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the amount upon which subsidy is based exceed £50. Tn this maimer the interests of smaller and less prosperous libraries are protected. The number of libraries participating in the vote in 1920 was 273, the incomes of the libraries from subscriptions, &c, ranging from £2 to £124. The subsidies paid ranged from £8 os. 3d. to £14 16s. 4d. In order that the purpose intended to be served by the vote may be attained, it is maele a condition that the whole of the subsidy granted to each, library must be expended in the purchase of books. It is further enjoined upem the authorities in charge of the libraries that a due proportion of the books purchased shall be books having a permanent value, the ruling high prices of books increasing the necessity of making a very e;areful selection. An analysis of the literature purchased in the past is not in every case very reassuring as to the value of the books chosen, and greater care and discretion in this matter are urged. Teacher's Superannuation Fund. (Sec; also E.-9.) The position of the fund at 31st December, 1919, and the principal figures concerning the year's transaction, as compared with those for 1918 are given below : — 1919. 1918. Balance at credit of fund at 31st December .. .. .. £526,702 £458,056 Increase over balance at end of previous year . . . . .. 68,646 37,831 Income for the year — Members'contribut'ons .. .. .. .. .. 72,561 60,310 Interest .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26,686 22,666 Government subsidy .. .. .. .. .. 43.000 17,000 Total income .. .. .. .. ..,£142,247 £99,976 Expenditure — £ £ Retiring and other allowances .. .. .. .. 57,489 48,354 Contributions refunded, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 14,735 13,115 Administration expenses .. .. .. .. . .' 1,377 677 Total expenditure .. .. .. .. £73,601 £62,146 Number of contributions at 31st December. . .. .. .. 5,019 4,894 Number of members admitted during year .. . . .. .. 533 420 Number retiring from the fund during year .. .. . . 408 318 Net increase, in membership at 31st December .. .. .. 125 1.02 Number of allowances in force at end of year .. .. . . 784 698 Representing an annual charge, of .. .. .. .. £63,448 £51,034 Ordinary retiring-allowances .. .. .. .. 400 £40,493 336 £30,484 Retiring-allowances under extended provisions of section 12 of the, Act.. .. .. .. .. 75 £10,533 71 £10.127 Ketiring-allowances in medically unfit cases .. .. 94 £9,029 81 £7,125 Allowances to widows . .' .. .. .. 117 £2,119 111 £2,011 Allowances to children .. .. .. .. 98 £1,274 99 £1,287 Funds invested at 31st December £ £ At i\ per cent. .. ... ... .. .. ~ 59,000 59,600 At 5 per cent. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26,161 26.161 At 5£ per cent. .. .. .. .. .. ..38,460 38,460 At 5| per cent. .. .. .. .. .. ..385,812 322,200 Total .. .. .. .. .. £509,433 £446,421 Of contributors who have joined the Expeditionary Force, two were killed in action in 1918 in addition to those previously reported. This brings up the total number of deaths of contributors who have been on active service to ninety-nine. As previously intimated, the Government has undertaken to pay the contributions of members during the period they are members of the Expeditionary Force. The amount paid in 1919 was £1,600 9s. Bd., making a total during the war of £13,373 os. 7d. Tables relating to Cost of Eduoation. In the following tables, A, B, C, D, E, and F, an attempt is made to analyse the public expenditure on the various branches of education, to show under what heads the increase of expenditure in recent years has taken place ; and to give the expenditure per head of the population and per head of the roll of schools.

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