F.—l

14

STAFF. Comparative Return of Persons employed in the Post and Telegraph Department on the Ist April, L 927 and 1928. The total number of persons employed on the Ist April, 1927 and 1928 was as under : — Ist April, l°t April, Permanent staff— 1927. 1928. Administrative Division .. .. .. .. 4 4 Clerical and Engineering Divisions .. .. .. 3,543 3,5.19 General Division .. .. .. .. .. 4,993 5,041 8,540 8,564 Temporary staff .. .. .. .. ..192 165 Casual staff .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,557 1,061 Totals .. .. .. .. 10,289 9,790 N on- permanent staff — Country Postmasters and Telephonists .. .. 1,910 1,867 Postmasters who are Railway officers. . .. .. 101 96 12,300 11,753 Health of Permanent Staff. The following table gives the average absence of officers on sick-leave : — Number on Average Absence per Average Absence for Stall. Sick Officer. each Officer employed. Men .. .. ..7,824 9-20 4-33 Women .. .. .. 740 15-64 10-02 Eleven officers died during the year. Personal. Mr. A. Gibbs, M.1.E.E., Chief Telegraph Engineer, was absent from the Dominion for several months attending the International. Radio-Telegraph Conference held at Washington, D.C., and investigating in Europe and America the latest engineering developments of telegraph and telephone communications. The report furnished by Mr. Gibbs on his return to the Dominion is a most valuable one, and not only should it lead to greater efficiency by the adoption of more advanced methods of working, but it should also assist the Department in all engineering matters. While Mr. Gibbs was absent from the Dominion Mr. C. S. Plank, A.M.1.E.E., Deputy Chief Telegraph Engineer, acted as Chief Telegraph Engineer, Mr. Plank, in turn, being replaced by Mr. H. L. Cummings, Inspecting Engineer. PROMOTION BOARD ELECTION. A Promotion Board election held on the 15th February, 1928, resulted in the return of Mr. H. M. Patrick as the elective fnember of the Board. Two officers contested the election. Mr. L. L. Hills, who had been the elective member since November, 1921, did not seek re-election. APPEAL BOARD. The Post and Telegraph Appeal Board, under the chairmanship of Mr. E. 0 Cutten, S.M., sat on three ocoasions during the year. Sixty appeals were dealt with, of which two were allowed. DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL. There were 1,300 enrolments during the year in the Departmental Correspondence School, which provides tuition for officers who require to sit for departmental examinations. The new classes for junior officers resulted in a large influx of students, and necessitated increasing the instructional staff to twelve. Officers generally have proiited greatly by the facilities provided for study, and the value of the tuition given is reflected in all branches of the service by increased efficiency.