H.—l4

11

Examinations held during the Year. The examinations conducted during the year under the Public Service Regulations have been the usual Entrance Examination, a special examination for Public Service Entrance, the Public Service Senior Examination, and examinations for admission of shorthand-typists, typists, and machinists. Senior and Entrance Examinations. The Public Service Senior Examination, held between the sth and 19th January last, was conducted under regulations which came into force on the Ist April, 1915. The only candidates admitted were returned soldiers and those who, having entered for the examination in the previous year, had partial passes to complete. Of the 52 candidates thus admitted, 37 actually presented themselves in the examination-room, and 13 were successful in improving their status, and are now recorded, in conjunction with earlier successes (if any), as having passed as follows : Passed the whole examination, 8 ; gained further success in two or more subjects, 5. Only returned soldiers and those who were unsuccessful at the examination in January, 1919, will be permitted to enter for the Senior Examination of January, 1921. The Public Service Entrance Examination was conducted at fifty-two centres between the 19th and 26th November, 1919. The number of candidates entered was 1,100, as compared with 1,151 for the previous year. Of the total, 1,071 were present at the examination and 505 passed. In view of the shortage of boys, it was decided to hold a special Public Service Entrance Examination from the 24th to the 30th June, 1919. There were 192 entries distributed over ten centres, and all except three presented themselves. There were 124 passes at this examination. The ordinary and the special examinations were open to all candidates, both boys and girls, who expressed their intention of entering the Public Service if successful. Matriculation Examination. On representations made by the Commissioner, the University Senate has agreed that members of the Public Service desiring to qualify for matriculation may be admitted to the examination in not less than three subjects in one year, and, having passed in these, may enter for the remaining subjects in a subsequent year. Their success or failure will be recorded for departmental purposes, but no university status will be given. Candidates not under twenty-five years of age at the date of the examination may pass the examination in two sections, a minimum of two subjects being required for the first section, the examination to be completed in the remaining necessary subjects. Such candidates, on completing the examination, may, if they so desire, be admitted to the full privileges of students desiring to proceed through a university course. Officers of Exceptional Excellence. Section 41 of the Appropriation Act, 1919, makes provision for the granting by the Commissioner to any officer in the Professional or Clerical Divisions in any year of an increment in excess of that to which he is entitled under the scale, if the Commissioner is satisfied that the officer is entitled to such increase by reason of special merit and ability. This provision is effective as from the Ist April, 1920, and remains in operation until expressly repealed. £45 Cost-of-living-Increm:ent. In order, as far as possible, to provide a cost-of-living increment of £45 to officers of the Public Service, it was found necessary, where the maxima of classes did not permit of the full amount being given, to make provision in the Appropriation Act of 1919 for the Commissioner to extend the maximum salary prescribed for any class by an amount not exceeding £20 in any case.