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1931. NEW ZEALAND.

THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1931.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 90 of the Pensions Act, 1926.

The Commissioner of Pensions to the Hon. the Minister op Pensions. Sir, — Pensions Department, Wellington, 30th June, 1931. I have the honour to furnish herewith, for the information of Parliament, the report of the Department relating to war, old-age, widows', Maori War, miners', epidemic, blind, and sundry pensions, and family allowances for the year ended 31st March, 1931. The following comparative statement relates to the annual value and gross payments of all pensions administered by the Department for the past two years : —

Pensions in Force: Annual Value and Total Payments.

Cost per head of European population : 1929-30, £1 19s, 6d. ; 1930-31, £2 os, 3d,

1—H.?18.

As at 31st March. 1930. As at 31st March, 1931. Class of Pension. Total ~ Total Number. Annual Value. Payments, Number. Annual Value. Payments, 1929-30. 1930-31. . . £ £ £ £ War .. .. .. 20,739 1,187,574 1,207,748 21,025 1,236,188 1,245,499 Old-age .. .. ' .. 26,909 1,125,673 1,107,993 28.995 1,212,673 1,158,788 Widows' .. .. .. 4,373 323,250 323,419 4,566 336,039 325,998 Maori War .. .. .. 209 10,241 11.498 170 8,330 9,102 Miners' .. .. .. 779 53,354 51,684 876 62,575 58,441 Epidemic .. .. .. 160 6,629 7,302 138 6,229 6,322 Blind .. .. .. 311 14,956 14,737 330 16,072 15,796 Boer War .. .. .. 60. 2,578 2,606 59 2,552 2,620 Sundry pensions and annuities.. 113 10,330 11,055 114 9,301 10,624 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 33 10,059 10,548 27 8,389 9,251 Family allowances ... .. 3,868 59,205 61,008 4,617 69,930 63,608 Totals .. .. 57,554 2,803,849 2,809,598 60,917 2,968,278 2,906,049