H.—lB

6

EPIDEMIC PENSIONS. The allowances provided by vote of Parliament to relieve distress arising out of the influenza epidemic of November, 1918, formerly controlled by the Public Health Department through the various Hospital Boards, were taken over by this Department as from the Ist April, 1920. As in the case of pensions, these allowances are being paid monthly per medium of the various post-offices throughout the Dominion. Total. Pensions in force at the 31st March, 1920 .. . . . . . . . . . . 939 Now pensions granted, 1920-21 .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 Cancellations, 1920-21 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Net decrease .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 90 Pensions in force at the 3.lst March, 1921 .. .. .. .. .. .. 849 Year 1920-21. New claims lodged .. . . . . ... . . . . 40 New claims rejected .. .. .. .. . . . . 13 Annual liability at close of year .. .. .. .. .. £71,486 Average pension .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £83 Gross expenditure for year .. .. .. . . . . . . £72,450 Absolutely forfeited instalments .. .. . . . . .. £107 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid .. .. .. .'. £341 COST OF ADMINISTRATION. £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35,173 Cost-of-living bonus . . . . .. . . . . : . .. . . 275 Contribution to Post Office (nine months only) .. .. .. .. .. 7,955 Grant to Mrs. O. K. Philips on account of death of husband as member of crew of transport "Tahiti" .. .. .. .. .. '.. .. .. .. 199 Grant to Mrs. Mary Young in lieu of old-age pension .. .. .. .. .. 15 Honoraria of members of War Pensions Board.. .. .. .. .. .. 2,454 Light, firing, and water . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 98 Medical fees (war pensions) .. .. .. .. .. .. • .. .. 12,292 Office fittings and requisites, including printing and stationery .. .. • .. .. 2,540 Postage, telegrams, and rent of boxes .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,319 Proportion of salaries, High Commissioner's staff . . .. . . .. • . • 145 Telephones .. .. .. .. .. • ■ ■ • • • • ■ 131 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. .. .. ■ .. •■ •• 1,737 Overtime .. .. .. .. .. .. • • • • ■ • • ■ • 317 Advertising .. .. .. .. .. ... .. •• •• 17 Fees for certificates of age . . . . . . . . . . ...... . . 7 Interpreter's fee .. . . .. . . .. .. • ■ • ■ 1 Cartage .. .. . . . . .. . . .. .. . • ■ • 2 Commission on money-orders and rate of exchange .. .. .. .. .. 193 Charges on postal drafts through High Commissioner, London . . .. . . . . 62 Loading on life-insurance premiums on account of impaired health . . .. .. 90 Payment of instalments of war pensions collected by unauthorized persons . . .. 67 Sundry payments .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • ■ • • 66 £67,155 Number of officers on staff at the 31st March, 1921 .. .. .. . ■ • • 173 Percentage of cost of administration to total expenditure for year (£2,945,802) .. .. 2-27