H.—l4.

financially to the extent of covering the cost of the hall. J am gratified to be informed that the classes have begun with good attendances and, what is better, are increasing steadily in numbers, so that it is being made possible to organize in various grades. It is an enterprise that I hope will be imitated in the other main centres. When I say that I am anxious to encourage all this, I must not be misunderstood. It will not be necessary for me to say that sport must be secondary to duty, and must not be permitted to prejudice the full discharge of an officer's tasks. I am prepared, for the sake of the beneficial effect which 1 have already referred to, to foster Public Servants as individuals, and particularly as groups, engaging freely in activities of a recreational and athletic nature, but I cannot allow participation in such when it is likely to interfere with the work of an officer or a Department. It is hoped that promoters of the various contests and activities will see to it that when these are being arranged there will be no need to ask for special concessions to enable officers to compete. What may be regarded as a special occasion is that of the proposed Centennial Tournament to be held in Wellington next year in connection with the centenary of New Zealand. I have agreed to special facilities so that there may be a contest of various sports on a national basis. Appointment in Terms op Section 6 (3) op the Public Service Amendment Act, 1927. Section 6 (3) of the Public Service Amendment Act, 1927, provides that, notwithstanding any restrictions with respect to appointments imposed by the Public Service Act, 1912, the Commissioner may appoint any person to a position in the Public Service if in his opinion it is desirable in the public interest so to do. It is further provided that no person shall be appointed to a position under this section unless the Commissioner is of opinion that no person then in the Public Service and available for appointment to that position is fully qualified for appointment to that position and capable of efficiently carrying out the duties thereof. The section also provides that every appointment made under this section, with the Commissioner's reasons for making the appointment, shall be expressly referred to in his next annual report to Parliament. During last year one appointment was made under this section. In May, 1938, applications were invited for the position of Assistant Director of Education. After considering the applications and receiving the benefit of the advice of a special committee consisting of H. H. Cornish, Esq., Solicitor-General (formerly Professor of English and New Zealand Law at Victoria College), N. T. Lambourne, Esq., Director of Education, James Shelley, Esq., Director of Broadcasting (formerly Professor of Philosophy at Canterbury College), Sir T. A. Hunter, Vicechancellor of the New Zealand University, and W. A. Armour, Esq., Headmaster of Wellington College, the Commissioners considered that the most suitable applicant was Dr. C. E. Beeby, who was not already in the Public Service, and that it was desirable in the public interest that he should be appointed. The Hon. the Minister of Education concurred in the opinion that the appointment of Dr. Beeby was in the public interest. The Commissioners' reasons for making the appointment were : — (1) That Dr. Beeby possessed all the qualifications, knowledge, and experience in sufficient degree to enable him to successfully fill the position. (2) That none of the other applicants possessed all the necessary qualifications, knowledge, or experience in sufficient degree. (3) That the importance of the position demanded that the appointee should be fully qualified and capable of efficiently carrying out the duties required, and that in the public interest the best available person should be appointed.

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