F.—l.

EXAMINATIONS. Officers who were candidates for departmental examinations during the year numbered 1,178, of whom 589 were either wholly or partially successful. As indicated in last year's report, the departmental Entrance Examination or its equivalent has superseded the Competency Examination as the examination qualification for appointment to clerical positions. It has, however, been decided to regard officers of the Second Division who passed a First Division Competency Examination prior to the Ist April, 1934, as fully qualified by examination for promotion to the First Division. A pass in the recently introduced School Certificate Examination set by the Education Department is accepted as the equivalent of a pass in the educational section of the departmental Entrance Examination. SUGGESTIONS BOARD. Suggestions submitted by officers during the year with a view to improving the working of the Department numbered 281. Twelve awards for meritorious suggestions, involving a total sum. of £34, were made. Since the inception of the Suggestions Board in 1927, nearly 2,900 suggestions covering all phases of the Department's activities have been received from officers. COMMERCIAL BRANCH. The business handled by commercial officers during the year amounted to £52,605, as against £39,477 for the preceding year —an increase of 33-2 per cent. Of the total amount, £24,720 represented telephone business and £27,885 advertising and miscellaneous services. The increase is gratifying, and is a reflection of the improvement in trading conditions generally. Opportunity was taken during the year to advertise the Department's toll and radio-telephone services by means of an exhibit at the Wellington Radio Exhibition and at the winter shows at Auckland and Christchurch. From the interest exhibited by the public in the displays, it was evident that the innovation did much to popularize departmental services. Commercial officers played an important part in explaining and giving publicity to the various new telephone facilities recently introduced by the Department. 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 £272,879. Of this amount £154,101 represented the cost of stores for supply from within the Dominion, including £32,482 for stores purchased under contracts arranged by the Stores Control Board. The total value of orders placed during the previous year was £178,483. Particulars of purchases arranged by the Post and Telegraph Department on account of other Departments under the Stores Control Board Regulations are set out hereunder, the figures for the previous year being shown also : —

The purchase was arranged during the year of 168 motor-vehicles for other Departments, and of 28 motor-vehicles for the Post and Telegraph Department. The figures for the previous year were 104 and 48 respectively.

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1934-35. 1933-34. I Recei P ts -* | Issu6s "* [S&Sftgi. ££££££ Auckland .. 98,611 97,370 111,285 76,526 87,694- 110,044 Christchurch .. 51,326 53,892 71,106 33,818 39,719 73,672 Dunedin .. 29,646 29,070 48,244 17,874 25,408 47,668 Wellington .. 192,054 192,264 256,624 136,935 159,808 256,834 Dominion totals .. 371,637 1 372,596 487,259 265,153 312,629 488,218 * Excluding transfers within storekeeping districts.

Value of Items purchased. Year ended Requisitions. Items. -r On Indent. Locally. i Total. £ £ £ 31st March, 1935 .. 3,659 17,838 25,025 54,371 79,396 31st March, 1934 .. 3,334 15,921 15,831 45,608 61,439