H.—lB

1914. NX VV ZEALAND.

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1914.

Presented lit holh Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 70 of ike Pensions Act, 1913.

Tin 1 Commissioner of Pensions to the Hon. the Ministeb of Pensions. Sin, — Pensions Department, Wellington. 30th June, 1914. I have the honour to furnish herewith, for the information of Parliament, the sixteenth annual report of the Department embracing the figures relating to old-age, widows', and military pensions for the year ended 31st March. 1914, which will be found set out hereafter under separate heads. Before proceeding to a review of the year's work. I beg leave to submit the following sets of figures as an indication of the position of affairs after close on sixteen years' experience of old-age pensions. three years' of widows' pensions, and two years' of military pensions: At :)lsl Much. At :tlst March, 1914. 1913. Pensions in force— Old-age .. .. .. .. .. 18,060 111.509 Widows' .. .. .. .. .. I. oil) 1.31:; Military .. .. .. .. .. 1,240 568 Totals .. .. ..■ .. 20,830 18,390 Increase. 2,1 10. At :slst March, At :;lst March, 1(114. 1913. Liability — c £ Old-age .. .. .. .. .. 447.7(15 412,408 Widows' .. .. .. .. .. 29,320 24,768 Military .. .. .. .. .. 44,640 19,026 Totals .. .. .. .. £521,725 £456,202 Increase £65,523. Year 1913-14. Year 1912-13. (rross payments — E £ Old-age .. .. .. •• ■• IKi.77(i US,7jBJ Widows' .. .. .. .. .. 27,077 22.111 Military 29,447 3,681 Totals .. .. .. .. £473.3(H) £441,556 Increase, £31,744. Cost per head of European population, Bs. Bd. Consolidation and Amendment of Acts. An important event of the year was the consolidation by Parliament in one Act of the various statutes-eight in number—relating to old-age, widows', and military pensions, the opportunity being taken at the same time of including several amendments of a far-reaching character, notably provisions for reducing the old-age pension age for women to (id. and repeal of the income and property restrictions affecting military pensions, estimated to increase the liability by an amount approximating £100.(XX) per annum for the first year. The immediate effect of these amendments has been to cause ah addition to the roll of old-age pensioners by a Dumber namely, 1,541 that has not been reached since I9()0. the second year of the Act. when 3,842 participants were added, and to double the number

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