H.—l4.

1933. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER (TWENTY-FIRST REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

To His Excellency the Right Honourable Charles, Baron Bledisloe, Member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency,— As Commissioner appointed under the Public Service Act, 1912, I have the honour to submit the following report, as required by section 15 of the Act.

UK POUT.

The Administration of the Public Service. The normal problems of general administration and the efficient organization of the several Departments comprising the Public Service of the Dominion have been greatly intensified during the past period by the unusual conditions arising out of the economic situation. In addition to these problems, there was added the responsibility for the island services of Samoa and the Cook Groups. As a period of five years had elapsed since the Samoan Group had been investigated, it was decided by Government that the staffing and the administration of this mandated territory should be the subject of a further review. Accompanied by the Permanent Head of the External Affairs Department (Mr. C. A. Berendsen), I made an inspection and inquiry in July and August of this year. A visit—necessarily very hurried on account of the shipping facilities available —was also made to Niue Island (Cook Group). During my absence the duties of Public Service Commissioner were ably carried out by Mr. A. D. Thomson, previously Assistant Public Service Commissioner. The routine of administration of the Public Service Act may be summarized under the head of such matters as promotions, transfers, retirements, classification

I—H. 14.