Ef.—lB

1931. NEW ZEALAND.

THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1931.

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

The Commissioner of Pensions to the Hon. the Minister op Pensions. Sir, — Pensions Department, Wellington, 30th June, 1931. 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, and family allowances for the year ended 31st March, 1931. 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.

Cost per head of European population : 1929-30, £1 19s, 6d. ; 1930-31, £2 os, 3d,

1—H.?18.

As at 31st March. 1930. As at 31st March, 1931. Class of Pension. Total ~ Total Number. Annual Value. Payments, Number. Annual Value. Payments, 1929-30. 1930-31. . . £ £ £ £ War .. .. .. 20,739 1,187,574 1,207,748 21,025 1,236,188 1,245,499 Old-age .. .. ' .. 26,909 1,125,673 1,107,993 28.995 1,212,673 1,158,788 Widows' .. .. .. 4,373 323,250 323,419 4,566 336,039 325,998 Maori War .. .. .. 209 10,241 11.498 170 8,330 9,102 Miners' .. .. .. 779 53,354 51,684 876 62,575 58,441 Epidemic .. .. .. 160 6,629 7,302 138 6,229 6,322 Blind .. .. .. 311 14,956 14,737 330 16,072 15,796 Boer War .. .. .. 60. 2,578 2,606 59 2,552 2,620 Sundry pensions and annuities.. 113 10,330 11,055 114 9,301 10,624 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. 33 10,059 10,548 27 8,389 9,251 Family allowances ... .. 3,868 59,205 61,008 4,617 69,930 63,608 Totals .. .. 57,554 2,803,849 2,809,598 60,917 2,968,278 2,906,049

H.—lB.

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

Family Allowances. The claims lodged during the year totalled 1,727, which, with the 142 outstanding from the previous year, made a total of 1,869 dealt with. Of these, 1,399 were accepted and 191 rejected. Of the rejected claims 102 represent cases where the income of the family was in excess of the limit allowed. 236 new claims from Maoris were finally dealt with during the year, 187 being granted, and 49 rejected. The total children of the 4,617 allowances in force as at 31st March, 1931, and those in excess of two in a family numbered 23,033 and 13,799, the average per family being 4-98 and 2-98 respectively. The total amount paid during the year was £63,608. The total annual value of all allowances in force at the close of the year was £69,930. The latter averaged £15 2s. lid. per annum each, or just a trifle under 6s. weekly, the maximum for three children.

Weekly Rates at which Allowances granted.

Numbers according to Size of Family.

Weekly Incomes of Families.

Cost op Administration. The cost of administration for the year amounted to £70,109, the principal items of expenditure being £35,907 for salaries of officers of the. Department, who numbered 161 as at 31st March, 1931 ; £16,076 and £2,818 paid to the Postal Department respectively for payment of pensions and postage and telegrams ; £4,675 for salaries and other expenses of the War Pensions Appeal Board ; and £2,975 for salaries of the War Pensions Board. The percentage of cost of administration to the total payments made of £3,129,623 was 2-24.

WAR PENSIONS. Summary of War Pension Payments.

Tlie amount paid for tie year ended 31st March, 1931, shows an increase over the preceding year of £37,751,

2

Annua] Average Payments, Government. Class of Pension. 31st March, VaJue _ Ponsi( , n . 1930-31. iyoi. £ £ s. d. £ Great Britain .. .. War .. .. 1,664 86,915 52 0 0\ ,_ R .. Army and civil .. 768 56,035 73 0 Of 1J0 > d0i Australia .. .. .. War .. .. 556 25,522 45 18 0 27,305 India .. .. .. Army and civil .. 73 20,132 276 0 0 23,412 South Africa .. .. War .. .. 2 115 57 8 6 118 .. Civil .. .. 29 3,410 118 0 0 4,094 Crown Colonies .. .. ,, .. 27 9,370 347 0 0 9,495 Canada .. .. .. War .. .. 2 398 199 3 0 599 Totals.. .. .. 3,121 201,897 .. 223,574

Weekly Rate. Is. j 2s. 3s. 4s. 5s. 6s. 7s. 8s. j 10s. | 12s. 14s. 16s. Number granted .. 6 405 7 429 2 273 2 147 75 30 18 5

Number of Children 45678 in excess of two. . _ _ Number of families .. 381 443 282 150 81 37 19 6

