H.—l4.

compilation of personal reports adds to the teacliers' work, but their advice, based upon some years of knowledge of the boy, has been helpful both to the Commissioner and to their former pupils. Our belief is that we can place any boy happily, provided he has the right disposition towards work. The more knowledge we have of the boy before he commences work, the more certain are we to achieve this end. The absence of so many men from the Dominion has increased the demand for the services of youths in all avenues of employment. Consequently, competition, if it may be called such, from other classes of employer has developed very strongly since the war began. This is not a matter for complaint, because all must share in staff losses. It is a pity, however, to see boys enticed away by offers of higher salary, often to dead-end occupations which offer neither a training nor a career. During the year there were sixty-eight resignations from the Public Service of lads in their first two years of service. The analysis of these resignations shows that forty-nine left the Public Service for higher wages. It is also a pity to learn from the reports of educational institutions that boys are being attracted away from their schools before they need or should leave. The Public Service believes a youth makes a better officer by having a better education. We do not wish that any boy should leave school before he need do so. During and immediately after the last war the experiment was attempted of employing a considerable number of boys with educational qualifications lower than the Public Service Entrance Examination. Experience has shown that it was an unprofitable experiment. It is hoped not to have to lower our entrance standards even in the greater stress that may be expected as a consequence of this war. The fact that, so many vacancies in the Public Service occur in the first place in Wellington is also a deterrent to boys accepting offers of employment. Lastyear 445 boys out of the total of 845 took up their first appointment in Wellington, Even more than that were needed, but adjustments had to be made by transferring boys of some service from outside Wellington into the capital city, thus opening up more vacancies in the provinces. The difficulties of securing board also discouraged parents and boys alike. When circumstances are much more favourable than they are, it would be a wonderful help to have a hostel for Public Service cadets in Wellington. Localities where Cadets and Junior Office-assistants have been appointed to the Classified Staff for the Year ended 31st December, 1940. North IslandMain centres — Auckland .. .. .. .. ..110 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. 44.5 Secondary centres — Whangarei . . .. . . .. .. . . 12 Hamilton .. .. .. .. .. 18 Taumarunui . . . . . . . . .. .. 2 Rotorua .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 Tauranga .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Gisborne .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 Hastings .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Napier .. . . .. .. .. .. . . 12 Te Kuiti .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 New Plymouth. ~ .. .. .. .. 12 Stratford . . .. . . . . .. . . 2 Wanganui .. .. .. .. .. 11 Palmerston North .. . . .. . . 16 Masterton . . . . .. . . . . . . 4 Other centres . . .. .. .. . . . . 3 South Island — Main centres — Christchurch . . . . .. . . . . 66 Dunedin .. .. .... .. . . 39 Secondary centres — Nelson .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 12 Blenheim. .. .. . . .. . . .. 5 Greymouth .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Hokitika.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Westport .. .. .. . . . . .. 2 Timaru . . . . . . . . . . . - 7 Oamaru . . .. . . . . . . .. .. 2 Invercargill . . . . . . . . . . 17 Other centres .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 Total ... ... ~ ~ 845

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