H.—lB.

1935. NEW ZEALAND.

THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1935.

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

The Commissioner op Pensions to the Hon. the Minister of Pensions. Sir, — Pensions Department, Wellington, Ist August, 1935. 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 sundrypensions, and family allowances, for the year ended 31st March, 1935. 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.

I—H. 18.

As at 31st March. 1934. As at 31st March, 1935. Class of Pension. m ± i ; Total Total Number. Annual Value. Payments, Number. Annual Value. Payments, 1933-34. 1934-35. £ £ £ £ War.. .. .. .. 21,314 1,228,572 1,246,441 21,678 1,264,375 1,264,110 Old-age 37,507 1,403,375 1,350,982 40,141 1,583,413 1,519,889 Widows' .. .. .. 4,619 301,388 302,020 4,505 294,437 296,565 Maori War .. .. .. 86 4,214 4,522 65 3,185 3,607 Miners' .. .. .. 736 56,184 56,810 783 60,510 58,740 Epidemic .. .. .. 68 2,635 3,290 34 1,563 1,983 Blind .. .. .. 438 20,399 19,306 474 22,151 21,227 Boer War .. .. .. 52 2,082 2,163 53 2,108 2,084 Sundry pensions and annuities.. 135 12,367 11,678 139 12,176 12,120 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 16 4,933 5,917 15 5,073 5,211 Family allowances .. .. 12,145 151,765 146,766 12,321 151,169 152,818 Totals .. .. 77,116 3,187,914 3,149,895 80,208 3,400,160 3,338,354 Cost per head of European population : 1933-34, £2 2s. 8d. ; 1934-35, £2 5s.