E.—l.

The number of children committed to the care of the Superintendent during the year ended 31st March, 1932, was 493, classified according to reason for committal as follows : Indigent, 215 ; delinquent, 16 ; detrimental environment, 42; neglected, 9 ; not under proper control, 133 ; accused or guilty of punishable offence, 78 ; and, in addition, 17 were admitted by private arrangement (section 12, Child Welfare Act), while 47 were temporarily admitted, making the total number of admissions for the year 557. Of the children committed, 67 had been dealt with previously by the Courts for other offences for which they had received terms of supervision. Classified according to the age at the time of admission, the numbers, including temporary admissions and those admitted under section 12, Child Welfare Act, are as follow : Under six months, 59 ; over six months and under one year, 25 ; from one to five years, 88 ; from five to ten years, 110 ; from ten to fourteen years, 108 ; over fourteen years, 167. The length of period of residence for the children temporarily admitted was from one day to eight weeks. Of the children in foster-homes, 201 are over the age of fourteen years, of whom 130 are still attending primary schools and 71 are receiving higher education. In addition, there are 18 residing in hostels and receiving secondary education. Furthermore, 33 children under the age of fourteen years are receiving higher education. 38. TEACHERS' SUPERANNUATION FUND. The position of the fund at the 31st January, 1932, and the principal figures concerning the transactions for the year, compared with those for the year ended 31st January, 1931, are given below : — 1930-31. 1931-32. £ £ Balance at credit of fund at end of year . . . . 1,272,148 1,218,166 Increase over balance at end of previous year .. .. 73,437 Decrease over balance at end of previous year .. .. .. 53,982 Income for the year—• Members'contributions .. .. .. .. 143,392 *115,961 Interest .. .. .. .. . . .. 73,105 72,682 Government subsidy .. .. .. .. 126,106 46,917 Total income.. .. .. .. £342,603 £235,560 Expenditure — Retiring and other allowances .. . . .. 235,902 254,927 Contributions refunded, &c. .. .. .. 29,305 30,628 Administration expenses, &c. .. .. .. 3,960 3,987 Total expenditure .. .. .. £269,167 £289,542 Number of contributors at 31st January . . . . 9,909 9,964 Number of members admitted during period . . . . 853 628 Number retiring from the fund during period . . .. 560 573 Net increase in membership at 31st January .. .. 293 55 Number of allowances in force at 31st January .. .. 1,582 1,677 Representing an annual charge of .. .. .. £239,624 £270,840 Ordinary retiring-allowances .. .. .. 1,015 £192,710 1,088 £221,871 Retiring-allowances under extended, provisions of section 75 of the Act, and under section 14 of Finance Act, 1931 .. .. .. .. .. .. 103 £17,971 108 £18,449 Retiring-allowances in medically unfit cases .. .. 155 £19,936 166 £21,107 Allowances to widow .. .. .. .. 227 £7,112 242 £7,515 Allowances to children .. .. .. .. 80 £2,080 73 £1,898 Funds invested at 31st January — £ £ At 4| per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 30,050 29,950 At 5 per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 147,960 147,960 At 5f per cent. .. . . . . .. . . 15.800 15,800 At 5J per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 138,510 131,510 At 5| per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 400 400 At 6 per cent. .. .. .. •. .. 881,688 867,104 At 6| per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 35,704 24,450 Total .. .. .. .. £1,250,112 £1,217,174 Average rate of interest on investments at 31st January .. 5-796 per cent. 5-78 per cent.

* £136,931, less rebate under section 8 (2) of Finance Act, 1931, £20,970.

40