, IT ,, T , , Over £1 and up Over £2 and up Over £3 and up r . Weekly Income. £1 and under. £ 9 r to £3 to £4 Uver £4. Number of families .. 48 180 387 749 35

Payments made in * : j —r TotaL London. Australia. Canada, i South j New Zealand. j Airica. ! Countries. ; I J £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Total payments to 31st 739,709 384,471 21,507 2,889 5,947 16,087,835 17,242,358 March 1930 Payments in 1930-31 45,822 51,429 2,522 514 814 1,144,398 1,245,499 Total payments to 785,531 435,900 24,029 3,403 6,761 j 17,232,233 18,487,857 31/3/31 I I I

H.—lB.

Summary of Annual Liability as at 31st March, 1931.

War Pensions payable outside New Zealand as at 31st March, 1931.

Economic Pensions payable at 31st March, 1931.

War Pension Appeals. Appeals outstanding on 31st March, 1930 .. .. .. ■ • 155 Appeals lodged during 1930-31 . . • • ■ • • • ■ • 603 Appeals dismissed during 1930 31 . . .. ■ ■ • • ■ • 279 Appeals upheld during 1930-31 .. ... • • • • • • 308 Appeals withdrawn and struck out, 1930-31 .. .. 24 Gil Appeals outstanding on 31st March, 1931 .. .. 147 Percentage upheld, 50-4 per cent. The total number of appeals dealt with to the 31st March, 1931, was 3,697, the percentage upheld being 48 per cent. Of the 611 cases dealt with during the past year, 330 were heard at Auckland, 56-7 per cent, being upheld ; 119 at Wellington, -35-3 per cent, being upheld ; 98 at Christchurch, 47 per cent, being upheld; and 64 at Dunedin, 51-6 per cent, being upheld. Medical treatment of war pensioners during 1930-31 cost £83,394. Railway concessions to war pensioners with locomotive disabilities in excess of 50 per cent, cost £1,876 during the year. The loading paid on life-insurance policies of war pensioners due to war - service disability amounted to £196 for the year. Temporary war pensions to soldiers increased by 118, and permanent pensions to soldiers by 120 during the year. The 387 deaths among war pensioners are made up as follows : Soldiers, 145 ; widows of soldiers, 5 ; other dependants, 237.

2—H. 18.

3

. Number of Number of Annua] Value Average Class of Pension. Pensioners. Children. Annual Value. Pension . ,1 I £ £ Soldiers (permanent) .. .. .. 9,405 22 489,191 52 Soldiers (temporary) .. .. .. 3,486 40 265,185 76 Dependants of disabled soldiers.. .. 1,313 2,795 123,878 94 Widows (without children) .. .. 810 .. 73,766 91 Widows (with children) .. .. 584 912 89,093 153 Other dependants of deceased soldiers — Parents .. .. .. 4,787 5 171.877 36 Other adult dependants .. .. 117 8 4,172 36 Guardians of children .. .. 523 705 19,026 36 Totals, &c. .. .. •• 21,025 4,487 1,236,188 59

Wives and Soldiers. Parents of Dependants. —Soldiers. Annual Liability. Permanent. Temporary. Temporary. Widows. Dependants. £ Great Britain .. 240 107 24 152 574 59,665 Australia .. .. 250 195 23 53 176 40,181 Other countries 48 26 .. 6 37 5,092 Totals .. 538 328 47 211 787 104,938

Average Class. Number. Annual Value. ! Annual Grant. y< ■ '' ,,H i' ) 1 £ £ Soldiers with permanent pensions .. . . • ■ 820 59,14.5 72 Soldiers with, temporary pensions .. .. •• 1,099 78,985 72 Widows with children .. .. 106 3,176 30 Wid.ov/s without children .. .. • • • • 96 3,454 36 Widowed mothers .. .. •• 180 5,114. 28 Totals .. .. .. •• 2,301 149,874 ! 65

H—lB.

Statistics in regard to Civil Pensions.

