H.—lB.

The approximate increases under' the various heads which go to make up the gross total increase of £104,000 in the annual values of all pensions over the past two years are as follows : — £ Old-age pensions to females, 60 to 64 .. .. .. .. 50,000 Military pensions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30,000 Increase of income benefits .. .. .. .. .. 8,000 Sundry benefits under 1913 Act (old-age) .. .. .. .. 1,500 Sundry benefits under 1913 Act (widows') .. .. .. .. 1,000 Additional pensions under 1914 Act (widows') .. .. .. 1,500 Normal increase (old-age) .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,000 Normal increase (widows') .. .. .. .. .. .. 8,000 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £104,000 OLD-AGE PENSIONS. Pensions in Force. —The number of pensions under this head on the 31st March, including 697 Natives, was 19,352, being an increase of 1,302 on the figures of the previous year, as follows :— Europeans. Maoris. Totals. New grants .. ... .. .. 3,047 111 3,158 Deduct — Deaths .. .. .. .. 1,520 62 Cancellations .. .. .. ..252 22 1,856 1,302 The-annual liability in regard to these was £475,970, being an average of £24 lis. 10d. per pension. Of the European pensioners 2,150 were females of the ages of 60 to 64 inclusive. The remaining 16,505 being 65 and over. The percentages of European pensioners of the full age of 65 and upwards to the total population of those ages, and to those eligible by age and residence, for the past five years are shown in the following table :—

It will be observed that for the past year the estimated portion of the population from which pensioners are drawn is less than in the preceding year. This is explained by the fact of the deaths supplied by the Government Statistician exceeding by several hundreds the number of people reachthe age of 65, as shown by the census papers of 1911. The percentages, however, do not vary if the figures of the previous year form the basis of computation. The percentage of female pensioners aged 60 to 64 (2,150) to the estimated female population of that age (13,349) has increased, somewhat, the percentage at. the close of the year being 16 per cent, as against 10 per cent, in the previous year. 62 pensioners were in receipt of the increased allowance available to males aged 60 and to females aged 55 with two or more children under 14 years of age. 2,990 married couples were on the roll at the close of the year. Particulars relating to the distribution of pensioners throughout the Dominion ; to the number payable at each rate ; and to the ages, sex, conjugal condition, and nationality of all pensioners are set out in the appendix ; as also is a summary of the pensions granted, and the deaths and cancellations, in each year since 1898. New Claims. —The number of claims lodged during the year was 3,625, being 741 less than in the previous year. These, with 876 cases awaiting investigation at the close of the previous year, made a total of 4,501, dealt with as follows :— Granted .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..3,158 Eejected (including deaths and withdrawals) .. .. .. .. 653 Awaiting investigation on the 31 st March .. .. .. .. 690 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,501 The new pensions granted to Maoris numbered 111, being 3 more than in the previous year. In 126 cases the pensioner had previously been on the roll. Of the European applicants, 1,141 were unable to produce any evidence of age, and the Department was able to obtain the necessary proofs in 926 cases, 800 of which were favourable to the applicant. In 74 cases the pension was refused on account of the pension-age not having been reached.

2

At 31st March. (a.) European Population 65 and over. Percentage g-> E ™°? e f r to Total p «'P" lat «;» « r> , . • and over eligible Population. . ., ., & ' by liesidence. European Pensioners f and over. Percentages. To (a). To (6). I 1911 (actual) 1912 (estimated) .. 1913 1914 1915 47,700 48,294 48,915 49,473 49,104 4-72 4-68 4-60 4-53 4-46 41,990 42,772 43,557 44,209 44,000 15,336 15,984 15,830 16,204 16,505 32 33 32 32 33 36 37 36 36 37