H.—l4

12

Health of Staff. 83. The following table gives the average absence of officers on sick-leave :—

Retirement of Principal Officers. 84. The following Permanent Heads of Departments retired during the year* or are now on leave prior to retirement: — Mr. James Mackenzie, T.5.0.: Although Mr. Mackenzie held the position of Permanent Head for only eighteen months, he had. long service in such important positions as Commissioner of Crown Lands and Surveyor-General. Mr. Mackenzie's Government service commenced in 1872, when he became an Assistant Surveyor, since when he has held most of the principal positions in his Department. His career covers an important period in the history of the Lands and Survey Department, particularly in the North Island. Besides the work of his own Department he has rendered valuable services as a member of many important Commissions and Boards. Mr. Mackenzie received the decoration of the Imperial Service Order in 1915. Mr. H. J. H. Blow, 1.5.0. : Mr. Blow has commenced leave prior to his retirement on the 20th July next, when he will have served in the New Zealand Public Service for forty-three years. Mr. Blow has been Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department since 1891, prior to which he graduated through the position of Clerk to Record Clerk, and Record Clerk to Assistant Under-Secretary. He received the decoration of the Imperial Service Order in 1911. Mr. Blow's long service as Permanent Head of his Department has been marked by vigorous and able administration . Mr. John Mackay, Government Printer, is now on leave of absence prior to retirement. Mr. Mackay's career until 1896 was in private printing firms, where he acquired such special knowledge of his profession that he was selected in that year as the successful candidate for the important position of Government Printer. Although his Government service does not exceed twenty years, these have been years of rapid progress, which have been marked by the introduction of much modern machinery and a threefold increase in the volume of the business of the Department. Mr. Mackay's services have been meritorious and valuable. Expansion of Service and Movement of Staff. Departments other than Post and Telegraph. 85. The classified staff on the following dates was, — Number. Am £ ount--Ist April, 1913 .. .. .. 4,641 874,437 1914 .. .. .. 5,095 953,343 1915 .. .. ..5,613 1,098,960 1916 .. .. .. 5,983 1,158,854 In the figures quoted there is not taken into account overlapping increases under classification which fall due at other dates during the financial year. These will, i n effect, reduce the amount actually required. 86. The classification increases provided on the Ist April, 1916, amount to £46,174, as against £47,262 in the preceding year. 87. The movement of the staff is shown in Table 111.

Number of Officers on Staff, 30/11/15. Number of Officers absent during the Year. Number of Days Officers absent. Average Average Number of Absence for Number Days the whole of each Officer Staff Deaths, absent sick. (in Days). dale 10,741 1,809 3,193 907 44,075 16,614 14 18 4 9 is 2 female ... Totals 12,550 4,100 60,689 15 5 50 i i