Total European population at 31st March, 1931, 1,442,746. * Miners. f Widows. Return of Double Pensions at 31st March, 1931. War— Number. Widows'— Number. Old-age .. . . 1,644 Epidemic .. .. 136 Widows' . . . . • 129 Miners' .. .. . . 46 Family allowance . . 224 Special annuity .. ■ ■ 2 Miners' .. .. 13 Miners' — Blind .. .. 6 Maori War .. .. 2 Boer War .. .. 2 Special annuity .. . . 1 Special annuity . . 2 Blind— Old-age—- Family allowance .. . . 10 Miners' .. .. 22-3 Special annuity . . .. 1 Maori War .. .. 51 Family allowance — Family allowance .. 22 Special annuity ~ . . 1 Boer War .. .. 1 Special annuity .. 14 2,531 Maori War — Boer War .. .. 1 Return of Triple Pensions at 31st March, 1931. War — Old-age and miners' .. . . .. • - ■ . .. 9 Widows' and miners' .. .. .. . • . . 1 10

4

Old-age. Widows'. ! Maori War. Miners'. Blind. j Epidemic. I I ! ; I Pensions in force at 31st March, 1930 .. 26,909 4,373 209 385f / New pension granted, 1930-31 .. .. 4,640 815 1 153 43 Deaths during 1930-31 .. .. .. 2,202 9 40 51 18 Cancellations during 1930-31 .. .. 352 613 .. 5 6 22 Net increase or decrease .. .. .. -(-2,086 +193 — 39 +97 +19 — 22 Pensions in force at 31st March, 1931 .. 28,995 4,566 170 / «n!L "r 330 138 \ 395f J Total children in receipt of pension, 31st .. 9,534 .. .. .. 220 March, 1931 Total European pensioners sixty-five years and 23,226 .. .. over at 31st March, 1931 Total female European pensioners sixty years 4,208 ! .. .. .. to sixty-four years at 31st March, 1931 Percentage of European pensioners to total 1-9 European population Total Maori pensioners .. .. .. 1,534 334 59 .. 38 New claims lodged .. .. .. 5,918 916 2 194 66 j New claims rejected .. .. .. 1,091 104 1 36 22 S Number of children on whose account pension .. 1,930 granted Annual liability at 31st March, 1931 .. £1,212,673 £336,039 £8,330 £62,575 £16,072 £6,229 Average pension per annum .. .. £41 16s. £73 12s. £49 £71 9s. £48 14s. £45 3s. Gross expenditure for year 1930-31 .. £1,158,788 £325,998 £9,102 £58,441 £15,796 £6,322 Increase or decrease on figures of previous +£50,795 +£2,579 —£2,396 +£6,757 +£1,059 —£980 year Cost per head of European population _.. 16s. Id. 4s. 6d. l|d. 9-7d. 2-6d. Id. Credit from national endowment .. .. £40,502 Credit from gold duty .. .. .. . . .. .. £2,508 Refunds paid to Public Account .. .. £2,025 £2,090 .. £46 £28 Number of pensioners in homes and hospitals.. 1,040 .. 6 6 91 Amount paid to controlling authorities of £50,149 .. £350 £368 £5,238 these Number of pensioners in mental hospitals .. 130 .. .. 1 1 Amount paid to Mental Hospitals Depart- £5,300 .. .. £45 £56 ment on account of these Unpaid instalments as at 31st March, 1931 .. £6,230 £2,491 £45 £255 £31 £18 Instalments forfeited and subsequently paid.. £2,017 £713 £8 £51 £36 Average of total family of pensioners .. .. 3'84 Average of family under fifteen years .. .. 2-09 Total claims lodged to date .. .. 113,038 15,788 1,893 2,137 561 Total claims established .. .. .. 88,551 13,405 1,698 1,780 424 972 Total claims rejected .. .. .. 23,815 2,316 195 341 133 Total number of children benefited.. .. .. 32,825 Total deaths .. .. .. .. 48,197 116 1,523 695 68 14 Total guardians appointed .. .. .. 261 Total cancellations .. .. .. 11,359 8,723 5 209 26 820 Grand total paid to date .. .. .. £17,957,882 £3,289,458 £583,318 £504,473 £75,558 £457,877 Total credit from gold duty .. .. .. .. .. £48,191 Total amount paid on account funeral expenses .. .. .. £6,263 Total credit from national endowment .. £661,860

H.—lB.

Pensions granted, Deaths, and Cancellations in each Year, with Number in Force.

J. H. Boyes, Commissioner of Pensions.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (650 copies), £8 10s.

By Authority : W. A. G. Skimhhr, Government Printer, Wellington.—l93l.

