B.—b.

system, moreover, abounds in anomalies —such, for instance, as the payment of higher widows' and children's benefits in the " free " schemes than are obtainable by contributors to the subsidized service funds. I propose, therefore, to have an inquiry made into the whole question, in order to ascertain in what directions improvements in the administration of these important services can be brought about. The following table indicates the growth of " free " pension expenditure, exclusive of war pensions :— i Pension. 1913-14. 1916-17. 1919-20. 1921-22 £ £ £ £ Old-age .. .. .. 416,776 480,230 732,968 743,749 Widows' .. .. .. 27,077 38,016 136,815 186,509 Military (Maori War) .. .. 29,477 45,674 45,085 37,651 Miners' .. .. .. .. 8,066 16,652 31,163 Epidemic .. .. .. .. .. 46,300 65,505 Other .. .. .. . . .. 93 4,700 Totals . .. .. £473,330 £571,986 £977,913 £1,069,277 War Pensions. In comparison with the figures for war pensions paid during the previous year, the amount paid during the year shows a decrease, details of the gross expenditure for the two years being as follows : — Payments 1920-21. 1921-22. made in £ £ New Zealand .. .. .. 1,754,382 1,595,139 England .. .. .. 72,994 64,772 Australia .. .. .. 30,849 50,988 Canada .. .. .. .. 2,876 South Africa .. .. . . . . 367 Other foreign payments . . . . 252 316 Allotments paid after casualty . . 28,475 11,586 Sundry payments . . .. . . 130 £1,886,952 £1,726,174 The grand total of actual payments made to war pensioners from 1915 to the 31st March, 1922, is £7,335,044. The table hereunder shows the annual liability of each class of war pension in force at.end of year : — ™ i -n -mi,' Annual Value. Average. Class of Pension. Number. „ ■ „ *> Soldiers (permanent) .. .. .. 4,650 243,463 52 Soldiers (temporary) .. .. .. 15,302 765,690 50 Dependants (temporary) .. .. 1,103 79,833 72 Widows of soldiers .. .. .. 1,986 219,542 111 Other dependants of deceased soldiers . . 6,050 204,735 34 29,091 £1,513,263 £52 The War Pensions Medical Appeal Board appointed in terms of the Act of 1920 commenced its sittings in June of last year, but, owing to the limited number of appeals received, it was decided to suspend the sittings of the Board as from the 31st May of this year. Up to the 31st March, 1922, appeals to the number of 433 had been made to the Board. The departmental expenditure in 1921-22 amounted to £138,734, compared with the estimated requirement, £119,801, for 1922-23, a reduction of £18,933.

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