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E. G. Stapp, Chief Postmaster, Hamilton. C. A. Newman, Inspecting Auditor, General Post Office. A. 0. Tovey, Postmaster, Palmerston North. T. B. Salmon, Relieving Officer, General Post Office. P. G. Harwood, Assistant Postmaster, Auckland. W. A. Andrews, Principal Clerk, Telegraph Division, General Post Office. J. Redmond, Senior Inspector, General Post Office. J. E. Green, Superintendent, Telegraph-office, Auckland. E. A. Burr, Superintendent, Telegraph-office, Christchurch. J. T. Wylie, Chief Postmaster, Nelson. Reduction of Staff. Consequent upon the falling-off in the Department's business it became necessary during the year to dispose of surplus officers. Approximately LOO officers voluntarily retired on superannuation. The services of 58 officers who were regarded as the least efficient were terminated on the completion of three months' notice. On account of their being returned soldiers or married men, 43 officers who were reported upon as being among the least efficient were offered inferior positions for which they were considered more suitable, than for those which they occupied. In order that the services of approximately 100 officers might be retained, officers were granted time off in lieu of a cash payment for overtime performed. Reduction of Salaries. In accordance with the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act, 1921-22, the salaries of all officers were reduced from the Ist January, 1922, as follows : Salaries exceeding £1,000 but not exceeding £1,250 per annum, a reduction of 9 per cent. ; exceeding £900 but not exceeding £1,000 per annum, a reduction of 8 per cent. ; exceeding £800 but not exceeding £900 per annum, a reduction of 7 per cent. ; exceeding £500 but not exceeding £800 per annum, a reduction of £25 per annum ; exceeding £320 but not exceeding £500 per annum, a reduction of £20 per annum ; exceeding £190 but not exceeding £320 per annum, a reduction of £15 per annum ; not exceeding £190 per annum, a reduction of £10 per annum. Minimum Salary of Married Officers. Prom the Ist May, 1921,. the minimum salary of married officers of twenty-one years of age and over was fixed at £234 15s. In accordance with the provisions of the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act, 1921-22, the amount was reduced to £219 15s. from the Ist January, 1922. Promotion Board. When Mr. J. J. Mulvey, the elected member of the Promotion Board, was transferred, from Wellington to Greymouth at the end of 1921 Mr. L. L. Hills was appointed to act in his place until an election for an officers' representative on the Board took place. The election was duly held in February, 1922, and resulted in the return of Mr. Hills. Appeal Board. In 1920 several officers who had received special increments of salary by reason of outstanding ability were appealed against by officers who had not received like increases. Tt was maintained by the Department that the list for that year, in which the increments were notified, was not a classification list, and that there was no right of appeal in such cases. The Department's contentions were upheld by the. Court of Appeal. Two hundred and twenty-six appeals were affected by the decision. There were three sittings of the Appeal Board during the year, the period covered being seven weeks. The total number of appeals dealt with was approximately 600, of which 13 were allowed. Departmental Correspondence Technical Classes. During the year 553 students were enrolled in the departmental correspondence technical classes. Candidates for departmental examinations who obtained tuition in the classes were very successful. Of the passes, 76 per cent, were obtained by students of the classes. Examinations. During the year 1921-22 the number of officers who sat for efficiency examinations was 1,984, of which number 1,118 were either wholly or partially successful. Representation of Department on Chambers of Commerce. In order to assist the commercial community, permission has been given to Chief Postmasters to accept membership of Chambers of Commerce as representatives of the Department. So far the Wellington Chamber of Commerce is the only Chamber that has availed, itself of the arrangement. The Chief Postmaster states the views of the Department on any departmental matter that comes up for discussion, and gives his prompt personal attention to any matter on which action requires to be taken. He is also required to take the opportunity to solicit the co-operation of the Chamber of Commerce in securing the observance by the general public of fundamental principles the compliance with which is necessary to enable departmental services to be performed to the entire satisfaction of the public.