B. —6

A summary of the Social Security Fund is as follows : — Expenditure Monetary benefits — £ £ Age .. .. .. .. .. 8,100,000 Widows .. .. .. .. 965,000 Orphans .. .. .. .. 22,000 Family .. .. .. .. 920,000 Invalids .. .. .. .. 1,030,000 Miners .. .. .. .. 80,000 Unemployment .. .. .. (30,000 Sickness .. .. .. .. 420,000 Universal superannuation .. .. 820,000 Emergency .. .. .. .. 130,000 Maori War .. .. .. .. 80 12,547,080 Hospital, &c., benefits— Hospital .. .. .. .. 2,067,000 Medical .. .. .. .. 1,030,000 Maternity .. .. .. .. 539,000 Pharmaceutical . . . . . . 536,000 Supplementary .. .. .. 160,000 4,332,000 Administrative expenses .. .. .. .. 524,000 £17,403,080 Revenue Social security charge .. .. .. .. .. 11,600,000 Registration fee and miscellaneous ». .. .. 575,000 Transfer from Consolidated Fund .. .. .. 4,100,000 £16,275,000 Thus it will be seen that the resources of both the Consolidated and the Social Security Funds will be sufficient to meet requirements without increased taxation. Preliminary inquiries with a view to arriving at a definite and early settlement of the Native claims are in progress. Steps are being taken in an endeavour to reach agreement of a nature that will ensure continuing advantages and benefits to the Maori people in full accord with the merits of their case. As we have been fortunate enough to have had practically no calls upon the War Damage Fund the question has arisen as to whether the time has come to reduce the annual premium of ss. per £100 of insurable value. On 31st March last there was £2,320,000 in the Fund, but this sum is very small relative to the value of property covered, and it would not go far in meeting the costs of damage should a raid be made on some of the city areas. The Government have, therefore, decided to make no change at present, but to reconsider the matter at the close of this year when, if all goes well, there is every prospect of a reduction being made in the premium rate. When the Fund is no longer required as insurance against war damage, it will be very valuable as a reserve for the relief of those who in the future may suffer losses from earthquake or other major disaster. An integral part of the Government's plans for post-war development is, of course, the rehabilitation of the men and women who are serving their country with the armed forces. In the re-establishment of ex-servicemen and women—those demobilized after service in New Zealand as well as those discharged after service overseasprovision has already been made for almost every important aspect. Men medically unfit for employment are retained on Army, Navy, or Air Force pay for as long as they continue to receive hospital treatment, unless they request their discharge, in which event the continuation of treatment and the payment of any pension due becomes the responsibility of the War Pensions Department. A special rehabilitation allowance is provided in cases where normal employment is not immediately available.

Social Security Fund, 1943-44, expenditure.

Revenue.

Native claims.

War Damage Fund.

Rehabilitation.

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