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Comparative .Return of Persons employed in the Department. Details of the personnel of the Department on the Ist April, 1939, compared with that on the same date last year are as under Permanent Staff — I st April, 1938. Ist April, 1939. Administration . . .. .. .. . • 14 16 First Division . . .. .. . • ■ • 4,220 4,325 Second Division .. .. . . .. .. 5,899 6,223 Message-boys .. .. .. .. .. 811 827 10,944 11,391 Temporary Staff. . . .. .. .. . • 105 154 Casual Stall . . . . . . . . . . 588 666 11,637 12,211 Non-permanent Staff— Country Postmasters and Telephonists .. .. 1,641 1,603 Postmasters who are Railway officers . . .. 83 88 13,361 13,902 Health o:f Permanent Staff. The following table shows, in comparison with the figures for the preceding year, the average number of days on which officers were absent on sick-leave during the year - „ . . ~ Average Absence Number Average Absence for ea * ch officer Year ended 31st March, 1939 — on a . pei uc cer. employed. Men .. .. •• 10,427 11-02 6-16 Women .. .. .. •• 964 14-59 9-70 Year ended 31st March, 1938 — Men .. .. •• 10,026 11-08 4-64 Women .. • • • ■ ■ • 882 12-63 7-62 Twenty-three officers died during the year. The higher average sick-leave absence was due entirely to the epidemic of measles experienced throughout the country during the year. Personal. Mr. F. J. Shanks, Deputy Director-General, retired on superannuation on the 31st October, 1938, after completing forty-three years' service. He was succeeded by Mr. J. G. Young, Second Deputy Director-General, who was, in turn, succeeded by Mr. W. R. Newall, Divisional Principal, General Post Office. Mr. J. McDermott, Chief Engineer, retired on superannuation on the 28th February, 1939, after completing nearly forty-two years' service. Mr. McDermott was succeeded by Mr. P. V. R. C. Miles, Superintending Engineer, General Post.Office. Mr. G. McNamara, C.8.E., Director-General, commenced leave on the Ist April, 1939, prior to his retirement on superannuation. Mr. J. G. Young, Deputy Director-General, is acting in control of the Department. Mr. F. W. Furby, Chief Postmaster, Christchurch, retired on superannuation on the 21st January, 1939, after completing forty years' service. He was replaced by Mr. G. Clark, Chief Postmaster, Palmerston North. Mr. J. Madden, Chief Postmaster, Wellington, left the Dominion on the 24th February, 1939, to attend the Universal Postal Congress at Buenos Aires. During Mr. Madden's absence Mr. F. G. Nind, Senior Inspector, General Post Office, is acting as Chief Postmaster, Wellington. Visit of Engineering Officers to Australia. Mr. H R. Hounsell, A.M.1.E.E., Superintending Engineer, went to Australia in May for the purpose of investigating and studying matters pertaining to field engineering, and particularly underground plant distribution for telephone-exchange subscribers. Mr. Hounsell spent some six weeks in the Commonwealth, where he was extended every privilege and courtesy by the officers of the Postmaster-General's Department, and the information he obtained will prove of great value in dealing with one of the Department's pressing problems. In December last Mr. E. H. R. Green, M.Sc., A.M.1.E.E., Radio Engineer, also visited Australia. His mission was concerned primarily with arrangements for the projected trans-Tasman air service, in respect of which a Conference of air, meteorological, and radio experts was held at Melbourne. At the conclusion of the Conference Mr. Green spent about a fortnight in Sydney and Melbourne on general inquiries regarding radio services and equipment.

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