63

E.—l

Boards offering Senior Scholarships for competition. Other purposes for which the Intermediate Examination is used with certain modifications to suit a purely qualifying or non-competitive candidature are —(1) The award by examination of Senior Free Places in secondary schools and district high schools ; (2) as an examination for pupil-teachers of the second or third year, and for appointment to pupil-teacher-ships of the second year or to probationerships under the provisions of the Education Amendment Act, 1908 ; and (3) general purposes of educational certificates of this standing. The cost of conducting the Department's examinations was as follows : — Total expenses, including cost of additional clerical services tempo- £ s. d. rarily employed .. .. .. .. .. 6,578 11 1 Less recoveries— Pees paid by candidates for teachers' certificates £ s. d. and others .. .. .. .. 1,843 4 9 Paid by Public Service Commissioner for expense of conducting Public Service Examinations, for which in general no fees are now payable — Public Service Entrance .. .. 751 0 10 Public Service Senior .. .. 963 19 8 % 3 ; 5 58 5 3 £3,020 5 10 Teachers' Superannuation Fund. [See also 3^9.] Under the provisions of the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act, 1912, and the regulations made thereunder, 156 persons who were in the Education service on the Ist January, 1906, and who were still in the service at the date of passing of the Amendment Act, elected to become members of the fund on the terms and conditions set out in the regulations. Also, forty-six persons employed under the University of New Zealand, the University of Otago, and the University Colleges elected before the 30th June, 1913, the date up to which such elections were required under the Act to be made, to become members of the fund. An extraordinary vacancy occurred on the Teachers' Superannuation Board at the end of 1913, owing to the resignation of one of the representatives (Mr. Cousins) of the North Island contributors. The vacancy was filled by Mr. T. U. Wells, who was the only person nominated to fill the position. The triennial investigation of the fund, as provided for under the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act, 1908 (section 38), will be made by the Actuary appointed by the Governor for the purpose, and his report thereon will be laid before Parliament during the coming session. At the end of 1913, The number of contributors was .. . . .. .. .. 4,017 Of whom members under Part IX of Education Act, 1908, numbered .. 97 The annual rate of contribution paid as at the end of the year was over .. £44,900 The number of allowances in force at the end of the year was .. .. 460 representing an annual charge of .. .. .. ~ £29,898 viz., — Ordinary retiring-allowances were . . .. 284, representing £24,050 Retiring-allowances in medically unfit cases 50, „ 3,882 Allowances to widows 63, „ 1,147 Allowances to children .. 63, „ 819 The balance at the credit of the fund and invested by the Public Trustee at the end of the year was .. .. .. .. .. £258,692 The fund receives 4J per cent, interest on daily balances in the hands of the Public Trustee, and no charge is made for investment.