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1915. NEW ZEALAND.

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1915.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 70 of the Pensions Act, 1913.

The Commissioner of Pensions to the Hon. the Minister of Pensions. Sir, — Pensions Department, Wellington, 30th June, 1915. I have the honour to furnish herewith, for the information of Parliament, the seventeenth annual report of the Department, embracing the figures relating to old-age, widows', and military pensions for the year ended 31st March, 1915. The following tables show at a glance the increases which have taken place during the past two years :— _...-. At 31st March, At 31st March, At 31st March, Pensions m force— 1915. 1914. 1913. Old-age .. .. .. 19,352 18,050 16,509 Widows' .. .. .. 1,788 1,540 1,313 Military .. ~ .. 1,388 1,240 568 Totals .. .. .. 22,528 20,830 18,390 Last year's increase, 1,698 ; two years' increase, 4,138. At 31 st March, At 31 st March, At 31st March, , , , . 19.15. 1914. 1913. Annual value of pensions — £ £ £ Old-age .. .. ..475,970 447,765 412,408 Widows' .. .. ... 34,975 29,320 24,768 Military .. .. .. 49,968 44,640 19,026 £560,913 £521,725 £456,202 Last year's increase, £39,188 ; two years' increase, £104,711. Year 1914-15. Year 1913-14. Year 1912-13. Gross payments — £ £ £ Old-age .. .. .. 460,814 416,776 415,761 Widows' ~ .. .. 31,619 27,077 22,114 Military .. .. .. 47,616 29,447 3,681 Totals .. .. .. £540,049 £473,300 £441,556 Last year's increase, £66,749 ; two year's increase, £98,493. Cost per head of European population, 9s. 9d,. During the year a short amending Act was passed by the Legislature, the main feature of which is the provision for an allowance of £6 per annum for each child of a widow under 14 years of age, where previously the maximum pension was £30 per annum for four or more children. Under this enactment a widow with ten children under 14 years of age —and there is such a one on the roll—is entitled to claim a pension of £66 per annum. The immediate result of this amendment was to increase the annual value of widows' pensions then in force by £1,100, the increase at the close of the year amounting to £1,500,

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