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ment of his successor. This is due in a large measure to the present system of appointment which requires the advertising of vacancies and the consultation of School Committees. In the interests of the children the question of expediting appointments requires serious consideration, but even under the present system it is felt that there is unnecessary delay in filling vacancies.

Ratio of Men to Women Teachers. The following table indicates the number of women for each 100 men teachers : —

In the Education service as a whole the ratio of women to men remains fairly constant at about two to one. Amongst the probationers the number of women somewhat exceeds this ratio ; but the relatively heavy loss of women teachers after only a few years' teaching has the effect of reducing the ratio in the teaching service as a whole. Teachers' Salaries. The total amount of all salaries and allowances for the year ending on the 31st March, 1926, was £1,737,133, or £53,070 more than in the previous year. These figures do not include the equivalent of house allowance where residences are provided, estimated at £50,148, nor the additional amounts paid to head teachers for the supervision of secondary departments of district high schools. The total cost of salaries and allowances (including the sum saved in house allowances) works out at £9 3s. 7d. per head of the yearly average attendance, the corresponding amount in 1924 was £9 Is. 3d. The average salaries of adult teachers (including house allowances and value of residences) in 1914 and for the last five years are shown in the following table : — Average Salaries of Primary-school Teachers. (1.) Teachers in all schools— 1914. 1921. 1922. 1923. 1924. 1925. (a.) Men and women .. .. 163 285 269 268 276 280 (b.) Men .. .. .. .. 224 369 349 350 358 364 (c.) Women .. .. .. 128 243 228 228 236 238 (2.) Teachers in schools with average attendance over eight — (a.) Men and women .. .. .. 292 276 275 283 286 (6.) Men .. .. .. .. .. 371 352 353 361 366 (c.) Women .. .. .. .. 250 235 235 242 244 (3.) Teachers in schools with average attendance over twenty — (a.) Men and women .. .. .. 301 285 283 291 292 (b.) Men .. .. .. .. .. 388 370 370 380 384 (c.) Women .. .. .. .. 253 235 237 245 244 (4.) Head teachers — (a.) Men .. .. .. .. .. 438 420 422 436 442 (b.) Women .. .. .. .. 385 360 365 365 359 (5.) All sole teachers — (a.) Men .. .. .. .. .. 266 246 247 251 264 (b.) Women .. .. .. .. 234 216 218 226 240 (6.) Assistants — . (a.) Men .. .. .. .. .. 343 326 321 326 329 (b.) Women .. .. .. .. 238 224 224 230 231

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1915. ! 1918. : 1922. 1924. 1925. A.dult tiachus — All schools .. .. .. .. 193 253 197 199 199 Schools with roll 1-20 .. .. .. 323 523 299 j 249 236 Schools with roll over 20 .. .. .. 176 227 182 191 193 Pupil-teachers .. .. .. .. 344 425 223 185 179 Probationers .. . . . . . . 647 688 349 286 286 Training-college students . . .. . . 387 488 256 224 186