H.—26

2

retiring-allowance when their time came to leave the service, and they were gratified to find that under this Act their past service would be taken into account when they retired, and that they would be accorded the same privileges as regards a retiring-allowance as those permanent officers with whom they had worked for many years. On the sth February, 1908, His Excellency the Governor appointed four members of the Board under section 6 of the Act, and these, with the Hon. the Minister of Internal Affairs, formed the Board until the elective members were chosen. An election by the contributors was held on the 6th July instant, as provided by section 7 of the Act, and the result of the poll appears to have given general satisfaction throughout the service. The Board has held seven meetings, and has prepared regulations for their guidance in carrying out the provisions of the Act, and these were approved by the Governor in Council and duly gazetted on the 19th March, 1908. As no annual report can be prepared until after the 31st December next, it may not be out of place to state that, judging by the number of contributors who have joined the Superannuation Fund and the annual contributions to be derived therefrom, the success of the scheme for providing retiring-allowances for the service and the future of the fund appears to be assured. Appended is a statement for the six months ending the 30th June, 1908, of the number of contributors and their annual contributions, and other matters pertaining to the fund: — Number of contributors .. .. .. .. • • • • 7,028 Annual contributions .. .. .. •. • ■ • • £55,000 Contribution from the Consolidated Fund .. .. .. . • £20,000 Eetiring-allowances granted .. .. .. .. • • 63 Representing an annual payment of .. .. .. £5,455 2s. 9d. Number of officials retired as medically unfit .. .. .. ■. 9 j Representing an annual payment of .. .. .. £807 18s. 2d. Number of contributors who have died during the six months .. .. 9 Annual pension to five widows and seven children .. .. .. £181 The total allowances granted amount to £6,444 os. lid. per annum, but in a number of cases they do not commence for two or three months yet. The largest pension is £339 3s. 4d., and the smallest £12 9s. 9d. I have, &c, Amemus M. Smith, The Hon. the Minister of Internal Affairs. Secretary to the Board. Avproximnte Coat of Paper .—Preparation, not given; printing (1,500 copies), £1 2s. 6i3.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9oB. Price 3d.]