I—F. 9.

F.—9

Session 11. 1912. NEW ZEALAND.

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT: OLD-AGE PENSIONS BRANCH (FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1912.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 69 of the Old-age Pensions 9ict, 1908.

The Commissioner of Olb-age Pensions to the Hon. the Minister of Finance. Sir, — Old-age Pensions Office, General Post Office, Wellington, 14th June, 1912. I have the honour to submit, for the information of Parliament, the results of the operation of the Old-age Pensions Acts for the year ended the 31st March, 1912. Points of interest at the close of the year are as follows, a comparison being shown with the figures of the previous year : — At 31st March, 1912. At 31st March, 1911. European population of New Zealand ... 1,031,500 1,008,468 Maori population of New Zealand ... ... 49,844 49,844 European population, sixty-five years and over... 48,294 47,700 European population, sixty-five years of age and twenty-five years in New Zealand "... 42,772 41,990 Number of pension-claims lodged since Act came into operation on Ist January, 1899 ... 45,243 42,271 Number of pensions granted since Act came into operation on Ist January, 1899 ... ... 34,751 32,433 Number of European pensioners on the roll ... 15,984 15,336 Number of Maori pensioners on the roll ... 665 684 Percentage of European pensioners to total European population ... ... 154 152 Percentage of European pensioners to European population sixty-five years and over ... 330 320 Percentage of European pensioners to European population eligible by age and residence ... 370 360 Percentage of Maori pensioners to total Maori population ... ... ... ... 1"33 P3B Number of pensioners in receipt of pension of £26 14,209 13,936 Percentage of these to total number of pensioners 85"3 870 Amount paid in pensions during year... ... .£406,256 £383,393 Cost per head of European population ... 7s. lOd. 7s. 7d. Total amount paid in pensions since Act came into operation ... ... ... £3,556,660 £3,150,404 Cost of administration during year ... ... £4,382 £3,803 Percentage of cost of administration to annual payments ... ... ... ... PO7 099 Cost of administration since Act came into operation ... ... ... ... £55,563 £51,181 Percentage of total cost of administration to total payments ... ... ~, 156 1"62