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1925-26. 1926-27. Number of contributors at 31 st January .. .. .. 7,968 8,376 Number of members admitted and reinstated during period .. 976 967 Number retiring from the fund during period .. 451 559 Net increase in membership at 31st January. . .. .. 525 408 Number of allowances in force at end of period .. .. 1,197 1,273 Representing an annual charge of .. .. .. .. £152,422 £174,816 Ordinary retiring-allowances .. .. .. .. 705 £112,014 768 £132,225 Retiring-allowances under extended provisions of section 12 of the Act .. .. .. .. ..109 £16,772 110 £17,923 Retiring-allowances in medically unfit cases .. .. 126 £16,086 125 £16,720 Allowances to widows .. .. .. .. 171 £5,314 183 £5,686 Allowances to children .. . . .. 86 £2,236 87 £2,262 Funds invested at 31st January — £ £ at 4| per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 38,050 30,450 At 5 per cent. .. . . .. .. .. 12,948 12,920 At 5J per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 38,260 38,260 At 51 per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 23,100 At 5f per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 74,765 12,000 At 6 per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 607,734 771,613 At 6| per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 179,586 169,419 Total .. .. .. .. .. £974,443 £1,034,662 Average rate of interest on investment at 31st January .. 5-96 per cent. 5-99 x>er cent. Subsidy to Public Libraries. The sum of £3,000 was distributed to public libraries in country districts on the basis of subsidy on moneys raised locally by voluntary contribution. Three hundred and twelve libraries participated in the grant, receiving amounts varying from £6 12s. to £12 3s. The subsidy is not paid to libraries situated in towns or boroughs with a population exceeding fifteen hundred. Parliament will be asked to appropriate a further sum of £3,000 this year to enable the payment of subsidy to be continued.