H.—l 5.

1873. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORT OF CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION BOARD.

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. W. Gisboene to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. Office of the Civil Service Examination Board, SIR,— Wellington, 12th July, 1873. I have the honor to report that during the last year, 1872-3, twenty-six candidates have been examined by the Board. Of these, twelve have passed the junior, and six the senior examination. During the years 1871 and 1872 the examinations were, by the regulations, fixed for the months of April and October, but it was found impossible to hold the latter examination regularly in consequence of the General Assembly being then in session, of the extra work thrown upon the members and Secretary of the Board, and of tho impossibility of getting the examination papers printed in time. Taking these matters into consideration, the Board recommended that the examinations should be held in June and December, and at the same time suggested some slight alterations in the regulations. The amended regulations were submitted to His Excellency the Governor in Council, approved, and published in the New Zealand Gazette of the 27th February last (copy attached). Copies of these regulations, together with forms of applications to be examined, have been deposited in the offices of the Clerks of the Bench at the chief towns throughout the Colony, for the use of intending candidates, and they are being largely used. The number of candidates examined by the Board is as follows : — January, 1869, to January, 1871 (during which period there was only one class of examination) ... ... 34 examined, 20 passed. January, 1871, to June, 1872 { ~ g - 15 g » J™; July, 1872, to June, 1873 { /; g ■ & » jgjj A nominal return of those who have passed is annexed. There are already several applications for the December examination. Of the sum voted by the General Assembly last year for the purposes of the Board, X'2oo, there has been expended in the purchase of books, preparation of examination papers, fees to local examiners, &c, £114 14s. 9d. This latter amount will most probably be exceeded during the present year, should the number of candidates continue to increase. In begging that you will be good enough to cause a copy of this report, and of the accompanying regulations, to be laid before Parliament, I would respectfully point out that the examination is in no way competitive, but is intended to show that youths who enter the Civil Service have attained a, certain standard of education When the Board was first established there was only one class of examination, but after two years' experience of the working of that system, the Board came to the conclusion that it would be much better to divide the examination into two branches—one, the junior, qualifying for admission into the service ; the other, the senior, qualifying for promotion to any class above the fourth. This system is working well. Many candidates take up the two branches at the same time; while that numerous class of youths who leave school before their education has been completed, have an incentive to pursue their studies in their leisure hours, and so qualify themselves for the higher grades of the Civil Service. I have, &c, W. Gisborne, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, &c, &c. Chairman.