H.—l4

12

Applications for Employment. 64. The total number of applications for employment received (other than for advertised positions) during the year was 6,502. As has been pointed out, preference for employment has, as far as possible, been given to discharged soldiers. Special consideration has also been extended to the wives and relatives of members of the Expeditionary Forces. Applications were not registered from single men who were eligible for military service. 65. The total number of applications received for positions which were advertised within and without the Service was 1,462. Retirement of Principal Officers. 66. The following Permanent Heads of Departments have retired during the year after long and meritorious service : — Mr. T. W. Fisher. —Mr. Fisher retired from the position of UnderSecretary, Native Department, after having completed twenty-two years' permanent Government service. Captain James Eman Smith. —Captain Smith, Under-Secretary for Immigration, retired during the year, and shortly afterwards died. Captain Smith had been connected with the Government Service in New Zealand for thirty-seven years prior to his retirement. He acted as Assistant Commissioner for the Cook Islands for some years. Mr. F. W. Mansfield. —Mr. Mansfield retired on account of ill health from the position of Registrar-General, a position held since July, 1909, prior to which Mr. Mansfield was Chief Electoral Officer. Military and Civil Pay. 67. It has been arranged that officers to whom annual leave is due on their going into camp shall be allowed to retain their military as well as civil pay for the term of leave. This, while being of financial benefit to officers at a time when money is often required, will avoid an accumulation of leave, which would probably be difficult to overtake on the return of the officer to New Zealand. Expansion of the Service. 68. Reference was made in the last report to the fact that the normal expansion of the Public Service, other than the Post and Telegraph Department, owing-to the creation of new positions (in addition to the cost of the increments under classification, which remains fairly steady at about £45,000 per annum) was at the rate of about £35,000 per annum. For the year just closed the expansion was £6,277, as under :— -vt i Amount. Number. » Increase of officers ... ... ... 844 97,378 Officers retired, &c. ... ... ... 606 91,101 Increase... ... ... 238 £6,277 69. Rather more than the whole of this apparent increase in amount is accounted for by temporary employees who were in the Service prior to the Ist April, 1913, thirty-eight in number, representing £6,306, and whose salaries have heretofore been provided separately. To this has to be added classification increments, £45,621, referred to under the next heading. 70. The increase in the total number of officers is principally represented by the employment of cadets for training purposes and to provide for the work of officers absent with the Expeditionary Forces. 71. In the Post and Telegraph Department the net increase was 575 officers, representing increased salaries of £27,267. In addition, the classification increments for 1917-18 will be £57,547. This is rather more than the normal