5

H.—l4

the Recruiting Branch of the Defence Department, and the Soldiers Registration Branch of the Statistician's Office have large staffs. 18. The civilian staff which has been provided to Departments for purely war work is approximately as follows : — . Male. Female. Defence Audit ... ... ... ... 55 Defence Department---Headquarters ... ... ... ... 55 21 Base Records .... ... ... ... 17 53 Recruiting ... ... ... ... 22 46 War expenses ... ... ... ... 65 186 Stores ... ... ... ... ... 69 Financial Assistance Board ... ... 5 2 District Offices ... ... ... ... 37 26 Discharged Soldiers ... ... ... ... 4 3 Munitions and Supplies Department ... ... 16 5 Internal A ffairs Department — Census and Statistics and Military Service Branch ... ... ... ... 33 180 Passports and Permits ... ... ... 4 5 War Funds ... ... ... ... 3 4 Pensions Department ... ... ... 7 11 Totals ... ... ... 337 597 These do not represent the total staffs, as there are many military officers and home-service men employed. Education Department 19. Since the last report this Department has been largely remodelled, particularly as regards the industrial schools and other special schools, and the Department now claims as the result that savings to the amount of £6,730 per annum will be effected, while capital expenditure to the amount of £42,200 will be avoided. 20. There are several matters referred to by the Commissioners which have not yet been dealt with, owing, it is presumed, to want of legislative authority or the absence of officers at the war. Special Report at Instance of Government. 21. In last report it was stated that a special report had been made at the instance of Government, in which attention was directed to a number of ways in which economies could be effected. The principal of these were the cessation of the expansion of the normal service during the war and a reduction of travelling-expenses. 22. The result in regard to the expansion of the Service has been that it has practically ceased so far as additional cost is concerned, but in the matter of travelling-expenses there is not apparently any appreciable reduction of expenditure. 23. Another large saving was mentioned as possible by carrying out the recommendations of the Cohen Education Commission, but legislation would be required. 24. It was suggested that the commission on the sale of stamps to private persons should be abolished, but no action was taken until recently, when the question was forcibly brought up by a discovery that the practice had led to fraud. The Minister in Charge has now given directions that payment of commission is to cease. 25. The adjustment suggested in the Lands and Survey staff has been carried out at a greater saving than estimated. The Permanent Head deserves credit for his prompt action and shrewd suggestions. 26. Nothing further has been done in the direction of the amalgamation of Departments, and the Commissioners understand that action is unlikely before the end of the war.