H.—lB,

1926. NEW ZEALAND.

TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1926.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 70 of the Pensions Act, 1913.

The Commissioner of Pensions to the Hon. the Minister of Pensions. Sir,— Pensions Department, Wellington, 31st May, 1926. 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 sundry pensions for the year ended 31st March, 1926. 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 Gross Payments.

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

I—H. 18.

As at 31st March, 1925. As at 31st March, 1926. Class of Pension. n „„ ~ Gross Gross Number. Annual Value. Payments, Number. Annual Value. Payments 1924-23. 1925-26. ' £ £ £ £ War .. .. 21,318 1,140,168 1,244,483 20,716 1,122,843 1,185,161 Old-age .. .. .. 22,062 850,795 806,953 22,905 981,886 903 577 Widows' .. .. .. 3,598 281,141 236,378 3,833 301,121 286^450 Maori War .. .. .. 519 25,431 26,848 444 21,756 23,067 Miners' .. .. .. 607 37,934 38,506 640 40,462 40,239 Epidemic .. .. .. 365 16,226 22,881 313 11,802 14 522 Blind 114 4,485 1,036 196 9,396 8,053 Boer War .. .. .. 69 2,949 3,071 60 2,445 2,902 Special annuities .. .. 102 10,380 9,327 102 9,292 8,752 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 67 17,776 19,115 55 15,278 16,"855 Totals .. .. 48,821 i 2,387,285 2,408,598 49,264 2,516,281 2,489,578 Cost per head of European population : 1924-25, £1 16s. 4d. ; 1925-26, £1 16s. 9d.

Number at A , . Government. Class of Pension. 31st March, v**!™ verago Payments, 1926 ' Value. Pension. U'25-26. £ £ £ Great Britain .. .. .. War .. .. 1,866 107,437 58 \ „ .. .. .. Army and civil .. 632 34,638 55f 1 &5 > 5 '0 Australia .. .. War .. .. 587 25,348 43 25,313 India .. . . . . Army and civil .. 80 17,976 225 38,201 South Africa .. .. War .. 3 283 94 375 .. Civil .. .. 21 2,063 98 2,944 Crown Colonies .. .. „ .. .. 23 6,165 268 7,289 Canada . . .. • • War . . 1 183 183 93 Totals .. .. .. 3,213 194,093 J .. 229,785