F.— 1.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1933-

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS. The receipts and payments of the Department for the financial year 1932-33 are shown in the following account: — Receipts. Payments. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ ?• d. £ s. d. To Balance forward .. 34,716 15 6 By Salaries 1,444,120 10 1 Postages ..1,043,104 4 24 Conveyance of Money-order and ocean mails 87,622 4 11 Lnfmi'sslon 101 ! 52,596 10 8 • XndTaL ° 133,223 1 6 T-JS SJ «.«. , a rural - delivery Maintenance of «7,557 17» 64,864 4 11 Miscellaneous re- , A _ . + „ oiA 19Q 16 2 Renewals ana rePaid telegrams'.'. 273;615 9 64 placements . 122,818 4 5 Paid tolis one ex ' 397 ' 416 510 woīkshopT 14,525 13 5 change rentals 1,169,511 15 54 Miscellaneous .. 205,668 3 7 6 3,293,931 19 3J Interest on capital liability 546, 000 0 0 2,688,120 5 4 Paid to Consolidated Fund .. 456,000 0 0 Renewal and replacement of Assets Fund (investment) .. 150,000 0 0 Balance carried down .. .. 34,528 9 54 £3,328,648 14 9J £3,328,648 14 94 £ s. d. To Balance brought down .. .. 34,528 9 5J The total cash value of the transactions, of the Department, inclusive of the above, amounted to approximately £153,000,000 for the year. STAFF. During the year there was little change in policy. The system of granting time off in lieu of cash payment for overtime was continued, providing for the absorption of a large number of officers for whom work might otherwise have been impossible to find. New appointments have been kept at a bare minimum, notwithstanding that since the Ist April, 1930, the numerical strength of the permanent staff has fallen from 8,943 to 8,380—a reduction of 563 officers. During the same period the casual staff has been reduced from 698 to 71, and the temporary staff from 76 to 45 making a total decrease of 1,221 in the past three years. In the year under review the permanent staff has decreased by 205, due to resignations, retirements, &c. While it is true that a curtailment of staff should naturally follow a decrease in business, it is also true that many economies in staffing have been possible only with the close co-operation of officers themselves; and it is gratifying to record that these economies have been effected wit ou impairing the efficiency of the Service. This is much to the credit of officers. The staff generally has continued to render excellent service. Despite the difficult times, the Department is unquestionably maintaining its reputation for efficiency. _ _ It is of course, the case that the fall in business has been marked in some branches ; but it is also the case that other branches have many new duties to undertake. It has been necessary, for instance, to create a special staff of officers to perform the multifarious duties associated with the central control in Wellington of the work undertaken m connection with unemployment. Fortunately, it has not been necessary for the Department to retrench the staff m any way. Many officers have been absorbed in vacancies in the Department, while a number have been absorbed m undertaking new work and in providing for time off in lieu of overtime. Many others are on loan to other Departments, particularly the Unemployment Department.

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