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MINERS' BENEFITS During the year 25 new grants were made. The number of benefits in force decreased by 25, from 685 as .at 31st March, 1948, to 660 as at 31st March, 1949. This includes -85 benefits paid to widows whose husbands died while in receipt of miners' benefit. The expenditure for the year increased by £3,553, from £110,106 for the year ended 51st March, 1948, to £113,659 for the year ended 31st March, 1949. RECIPROCAL BENEFITS Reciprocity With Australia Under the Age and Invalids' Benefits (Reciprocity with Australia) Act, 1943, the Social Security Commission was empowered to grant age and invalids' benefits to persons living in the Dominion not eligible for benefits under the Social Security Act, 1938, but who immediately before taking up residence in New Zealand were resident in Australia. The rate of reciprocal benefit was not to exceed the rate payable in the country with the lower maximum benefit. The basic rate of Australian age and invalids' pensions was increased from £97 10s. to £llO 10s. a year from the 21st October, 1948. Negotiations which extended over a considerable period between Australia and New Zealand resulted in the passing by the New Zealand Parliament on 2nd December, 1948, of the Social Security (Reciprocity with Australia) Act, 1948. This Act ratified a new reciprocal agreement with Australia. The new agreement, which comes into operation on Ist July, 1949, extends the scope of reciprocity to cover age, invalids', widows', family, unemployment, and sickness benefits. The former requirement that benefits be subject to the more restrictive .conditions of either country has not been incorporated in the new agreement.

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Total. Disease Category. Males. Females. Diseases of the Nervous System and Sense Organs, Including Mental Disorders— Residuals of other and unspecified paralysis 232 202 Mental deficiency 944 1,206 Epilepsy .. .. .. .. . ; 202 264 Diseases of the organs of vision 324 161 Other diseases of the nervous system and sense organs, including mental 478 568 disorders Diseases of the Circulatory System— Diseases of the heart 637 454 Diseases of the arteries 63 31 Varicose veins and hemorrhoids 16 19 Other diseases of the circulatory system 14 10 Diseases of the Respiratory System— Bronchitis 78 46 Asthma .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 178 131 Other diseases of the respiratory system 42 19 Diseases of the Digestive System— Ulcer of the stomach and intestines .. .. 35 8 Hernia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 9 Other diseases of the digestive system 47 57 Diseases of the Genitp-urinary System 43 55 Diseases of the Skin 25 23 Diseases of the Bones and Organs of Movement — Arthritis and rheumatism 384 385 Other diseases of the bones and organs of movement 155 117 Other deformities due to previous disease or injury, including amputations .. 89 64 <Congenital Malformations 131 104 lOther and Ill-defined Diseases 32 61 Injuries and Poisoning .. .. .. .. 85 33 Totals 5,188 4,930