F.—l.

Health of Permanent Staff. The following table shows, in comparison with the figures for the preceding year, the average number of days on which officers (male and female) were absent on sick-leave during the year :— Number Average Absence Average Absence v jjqi j- tvt t, tqqk on per Sick for each Officer Year ended 31st March, 1935— Staff. Officer. Employed Men .. .. .. .. 8,071 9-67 4-59 Women .. .. .. .. 614 12-49 8-3 Year ended 31st March, 1934 — Men .. .. .. .. 7,783 10-39 4-13 Women .. .. .. .. 627 17-21 9-41 There were twenty-four deaths of officers during the year. One of these resulted from an accident to a message-boy who, while riding a bicycle on duty, was involved in a collision with a motor-car. The lad was gravely injured and succumbed shortly after his admission to hospital. Personal. Mr. G. McNamara, C.8.E., Director-General of the Department, returned on the 6th August from England, where he proceeded on official business after attending the Universal Postal Union Congress at Cairo. Mr. McNamara was again absent for a short period in February and March, when he accompanied the Postmaster-General, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, to Australia to attend a conference in connection with air-mail proposals. Mr. J. Robertson, First Assistant Secretary, retired on the sth September, after completing forty years' service. He was succeeded by the appointment to the position of Deputy Director-General of Mr. F. J. Shanks, Second Assistant Secretary of the Department. Mr. Shanks was not replaced as Second Assistant Secretary. Mr. C. S. Plank, Chief Telegraph Engineer, retired on the 31st March, 1935, after completing forty-three years' service. The vacancy was filled by the appointment as Chief Engineer of Mr. J. McDermott, Superintending Engineer, General Post Office. The death on the 28th September of Mr. S. M. Harrison, Chief Postmaster, Auckland, is recorded with regret. He was a capable departmental representative and was held in high esteem by all. Mr. Harrison was succeeded by Mr. J. P. P. Clouston, Chief Postmaster, Dunedin, Mr. Clouston, in turn, being replaced by Mr. J. Madden, Chief Postmaster, Wanganui. Increase in Salaries. Under the provisions of the Finance Act (No. 2), 1934, the salaries and wages of employees of the Department were increased by 5 per cent, as from the Ist April. Cash Payment for Overtime. The system of granting time off in lieu of cash payment for overtime worked by officers was discontinued on the 2nd September, from which date cash payment has been made for all overtime worked. Training-school for Machine-printing Telegraph Operators. The extension of machine-printing telegraph systems throughout the Dominion has increased the demand for qualified machine-printing operators, and, in order to provide additional personnel, a training-school for junior officers was opened at Wellington on the 24th October under the supervision of an experienced perforator. It is proposed to continue the school until the Department's staff of perforators is sufficiently augmented. Appeal Board. Mr. E. Page, Stipendiary Magistrate, Wellington, was appointed Chairman of the Post and Telegraph Appeal Board in succession to Mr. E. C. Cutten, who had occupied the position since June, 1920. The Board, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Page, sat on one occasion during the year. Fortyseven appeals from thirty-one officers were adjudicated upon with the following results : Allowed, one ; withdrawn, seven ; did not lie, five ; disallowed, thirty-four. The three-year term as Service representatives on the Board of Messrs. W. G. F. Pinkkam and H. V. Ward expired during the year. Mr. Pinkham was re-elected, unopposed, to the Postal vacancy. Mr. Ward did not seek re-election, and Mr. G. A. Wilkes, Supervisor, Telegraph Branch, Oamaru, being the only officer nominated for election, was appointed as the Telegraph representative for the ensuing triennium. DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL. The question of continuing to provide junior officers with tuition in the educational subjects of the Entrance Examination was reviewed during the year ; and, mainly on account of the large number of qualified officers available and the decrease in the number of applicants for departmental tuition, it was decided that the continuation of the Correspondence School was no longer justified. The school was therefore closed on the 15th December. Candidates for departmental examinations who desire to be coached in the various subjects are now required to make their own arrangements for tuition, but it is considered that the requirements of officers in this connection are adequately met by the facilities provided by technical and secondary schools and private correspondence schools.

14