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The various departments of the General Government are represented in Christchurch by staffs of officers. For instance, the Crown lands of the colony are administered by the Minister of Lands at Wellington, but the country is divided into ten land districts, and each is under the local direction of a Land Board and a Commissioner. The Commissioner's office is known as the principal land office in each provincial district, and at it full information can be obtained in respect to the land policy of the colony, and especially with respect to the facilities for settlement in the provincial district. It is thus with regard to other departments of the General Government having staffs of officers in the provincial centres. For example, full information can be obtained in Christchurch with respect to the Government Advances to Settlers Act, which was passed in 1894, with the object of affording relief to a numerous class of colonists who were believed to be struggling under the burden of high rates of interest and heavy legal expenses for mortgages. It is claimed that the Act has been instrumental in lowering the rates of interest to a considerable extent on several millions of money invested on the mortgage of the farming lands of the colony. Another comparatively recent measure which may be noted here is the Old Age Pensions Act. It was passed by Parliament in 1898, for the payment of old age pensions out of the Consolidated Fund to persons duly qualified, under certain conditions of residence, age, and financial position. The full pension is £18 a year, payable in twelve monthly instalments. On the 31st of March, 1901, there were 12,405 pensions in force, representing a yearly payment of £211,965. It may be noted that the operations of the Government Life Insurance Department were extended in 1899, so as to insure persons from accident, and especially employers against liability for accident to any person employed; though the department is also authorised to carry on the general business of an insurer against accidents.