E.—l

64

The increase in the amount of the vote is due to the increased income of libraries participating. During the last ten years the number of libraries has increased from 349 to 405, and the income on which subsidy was granted from £9,993 to £15,954. In the* New Zealand Gazette of 3rd November, 1910, a notice was inserted stating that £3,000 was available for distribution, and shortly afterwards another amount of £1,000 was voted by Parliament, making £4,000 altogether. Forms of applicationywere sent to all libraries known to the Department. The method of distribution of the vote was the same as that adopted in previous years—viz., a nominal addition of £25 was made to the amount of the income of each library derived from subscriptions, donations, and rates, provided that the receipts for the year were not less than £2, and the vote was distributed according to the amount thus augmented; but no library received credit for a larger income than £75 —that is, in no A case did the augmented amount on which distribution was based exceed £100. In accordance with the Gazette notice, the day appointed for the distribution of the subsidy was the 3rd February, 1911, and the amount of the vote was divided among the 405 libraries from which applications, each accompanied by a statutory declaration on the proper form, had been received at that date. The vote, as thus dealt with, afforded a subsidy of 4s. 7*3Bd. in the pound on the nominal income, and the subsidies ranged from £6 4s. 7d. to £23 Is. 7d. The number of libraries participating in the vote shows a decrease of thirty-two as compared with the number aided in February, 1909. In order that the purpose intended to be served'by the vote may bejattained, it is made a condition for participation that the whole of the subsidy granted to each library in the previous year shall have been expended in the purchase of books. The following table shows the distribution according to the education districts :—

Summary of Distribution of Public Libraries Subsidy.

Junior Cadets. (E.-11, 1911.) Full particulars with regard to the Junior Cadets will be found in E.-ll. The report of the Commandant shows that the tetal strength of the Junior Cadet Force (including Scout Cadets) is 29,067 ; the number of units, excluding the Boy Scout organization," was 1,135 ; and the number of officers 1,233. The net cost for the year ended 31st March, 1911, was £7,669 8s. 4d.

Education Districts. Number of Libraries. Income. Income upon which Subsidy is based. Subsidy. Auokland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke s Bay .. Marl borough .. Nelson 97 18 31 20 29 6 25 4 5 66 19 50 3S 1 1 £ s. d. 2,974 12 0 384 17 5 1,557 9 2 4,804 11 7 1,394 14 1 152 10 4 658 1 2 351 16 10 98 18 9 1,763 2 2 301 12 3 1,111 13 3 3G4 8 6 29 0 6 7 0 0 £ s. d. 3,870 0 4 640 10 2 1,518 8 2 1,178 7 1 1,386 5 0 286 2 6 1.093 18 10 295 12 9 223 18 9 2,570 14 2 776 12 3 2.094 17 3 1,314 8 6 54 0 6 32 0 0 £ s. d. 892 16 5 147 15 7 350 7 6 271 18 4 319 17 7 66 0 5 252 8 3 68 4 6 51 13 5 593 2 2 179 2 10 483 7 3 303 5 9 12 9 4 7 7 8 Grey .. Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Sout'nand Stewart Island Chatham Islands Totals 405 15,954 8 0 17,335 16 3 3,999 17 0