H.—lB.

The following figures relate to the war and other pensions paid by the Department during the year on behalf of other Governments : —

Family Allowances. The claims lodged during the year totalled 1,727, which, with the 142 outstanding from the previous year, made a total of 1,869 dealt with. Of these, 1,399 were accepted and 191 rejected. Of the rejected claims 102 represent cases where the income of the family was in excess of the limit allowed. 236 new claims from Maoris were finally dealt with during the year, 187 being granted, and 49 rejected. The total children of the 4,617 allowances in force as at 31st March, 1931, and those in excess of two in a family numbered 23,033 and 13,799, the average per family being 4-98 and 2-98 respectively. The total amount paid during the year was £63,608. The total annual value of all allowances in force at the close of the year was £69,930. The latter averaged £15 2s. lid. per annum each, or just a trifle under 6s. weekly, the maximum for three children.

Weekly Rates at which Allowances granted.

Numbers according to Size of Family.

Weekly Incomes of Families.

Cost op Administration. The cost of administration for the year amounted to £70,109, the principal items of expenditure being £35,907 for salaries of officers of the. Department, who numbered 161 as at 31st March, 1931 ; £16,076 and £2,818 paid to the Postal Department respectively for payment of pensions and postage and telegrams ; £4,675 for salaries and other expenses of the War Pensions Appeal Board ; and £2,975 for salaries of the War Pensions Board. The percentage of cost of administration to the total payments made of £3,129,623 was 2-24.

WAR PENSIONS. Summary of War Pension Payments.

Tlie amount paid for tie year ended 31st March, 1931, shows an increase over the preceding year of £37,751,

2

Annua] Average Payments, Government. Class of Pension. 31st March, VaJue _ Ponsi( , n . 1930-31. iyoi. £ £ s. d. £ Great Britain .. .. War .. .. 1,664 86,915 52 0 0\ ,_ R .. Army and civil .. 768 56,035 73 0 Of 1J0 > d0i Australia .. .. .. War .. .. 556 25,522 45 18 0 27,305 India .. .. .. Army and civil .. 73 20,132 276 0 0 23,412 South Africa .. .. War .. .. 2 115 57 8 6 118 .. Civil .. .. 29 3,410 118 0 0 4,094 Crown Colonies .. .. ,, .. 27 9,370 347 0 0 9,495 Canada .. .. .. War .. .. 2 398 199 3 0 599 Totals.. .. .. 3,121 201,897 .. 223,574

Weekly Rate. Is. j 2s. 3s. 4s. 5s. 6s. 7s. 8s. j 10s. | 12s. 14s. 16s. Number granted .. 6 405 7 429 2 273 2 147 75 30 18 5

Number of Children 45678 in excess of two. . _ _ Number of families .. 381 443 282 150 81 37 19 6

, IT ,, T , , Over £1 and up Over £2 and up Over £3 and up r . Weekly Income. £1 and under. £ 9 r to £3 to £4 Uver £4. Number of families .. 48 180 387 749 35

Payments made in * : j —r TotaL London. Australia. Canada, i South j New Zealand. j Airica. ! Countries. ; I J £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Total payments to 31st 739,709 384,471 21,507 2,889 5,947 16,087,835 17,242,358 March 1930 Payments in 1930-31 45,822 51,429 2,522 514 814 1,144,398 1,245,499 Total payments to 785,531 435,900 24,029 3,403 6,761 j 17,232,233 18,487,857 31/3/31 I I I