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OLD AGE PENSIONS — JUSTICE AND CRIME — FINANCE 383

Old Age Pensions. &c.

On July 1, 1909, the Federal Old Age Pensions Act came into operation, and the State pensioners were taken over by the Federal authorities. Tha number in Victoria on June 30, 1920, was 29,565. Pensions are also granted to invalids, 10,277 being on the register on June 30, 1920. The amount paid in old age and invalid pensions during 1919-20 was 1,348,100^.

An Act was passed by the Federal Parliament in October, 1912, providing

for the payment, on application, of 5/. to the mother of every child born in

the Commonwealth, no additional sum to be paid for twins. During the

aded June 30, 1920, the allowance was granted to 32,903 mothers in

the State of Victoria.

The number of W;ir Tensions granted in Victoria to June 30, 192", was 74,226, and the annual liability in respect thereof was 1,932,138/.

Justice and Crime.

There is a Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and five puisne judges. There are courts of general and petty sessions, county courts, courts of insol- vency, courts of mines, and courts of licensing. The following are the criminal statistics for five years : —

1916 1917 191S 1919

Arrested .... 20,276 17,599 12,689 10,346 11,993 Summarily convicted . 11,742 10,494, 7,627 6,087 7,094

Committed for trial 509 340 506

Sentenced after commit- ment .... 391 343 276 209 307

The number of individuals arrested during 1919 was 9,420.

There are 7 gaols and 4 reformatory prisons in Victoria, besides 4 police gaols. At the end of 1919 there were confined in these prisons and police gaols 641 males and 55 females.

Finance.

The revenue and expenditure of the State in the years shown were : — Y June30 ed Revenue Expenditure Y *£™^ Revenue Expenditure

1914

1917 11,813,879

1918 12,67

£ £ £

10,944,718 13,04; 13,0.

12,631,169 lyil I 7,900 17,;

1 Estimates.