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Comparative Return op Persons employed in the Department. The total number of persons employed on the Ist April, 1932 and 1933, was as under rv Ist April, Ist April, rermanent otan — 1932. 1933. Administrative Division .. .. .. .. 4 4 Clerical and Engineering Divisions .. .. .. 3,342 3,255 General Division .. .. .. .. .. 5,239 5,121 8,585 8,380 Temporary Staff .. .. .. .. .. 36 45 Casual Staff .. .. .. .. .. .. 83 71 8,704 8,496 Non-permanent Staff — Country Postmasters and Telephonists .. .. 1,692 1,669 Postmasters who are Railway officers.. .. .. 83 84 10,479 10,249 Health op Permanent Stafp. The following table gives the average absence of officers on sick-leave this year as compared with last: — Number Average Absence Average Absence v , tM , on per Sick for each Officer Year ended 31st March, 1933— Staff. Officer. employed Men .. .. 7,736 9-75 3-8 Women .. .. .. 644 12-08 6-86 Year ended 31st March, 1932— Men .. .. .. 7,886 9-14 3-83 Women .. .. .. 699 13-6 7-91 Twenty-four officers died during the year. Personal. Mr. H. L. Cummings, Superintending Engineer, General Post Office, retired on superannuation on the 3rd December, after completing over thirty-seven years' service. He was succeeded by Mr. J. McDefmott, District Telegraph Engineer, Wellington ; Mr. McDermott in turn being succeeded by Mr. E. H. Lawn, Telegraph Engineer, Wellington. Mr. E. C. Gage, Superintending Engineer, General Post Office, also retired on superannuation during the year. Mr. Gage, who had formerly occupied the position of District Telegraph Engineer, Auckland, for a number of years, severed his connection with the Department on the 30th November. He had over thirty-seven years' service to his credit. Reduction in Salaries. A further reduction in the salaries and wages of officers and employees of the' Department was made on the Ist April, 1932, under the provisions of the National Expenditure Adjustment Act of that year. The reduction on this occasion was on a graduated scale, the minimum being 5 per cent, and the maximum 12| per cent. Change op Control. During the year the clerical staffs of the telephone sections of the Engineers' offices at the four chief centres who deal with the telephone-exchange subscribers' accounts were transferred to the control of the respective Chief Postmasters. The system of control of this branch is now uniform throughout the Dominion. Appeal Board. The Post and Telegraph Appeal Board, under the Chairmanship of Mr. E. C. Cutten, the Senior Stipendiary Magistrate at Auckland, sat on two occasions during the year. Seventy-seven appeals from forty-two officers were adjudicated upon, with the following results : Withdrawn, six ; did not lie, four ; disallowed, sixty-seven. Sittings of the Board were held at Auckland and Wellington. DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL. Officers to the number of 701 enrolled during the year in the Departmental Correspondence School, which provides tuition for those who desire to sit for departmental examinations. Twenty-one separate instructional courses are available. Officers generally have profited greatly by the provision of facilities for study, and the value of the tuition given is reflected in all branches of the Service by an increase in efficiency.

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