H.—l4

Departmental Officers on Duty Abroad. During the year the following officers proceeded abroad for the purposes stated : — Deem, J. W., Instructor in Agriculture, Agriculture Department, Wanganui: To visit Australia for the purpose of obtaining information in connection with ensilage, prickly pear; and field experimental work. Smith, G. G., Audit Examiner, and R. W. Kemp, Clerk, Audit Department, Wellington : To undertake annual audit of accoiints of Cook Islands Administration. Marbrook, H. L., Audit Inspector, Wanganui, and P. Hepburn, Clerk, Audit Department, Wellington : To undertake annual audit of accounts of Samoan Administration. Bird, W. W., Senior Inspector of Schools, Education Department, Wellington : To visit Brisbane to attend Conference of School Inspectors. Caughley, J., Director of Education, Education Department: To attend Conference of Directors of Education in Brisbane. Fraser, M., Government Statistician, Internal Affairs Department, Wellington : To attend Conference of Statisticians and meetings of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science at Perth. Moston, H. E., Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories, and B. A. C. Herapath, Senior Inspector of Weights and Measures, Labour Department, Wellington: To visit Australia in connection with weights and measures work. Skinner, W. A. G., Government Printer, Printing and Stationery Department, Wellington: To visit Australia on departmental business. Furkert, F. W., Engineer in Chief, Public Works Department: To visit Samoa, Fiji, America, and England on departmental business. Departmental Officers on Loan to other Administrations. The following officers were, on the 31st March, 1926, on leave of absence from the New Zealand Public Service to enable them to take up duty with the Administrations named:—

Suggestions for Improvements. A number of suggestions for improved methods in Departments were received during the present year. Mr. S. J. Collett, Chief Clerk, Tourist Department, Wellington, submitted a proposal, which was adopted, in regard to the issuing of coupons on hotels and boardinghouses. It is estimated that this will be of advantage to the Department and also a convenience to the travelling public. Mr. Collett has been awarded a cash bonus. Every encouragement is given by the Commissioner to suggestions likely to improve the organization or efficiency of the Service, and it is the practice to make a special reward to any officer bringing forward a suggestion of merit.

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I t. t j Department from Administration.. Name. , hi( . h loaned High Commissioner's Office .. v . .. Wright, W. .. .. Agriculture. Ross, A. C. .. .. „ Steel, R. D. .. .. „ Steere, H. C. .. .. Audit. Lawrence, F. W. .. .. Customs. Sandford, F. T. .. .. Immigration. Jervis, D. M. .. .. Internal Affairs. Willcocks, Miss M. G. .. „ Ferguson, W. 8. '.. .. Public Works. Samoa .. .. .. .. .. Halliday, H. L. .. .. Customs. Stevens, A. 0. .. .. ,, Ritchie, Dr. T. R. .. . . Health. Hawke, Y. J. .. .. „ Hayes, R. C. .. . . Internal Affairs. Mitchinson, Miss E. . . Public Trust. Lofley, W. G. .. .. Public Works. Cook Islands .. .. .. .. Reid, E. A. .. .. Agriculture. McMahon-Box, J. P. .. Customs. Sleight, K. M. . . . . Internal Affairs. Luckham, A. A. .. .. Prisons. Secretariat of League of Nations .. .. Chapman, J. H. .. Customs. Falkland Islands .. .. .. .. Carter, R. W. .. .. Agriculture.