F.—l.

At the departmental examinations held during the year 545 students of the school presented themselves, and of these 73 per cent, gained passes. Non-students who sat for examination num ere 571, and the percentage of passes was 11-7. EXAMINATIONS. The number of officers who entered for departmental efficiency examinations held during the year was 1,958. The candidates that were either wholly or partially successful numbered 919. SUGGESTIONS BOARD. The number of suggestions made by officers for improving the working of the Department was 321. The number of awards was 15, the total sum awarded being £34 10s. COMMERCIAL BRANCH. While it is true that the activities of a Commercial Branch were never more needed than they are to-day it is equally true that the efficacy of such a branch could not have been more severely tested than k the case under present conditions. It is gratifying to report, therefore, that the Commercial Branch has been successful in maintaining its usefulness. The total value of business obtained during the year was £35,907 ; of this amount £19,948 is made up of telephone business, and £15 959 of advertising business and miscellaneous services. The revenue for the preceding year was £36,679, and f ° r of fostering the use of the mails was taken over by the Branch. This work has been successfully dealt with in addition to the other duties of promoting the use of the telephone-exchange service and of securing advertisements for telephone directories. But the value of the Commercial Branch is not only to be assessed m terms of increased revenue the service it performs in advising and assisting the public in many post and telegraph matters is of the greatest value in maintaining the prestige and usefulness of what so aptly is sometimes called " The People's Service." STORES BRANCH. The following statement indicates the value of stores received and issued in the Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington storekeeping districts during the year and the value of stocks held at the end of the year. For the purpose of comparison the particulars for the previous year are shown also : —

The total value of orders placed during the year was £130,276. Of this amount £96 i OO represented the cost of stores for supply from within the Dominion, including £37 444 for stores purchased under contracts arranged by the Stores Control Board. The total value of orders placed the Post ,».1 Telegraph Department on «count of other Departments under the Stores Control Board Regulations are set out hereunder, the figures for the previous year being shown also : —- . r ī i " . .

The purchase was arranged during the year of fifty-seven motor-vehicles for other Departments and of forty-five motor-vehicles for the Post and Telegraph Department. The figures for the previous year were forty-two and two respectively.

9

1932-33. 1931-32. Receipts.* Issues.* Recel P ts -* Issues.* 31at March, 1932. £ £ £ £ £ £ A n J 02 025 100 446 121,212 129,752 134,894 129,633 S2SL* :: 2:<S «38 ™: s ».» ».u» ».« tv j* 9A qoa 31 092 55,202 40,010 oy,0/4 Wellington 164',280 163',452 279,707 240,546 242,760 278,879 Dominion totals .. 326,294 341,568 535,694 468,571 472,330 550,968 * Excluding transfers within storekeeping districts.

Value of Items purchased. Year ended Requisitions. Items. ~ — — | On Indent. Locally. Total. 31st March, 1933 .. 3,«5 13,560 13,361 40,247 53,608 31.tM.idi, 1932 ., 2,825 12,381 21,139 31,743 52,88, . i • 1 e il T"\ x i-~