Price

5

Year ended N " mber ° f ! CanoeUa-| F ° rc ® Year ended N " mb . er of | Cancella- In Foroe 31st March, ! gr e " n ®°™ ea S " j tions. j a pe ° od ° 31st March, ! Deaths - tions. Old-aqe. Maori War. iqqq 1Q AA 19 i«fi QO, nn rr o«K 1913-1920 1,691 | 750 2 939 ioyy iyoo 824 77 11,285 1921 9 &ii 1901-1910 17,848 10,237 3,576 15,320 lq22 " i ni " 2!;. 1911-1920 24,028 16,017 3,338 19,993 lq9 o " , | 'f " , 1921 .. 2,152 1,880 428 19,837 tqo? " on j «q 1922 .. 2,553 1,578 321 20,491 095 " 1 71 £0 1923 .. ; 2,781 1,763 328 21,181 192 g " 74 " 1 444 "1924 .. 2,549 1,870 392 21,468 1997 " 11 07? 1925 .. : 2,654 1,635 425 22,062 ,000 " " fifi " o™ 1926 .. 3,100 1,839 418 22,905 ,900 " 4.Q " 9W 1927 .. ; 3,302 2,049 407 23,751 ]TO •• •• f* 1928 .. j 3,638 2,093 421 24,875 ,n,, " '' , , fl t 7ft 1929 .. , 3,614 1,968 411 26,110 " i; 1930 .. ; 3,506 2,242 465 26,909 Totals 1 698 1 593 5 1931 .. 4.640 2,202 352 28,995 '' -^ 698 5 - : : War. Totals.. ; 88,551 48,197 11,359 1916-1920 49,254. 953 13,730 34,571 ! 1921 .. 2,207 358 4,656 31,764 1922 .. 945 369 3,249 29,091 1923 .. 625, 358 2,898 26,460 Widows'. 1924 .. 551 I 361 3,484 23,166 1912-1920 , 5,817 47 2,326 3,444 1925 •• 432 334 ] > 946 21,318 1921 .. 627 8 642 1926 " 353 369 586 20 > 716 1922 .. 523 3 598 3,343 j 927 " 350 353 88 20,625 1923 .. 616 12 536 3,411 :[ 928 330 401 ~ 6 20,560 1924 .. 730 8 607 3,526 1929 398 360 ~~ 88 '20,686 1925 .. j 602 6 524 3,598 1930 •• 347 405 111 20,739 1926 .. 684 2 447 1931 ' 131 387 *-242 21,025 1927 .. 705 6 562 3,970 rn , 1928 .. ; 761 4 629 4,098 I lotals.. 56,223 J5,008 30,190 1929 .. 823 5 584 Miners'7 1930 .. j 702 6 655 4,373 1916-1920 683 133 135 415 1931 .. 1 815 9 613 4,566 192I .. 107 43 5 474 I • 1922 .. 78 38 8 506 Totals.. 13,405 116 8,723 .. 1923 .. 96 52 6 544 1 1924 .. 88 48 4 580 1925 .. Ill 70 14 607 1926 .. 96 50 13 640 d/, w 1927 .. 84 51 5 668 1928 .. 104 47 4 721 1925 •• 114 •• •• 114 1929 .. 94 53 2 760 1926 •• 92 9 1 196 1930 .. 86 59 8 779 1927 •• 46 6 4 232 1931 .. 153 51 5 876 1928 .. 39 11 1 259 , 1929 •• 43 14 6 282 Totals.. 1,780 695 209 1930 .. 47 10 8 311 1931 . 43 18 6 330 Epidemic. 1920 .. 939 , .. Totals.. 424 68 | 26 .. 1921 .. 27 4 113 849 1922 .. 6 .. 172 683 1923 .. .. 2 112 569 1924 .... 1 111 457 ,, ... 1925 92 365 tamuy Allowances. 1926 .. .. 1 51 313 1928 .. ! 3,154 j 25 123 3,006 1927 .... 2 52 259 1929 .. ! 1,437 39 641 3,763 1928 .... 3 47 209 1930 .. 1,004 41 858 3,868 1929 .. .. .. 21 188 1931 .. 1,399 46 604 4,617 1930 .... 1 27 160 1931 .. .. .. 22 138 Totals.. 6,994 151 2,226 .. Totals.. 972 14 820 * This represents 718 reinstatements less 476 actual cancellations.