XXIII

8.—6

PENSIONS. The amounts issued during the year under this head are as follow : — Total Pensions. £ War pensions .. .. .. . . .. 1,886,952 Old-age pensions .. .. .. .. 731,236 Widows'pensions .. .. .. .. 187,402 Epidemic pensions .. .. .. .. 72,437 Military (Maori War) pensions .. .. .. 40,200 Miners'pensions .. .. .. .. 26,971 Police widows' pensions .. .. .. 436 £2,945,634 Against this amount must be credited the sum of £32,637, representing £30,134 received from national endowments on account of old-age pensions, and £2,503 from gold duty in respect of miners' pensions. Under the amending legislation of last year the allowance of £13 per annum by way of bonus granted under the Finance Act, 1917, was incorporated in the old-age and Maori War pensions, making the maximum now £39 and £49 per annum respectively. Miners' pensions were increased to £l 15s. a week for married men and £l ss. a week for single men. Miner and Maori War pensioners are now permitted to be absent from New Zealand for a period not exceeding two years without loss of pension. Epidemic pensions represent payments made from the vote provided to relieve distress arising out of the influenza epidemic of 1918; formerly this service was administered by the Public Health Department through the Hospital Boards. The total number of pensions in force at close of year, the annual values thereof, and the amount of the average pension are as follow : — Annual Average tvt i Value. Pension. Number. „ „ War pensions .. .. ..31,764 1,748,865 55 Old-age pensions .. .. .. 19,837 737,378 37 Widows'pensions .. ..\ 3,421 198,767 58 Maori War pensions .. .. 811 39,739 49 Miners' pensions . . . . .. 474 29,686 63 Epidemic pensions .. .. 849 71,486 84 Police widows' pensions . . . . 5 390 78 57,161 £2,826,311 War Pensions. The payment for war pensions shows a slight increase during the year; the figures compared with those of the previous year are as follow :— 1919-20. 1920-21. Payments made in New Zealand .. 1,752,900 1,754,382 Payments made in London . . .. 58,447 72,994 Payments made in Australia .. .. 30,849 Payments made in Canada . . . . 474 Other foreign payments . . .. 258 252 Allotments paid after casualty .. .. 28,475 Lump-sum payments . . . . 340 Totals ... .. £1,812,419 £1,886,952