P.—l.

Employees not on permanent staff: — 31st March, 1907. Country Postmasters and Postmistresses ... ... ... ... 1,870 Night-watchman ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Mail-cart drivers ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Postmasters and telegraphists or telephonists who are Railway officers 167 Total... .. ;.. ... ... ... ... 5,192 Comparative Return of Officers of the Post wnd Telegraph Department for the Years ended 31s£ March, 1906, and 31st March, 1907. Mar. 31, Mar. 31, Mar. SI, Mar. 31, 18C6. 1907. 101-β. 19 7. Postmaster-General .. .. .. 1 1 Brought forward .. .. 140 152 Secretary .. .. .. .... 1 1 Sub-Inspector of Telesranhs .. .. .. 1 Superintendent of Electric Lines .. 1 1 Assistant Inspectors of Post-offices .. 4 4 Assistant Secretary and Inspector .. 1 .. Chief Postmasters .. .. 17 17 Inspector of Poßt-offices .. .. .. 1 Postmasters and Officers in Charge on Controller of Money-orders and Savings- permanent staff .. .. ..118 136 banks and Accountant .. .. 1 1 Clerks (including Telephone Exchange j Chief Clerk .. .. .. .. 1 1 Ciidettes and Cadets in post-oltices) v g l g j _ lg Assistant Controller of Money-orders and Operators (including Cadets in telegraph- J ' ' Savings-banks and Accountant .. 1 1 offices) ' Clerks in General Post Office— Post Office Sorters .. .. 19 86 Secretary's Office .. .. 19 23 Letter-carriers .. .. .. 303 336 Inspector's and Dead Letter Branch .. 8 9 Messengers (Post Office) .. 75 78 Controller of Money-orders and Savings- Linemen .. .. .. 74 81 banks and Accountant's Branch 82 90 S rters (Telegraph Office) .. .. .. 7 Storekeeper, Assistant, and Clerks .. 10 18 Telegraph Message-boys .. .. 555 581 Electrician .. .. .. .. 1 1 Night-watchman .. .. .. 2 1 Assistant Electricians .. .. .. 3 2 Mail-cart Drivers .. .. .. 4 7 Mechanicians and Cadets .. .. 5 11 Postmasters and Telegraphists or TeleTelegraph Inspectors .. .. .. 5 5 phonists who are Railway officers .. 171 167 Assistant Inspector of Telegraphs .. .. 1 Country Postmasters, Postmistresses, and Telephonists .. .. .. 1,829 1,870 Carried forward .. .. 140 152 Totals .. .. .. 4,929 5,192 The conduct of the staff has been satisfactory, the heavy strain consequent on the exceptional increase of both postal and telegraph business having been met in a praisewoithy manner. The continued rapid expansion of telegraph business has necessitated the continuance of the school for learners at Oamaru practically throughout the year. A school was, in addition, opened at Onehunga at the beginning of this year. As the lads have qualified in telegraph-operating and passed a technical examination they have been drafted for duty at offices. A technical examination which all telegraph cadets are by the Classification Regulations required to pass was held on the 29th August, 1906, and again on the 27th March, 1907. The percentage of successful candidates on each occasion was satisfactory. In terms of " The Post Office Act Amendment Act, 1906," officers of the Sixth Class who have served more than seventeen years receive two additional annual increments of £10 each without being transferred from the class. Under the same Act the maximum salary of the class is thus increased from £200 to £220 per annum. The Act also provides for increasing the maximum salary of linemen and letter-carriers of the first grade from £150 to £160, and that of Post Office messengers from £140 to £160. The schedule relating to counter-clerks (telegraph), assistant counter-clerks (telegraph), assistant exchange clerks, junior exchange clerks, assistant despatch-clerks, and distributors has also been abolished, and one substituted providing for a salary in respect of each position, rising from £50 to £150 a year by annual increments of £10 each. Authority is given under the Act to make regulations (a) prescribing a test of efficiency for officers in the Sixth Class before they may receive increments beyond £150 and £180 respectively; (b) prescribing that no male officer twenty-two years of age shall draw a salary less than £100 per annum ; and (c) prescribing a greater minimum and a lesser maximum salary for officers in certain classes of the Non-clerical Division. Regulations under the Act have been prepared. - Health of Staff. The following table gives the average absence of officers on sick-leave : —

Appeal Board. The Board, which met in April last year, dealt with four appeals. In each case the finding was against the appellant, which is an indication of the satisfactory manner in which the classification of officers has been administered. The term of office of the elective members having expired, an election

IV

Numbers comprised Average Absence per (Principal Offices). ! Sick Officer. Average Sick-absence per each Officer employed. Men ... Women Days. 1,618 12-57 252 2115 Days. 5-83 15-78