p.—l.

10

STAFF. Comparative Return of Persons employed in the Post and Telegraph Department. The total number of persons employed on the Ist April, 1928 and 1929, was as under :— Ist April, Ist April, Permanent staff — 1928. 1929. Administrative Division .. .. .. .. 4 4 Clerical and Engineering Divisions .. .. .. 3,519 3,453 Genera] Division .. .. .. .. .. 5,04.1 5,091 8,564 8,548 Temporary staff .. .. .. .. . . 165 159 Casual staff .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,061 1,104 9,790 9,811 Non-permanent staff— Country Postmasters and Telephonists .. . . 1,867 1,825 Postmasters who are Railway officers .. .. 96 91 11,753 11,727 Health of Permanent Staff. The following table gives the average absence of officers on sick leave : —■ Number on Average Absence per Average Absence for Staff. Sick Officer. each Officer employed. Men .. .. ..7,816 10-09 4-61 Women .. .. 732 15-38 9-50 Twenty-one officers died during the year. Personal. Mr. G. McNamara, Secretary of the Department, left New Zealand on the 12th March, 1929, to attend the Universal Postal Union Congress to be opened in London on the 10th May, 1929. During his absence Mr. J. Robertson, First Assistant Secretary, will act as Secretary ; Mr. M. B. Esson, Second Assistant Secretary, will act as First Assistant Secretary ; and Mr. W. J. Gow, Chief Postmaster, Auckland, will act as Second Assistant Secretary. CHANGE OF STAFF CONTROL. At Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin the positions of Superintendent, Telegraph Office, and Stores Manager have been abolished. The telegraph-offices and the stores branches at the places named are now under the control of the respective Chief Postmasters. REGRADING REPORT FORM. For regrading purposes a new form of report on officers in receipt of a salary of £295 per annum and over was brought into use during the year. The form was designed in order that a more comprehensive report might be obtained in respect of each officer's suitability for promotion and a greater degree of uniformity achieved in the assessment of the values of officers in regard to the various positions. RECLASSIFICATION OF THE SERVICE. The regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act, 1928, provide for the reclassification of the Service at intervals of not more than five years. The next regrading is effective from the Ist April, 1929. During the year the revaluation of positions was completed. The principle of reclassification applies to positions that have decreased as well as to those that have increased in value. Arising out of revaluation, 416 positions have been regraded, and appointments thereto, based upon the greatest merit for the particular position, have been made by the Public Service Commissioner on the recommendation of the Departmental Promotion Board. APPEAL BOARD. The Post and Telegraph Appeal Board, under the chairmanship of Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., sat on three occasions during the year. Ni ne ty~fi ye appeals were dealt with, of which two were allowed. DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL. Officers continue to make full use of the Departmental Correspondence School, which provides tuition in subject-matter relative to various departmental examinations. There were 1,280 enrolments in 1928. The curriculum is to be extended in the near future to include the subject of automatic telephony.