ., 432 334 1,946 21,318 1912-1920 5,817 47 2,326 3,444 1926 .. 353 369 586 20,716 1921 .. 627 8 642 3,421 1927 .. 350 353 88 20,625 1922 .. 523 3 598 3,343 1928 .. 330 401 —6 20,560 1923 .. 616 12 536 3,411 1929 .. 398 360 —88 20,686 1924 .. 730 8 607 3,526 1930 .. 347 405 *—111 20,739 1925 .. 602 6 524 3,598 1 1926 .. 684 2 447 3,833 Totals.. 55,792 4,621 30,432 1927 ... 705 6 562 3,970 1 1928 .. 761 4 629 4,098 Miners'. J930 " ?02 6 655 t'lll 1916 " 1920 683 133 135 415 1930 •• 702 6 655 4 > 373 1921 .. 107 43 5 474 rr 4. 1 ' 10 KOA ,rn q ..n 1922 .. 78 38 8 506 Totals.. 12,590 107 8,110 .. 1923 _ 96 &2 6 1924 .. 88 48 4 580 1925 .. Ill 70 14 607 1926 .. 96 50 13 640 1927 .. 84 51 5 668 Blind. ! 1928 .. 104 47 4 721 1Q0 , ,,, 1929 .. 94 53 2 760 1926 :: 92 "9 • • 1 196 1930 " » *_ ™ !Ss :: S u i 2S >- 627 644 204 1929 .. 43 14 6 ! 282 1930 .. 47 10 8 311 Epidemic. : j 1920 .. 939 Totals.. ! 381 50 20 .. 1921 .. 27 4 113 849 | ■_ 1922 .. 6 .. 172 683 1923 .. .. 2 112 569 1924 .. .. 1 111 457 1925 .. .. .. 92 365 „ ., 1926 .... 1 51 313 t amity A.Llow(X7iC6S. 1927 2 52 259 1928 .. 3,154 25 123 3,006 1928 .... 3 47 209 1929 .. 1,437 39 641 3,763 1929 .. .. .. 21 188 1930 .. 1,004 41 858 3,868 1930 .... 1 27 160 Totals.. 5,595 105 1,622 .. Totals.. 972 14 798 || ' 1 * This represents 604 reinstatements less 493 actual cancellations.