8.—6

XXV

The absence of figures relating to payment of New Zealand pensions in Australia is due to the non-receipt within the financial year of returns from the Commonwealth Government. These, however, have since been received. The annual values of the pensions in force on the 31st March, 1920, are as set out hereunder :— vr , Annual Average Number. Value £ £ Permanent pensions to soldiers .... .... 2,130 126,510 69 Temporary pensions to soldiers .... .... 23,144 1,223,342 53 Temporary pensions to dependants (including 1,452 children) .... .... .... 1,5.17 88,473 58 Pensions to widows (including 2,313 children) .... .... .... .... 2,075 238,693 115 Pensions to other dependants of deceased soldiers .... .... .... .... 5,705 192,347 34 34,571 £1,869,365 £54 With the demobilization of practically the whole of the Expeditionary Force, including hospital patients, these figures may be looked upon as the high-water mark under the existing rates of pension, and since the close of the year a reduction in the number of pensions, through death and surrender, has actually taken place for the first time since the inception of the Act. The estimated expenditure for the current year is £1,850,000. The pensions granted to date, and the annual value thereof, are as follow.: — Number. AnnuoJ Value. 1915-19 .... .... .... 34,071 2,289,333 1919-20 .... .... .... 15,183 872,627 Grand total .... .... 49,254 £3^161,960 The total claims for pension received since the inception of the Act are as follow:— From From Soldiers. Dependants. 1915-19 .... ' 27,653 11,744 1919-20 .... .... .... .... 11,493 3,990 Grand total 15,734 The total discharges from the Forces to the 31st March, 1920, numbered 80,802, and the deaths for the same period 16,781. The amending legislation of last year enabled a large number of wives of totally disabled soldiers who, through marriage outside of New Zealand or more than two years after the discharge of the soldier, were not previously eligible, to obtain pensions, but the majority of these will disappear from the roll as their husbands become repatriated and. thereby able to support them. Provision was also made for bringing the pensions payable to South African veterans up to the rates payable for the Great War, but the limited number of applications lodged has shown that the dual pensions paid by the Imperial Government and New Zealand for injuries in the Boer War did not permit of any great increase. The pensions provided in respect of the death or disablement of. Police officers on the basis of the rates payable under the War Pensions Act have been availed of in a limited number of cases. The applications to date have totalled nine, of which five were rejected and four granted, the annual value of the latter totalling £331.

iv—B. 6,