H.—l4,

The development and the expansion of the Air Department have necessitated the employment of the civilian staff indicated above. Although the increase in the civilian staff of the Army Department is not as considerable as the figures shown would imply, the civilian staff of this Department has naturally grown owing to international tension. The increase, however, can be discounted greatly owing to the fact that present-day figures include many employees who in 1930 were engaged on a military basis. The natural development of the State services and the assumption of activities previously not controlled by Government have resulted in corresponding increases in such departments as Audit, Public Service Commissioner's, Public Service Superannuation, and Treasury. Census and Statistics Department was previously a branch of the Internal Affairs Department. The staffs of the Navy Office and of the Prime Minister's Office were previously shown as members of the Relieving Staff of the Internal Affairs Department. Increase in the staff of the Justice Department is due to the transfer to that Department of the Registrar-General's Branch and the Electoral Branch from the Internal Affairs Department. The staff of the Land and Deeds Department shows a decrease due to the completion in most districts of the compulsory registration of titles work. Sales-tax and import restrictions have been the main causes of the increase in the staff of the Customs Department. The large increase in the Land and Income Tax Department was occasioned by work arising out of the collection of employment-tax (now social-security tax). Originally these duties were performed by the Post and Telegraph Department. When business began to improve the Post and Telegraph Department commenced to feel the need of their trained staff for the ordinary activities of that Department. It was also felt that considerable overlapping would be avoided and a more efficient check be exercised by placing the whole responsibility of collection of this tax on the Land and Income Tax Department. The responsibilities and the activities of the Native Department have greatly increased owing to Native-land development, Native employment schemes, Maori welfare work, and Native housing. In 1930 the Transport Department had only just been created a Department. Since that year the Department has taken over control of traffic on main highways from local authorities. A vigorous campaign for road safety has also been instituted during recent years. These activities have resulted in the expansion of staff shown above. Summary. Ist April, 1930. April, J 039. 1 (Provisional.) Social services .. .. .. .. .. 2,258 4,44.4 Development services .. .. .. .. .. 3,292 5,586 Trading services .. .. .. .. .. 1,293 2,702 Miscellaneous services (Administration, law and order, &c.).. 3,007 4,514 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 9,850 17,246 The above figures are illuminating in that they indicate that the increases which have taken place in the social services and the trading services are proportionately greater. Trading services are not a direct charge on the Consolidated Fund and therefore not on the taxpayer. From figures recently published relating to the Railways Department it is noted that the staff of that Department increased from 15,410 in 1931 to 25,297 in April, 1939, approximately an increase of 64 per cent. When it is remembered that a certain proportion of the increase in the staff of the Public Service is due to new activities assumed by Government —e.g., Broadcasting, Primary Products Marketing, Commercial Broadcasting, and Air Department —it is considered that the growth in the Services controlled by the Commissioner is not out of proportion to the expansion of State services generally.

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