F.—l.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1936. RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS. The receipts and payments of the Department for the financial year 1935-36 are shown in the following account: — Receipts. Payments. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Balance forward .. .. 37,378 211 By Salaries .. .. 1,683,888 11 0 Postages .. .. 1,047,903 6 2 Conveyance of ocean mails 98,829 16 5 Money-order and postal- Conveyance of inland mails 123,020 16 5 note commission .. 63,481 13 4 Conveyance of mails by rail 82,103 14 8 Private box and bag rents Maintenance of telegraph and rural-delivery fees 51,818 13 2 and telephone lines" .. 79,706 9 8 Miscellaneous receipts .. 345,567 12 7 Renewals and replacements 120,616 14 3 Paid telegrams .. 288,774 15 11-| Motor services and workPaid tolls .. .. 499,825 8 oj shops .. .. 39,632 13 7 Telephone-exchange re- Miscellaneous .. .. 371,484 16 0 ceipts .. .. 1,252,964 5 5 Interest on capital liability 541,000 0 0 3,550,335 14 8 Sick Benefit Fund .. 1,600 0 0 3,141,883 12 0 Paid to Consolidated Fund .. .. 5,000 0 0 Renewal and replacement of Assets Fund (investment) .. .. .. .. 400,000 0 0 Balance carried down .. .. .. 40,830 5 7 £3,587,713 17 7 £3,587,713 17 7 £ s. d. To Balance brought down .. .. .. £40,830 5 7 The total cash value of the transactions of the Department, inclusive of the above, amounted to approximately £220,000,000. STAFF. The most prominent feature of the staffing position throughout the year was the frequency with which it was necessary to make additions to the authorized working allotments in all branches. Not for many years has there been such a strong demand for additional staff to cope with the increasing volume of business. The staff return for the Ist April, 1936, published on this page, in addition to indicating the substantial increase in numerical strength, is of interest for the reason that the 9,000 mark for permanent officers has been passed for the first time in the Department's history. As business generally continues to show an upward tendency, further staff increases may be expected. With these conditions obtaining there are greater opportunities for the advancement of officers, and it has been possible to extend to the staff more favourable treatment in the way of promotion than at any other time since the last reclassification in 1929. The difficulty that was experienced over recent years in placing message-boys in higher grades has almost disappeared, and the latest appointees from the message-boy class were lads who had served only the normal period in that capacity. Contrasted with the conditions two years ago, when the message-boy problem was causing the Department uneasiness, there is good reason for gratification with the present position in this respect. It was also found possible to give a measure of relief to low-salaried, juniors of adult age, whose advancement had been retarded during the period of economic depression. The financial position of officers was improved materially as the result of Government's decision to increase salaries from the Ist August by 7| per cent. In addition, the Department's action in paying scale increments of salary in advance of the publication of the departmental list of officers was of considerable benefit to juniors in receipt of small salaries. The standard of efficiency of the staff was fully maintained throughout the year. "An evidence of this was the very satisfactory manner in which the exceptionally heavy work experienced on a number of special occasions was handled. Comparative Return of Persons employed in the Department. Details of the personnel of the Department on the Ist April, 1936, compared with the position on the same date last year, are as under : — Permanent Staff— Ist April, 1935. Ist April, 1936. Administration .. .. . . . . .. 10 10 First Division .. .. .. .. .. 3,465 3,813 Second Division .. .. .. .. .. 4,629 4,745 Message-boys .. .. .. .. .. 581 730 8,685 9,298 Temporary Staff . . .. .. . . 91 132 Casual Staff.. .. .. .. .. .. 97 164 8,873 9,594 Non-permanent Staff — Country Postmasters and Telephonists .. .. 1,658 1,669 Postmasters who are Railway officers .. . . 86 85 ' 10,617 11,348

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