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EMERGENCY BENEFITS Under the provisions of section 58 of the Social Security Act, 1938, the Social Security Commission may in its discretion grant a special benefit on the grounds of hardship to any person who is not qualified for any other benefit under the Act, but who by reason of age or physical or mental disability, or for any other reason, is unable to earn a sufficient livelihood for himself and his dependants. Each year full and sympathetic use is made of this section, and during the past year 1,702 new grants were made. As at 31st March, 1947, there were 1,845 of these benefits still current, and the expenditure for the year amounted to £134,288, as against £121,958 for the previous year, an increase of £12,330.

FINANCE STATEMENT SHOWING THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUND FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1947

Receipts Payments £ £ £ Balance .. .. .. 1,716,302 Monetary benefits — Social security regis- £ Universal supertration fees .. 15,287 annuation .. 1,349,689 Social security charge Age .. .. 11,881,119 on wages and other ' Widows' .. .. 1,529,010 income .. 22,383,884 Orphans'.. . . 22,905 Penalties, fines, inter- Family .. .. 12,680,778 est, and miscel- Invalids' .. 1,328,485 laneous receipts .. 120,730 Miners'- .. .. 105,416 22,519,901 Maori War .. 104 Grants from Consolidated Fund, Unemployment .. 24,332 vote, "Social Security" (Social Sickness .. 853,328 Security Act, 1938, section 105 (c)) 18,000,000 Emergency .. 134,288 29,909,454 Medical benefits, &c.— Medical benefits .. 1,760,574 Hospital benefits .. 1,986,288 Maternity benefits.. 672,989 Pharmaceutical benefits .. 1,439,686 Supplementary benefits .. .. 352,043 6,211,580 Administration expenses — Social Security Department .. 704,193 Balance .. .. .. 5,410,976 £42,236,203 £42,236,203

SECTION lI.—WAR PENSIONS The general administration of the enactments providing for pensions and allowances in respect of war service and the carrying-out of the decisions of the War Pensions Boards and the War Pensions Appeal Board are the functions of the Secretary for War Pensions. NEW LEGISLATION The following legislation became operative from Ist April, 1946 : (a) War Pensions Amendment Act, 1946 : (b) War Pensions and Allowances (Mercantile Marine) Amendment Act, 1946.

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