H.—lB.

4

The rejections represent 23 per cent, of the total claims lodged, and it is without doubt that had it not been for the introduction of the system above referred to, in regard to which the Magistrates of the Dominion expressed themselves so favourably (see my report dated the 18th July, 1904), a much larger number of pensioners would have been added to the roll. Prior to 1903, 78 per cent, of those who applied were granted pensions ; since 1903 the percentage has dropped to 72 per cent. Further details regarding the nationality, age, sex, and conjugal condition of the new pensioners will be found in the Appendix, together with a comprehensive return setting out the number of new claims received in each district since the Act came into force, the number lodged during the past year, and the manner in which these latter have been dealt with. Annual Payments. The gross payment by way of pensions for the year amounts to £325,199 3s. 2d., being approximately £10,000 short of the amount appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, and £11,015 in excess of the gross amount disbursed in the previous year. Deduct the sum of £163 os. Bd., being overpayments refunded to the Public Account, and the net charge against the Consolidated Fund is found to be £325,036 2s. 6d. The payment made in each month of the year is as follows : — 1907. £ s. d. April 26,597 10 5 May .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26,924 6 9 June .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26,935 19 10 July .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ' 27,209 16 2 August .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27,108 16 0 September .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27,126 18 6 October .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27,149 18 0 November .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27,155 6 7 December .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27,110 3 4 1908. January 27,252 16 5 February .. ~ ■ 27,272 11 3 March 27,354 19 11 £325,199 3 2 The following table shows the number of individual payments and the total amounts paid in each Postal district during the year : — Amount. Postal District. Number of Payments. £ s. d. Auckland 33,147 67,914 19 1 Thames 5,795 12,169 1 6 Gisborne .. .. .. .. .. 1,238 2,263 5 2 Napier 5,580 11,018 1 3 New Plymouth .. .. .. .. 2,902 5,798 17 3 Wanganui .. .. .. N .. .. 4,592 9,575 15 6 Wellington .. .. .. .. 14,821 30,022 10 7 Nelson .. .. .. • • • ■ 3,397 6,887 12 3 Blenheim .. .. .. .. .. 1,797 3,665 7 9 Christchurch .. .. .. •■ 26,008 53,565 2 6 Timaru 5,500 10,957 9 9 Greymouth .. s\. ■■ ■■ 6,016 12,744 12 2 Hokitika 6,303 13,360 7 0 Westport .. .. .. .. •• 3,651 7,754 16 2 Oamaru .. .. 3,365 &6,930 10 4 Dunedin .. .. •• ■ ■ L! • • 24 > 828 50 > 225 6 8 Invercargill ■ . \ f$ 9,842 20,366 18 3 II LILtLLLLLEIiOjj..Q_)|J.. .. 158,782 £325,220 13 2 [Note. —The total of these figures does not quite agree with thu total which immediately precedes them, by reason of the fact that they include a number of payments which through some informality have not been brought into the Treasury accounts. The following figures show the balance with the Treasury : — £ s. d. Pajments in abeyance on 31st March, 1907 .. .. .. .. .. 25 11 8 Plus payments during year 1907-8 .. .. .. .. .. .. 325,220 13 2 325,246 4 10 Less pajments in abeyance on 31st March, 1908 .. .. .. 47 1 8 Gross charge against vote " Old-age Pensions Aot, 1898 " .. .. 325,199 3 2