F.—J.

The organization which was set up by the Department to assist in the rehabilitation of its officers continues to function effectively. It is gratifying to record that those officers who have resumed duty following service in the Forces are settling down well to their departmental duties. The Post Office Rehabilitation Officers throughout the Dominion are keeping in touch with the returned departmental men, who are given every encouragement to seek such advice and assistance as they may require. Regular visits are also paid to those returned men who, unfortunately, have had to enter hospital as a result of war injuries. Appeal Board During the year 152 appeals were received from 75 officers. These were adjudicated upon by the Post and Telegraph Appeal Board, with the following results : Allowed, 7 ; withdrawn, 28 ; did not lie, 4 ; disallowed, 112 ; and in one case the Appeal Board recommended that the appellant be accorded the same grading as that of the appointee. Staff Tribunal Under the Post and Telegraph Amendment Act, 1944, provision was made for the establishment of a Staff Tribunal, the functions of which will be to inquire into and report to the Minister upon any matters that may be referred to it for consideration by the Minister, the Service Organization, or the Department. The Joint Advisory system, which was established by the Department in 1940, was given recognition in the Act, and, in general, matters to be referred to the Tribunal will have first been considered by the Joint Advisory Council or the Department. Salaries Following on the increases in salary granted in the Railways Department, and in accordance with the undertaking given by Government that an adjustment would be made where a disparity arose in the wages of similar groups of State workers, an all-round improvement in the salary scales in operation in the Post Office was approved, with effect from the 30th June, 1944. CREATION OF ADDITIONAL POSTAL DISTRICT A new postal district was established on the Ist March, 194-5, with Masterton as the chief postoffice. The new district comprises the main Wairarapa area, and embraces all that portion of the former Wellington district lying to the east of the Tararua and Rimutaka Ranges. The approximate boundaries of the new district are—in the west, the Tararua and Rimutaka Ranges ; in the north, portion of the former boundary between the Wellington and Palmerston North districts ; and in the east and south, the coast-line. Twenty-seven offices, all of which were previously under the control of the Chief Postmaster, Wellington, are now under the direction of the Chief Postmaster, Masterton. WORKSHOPS Work to the value of £242,580 was performed in the various workshops during the year. Of this amount, £29,640 represents the value of services rendered to other Government Departments. REGISTRATION OF MOTOR-VEHICLES AND ASSOCIATED WORK At the 31st March, 1945, licensed motor-vehicles in the Dominion numbered 300,322. New registrations during the year totalled 18,290. Motor registration fees collected amounted to £511,485. The premiums collected on behalf of the thirty-seven insurance companies authorized to underwrite business in terms of the Motor-vehicles Insurance (Third-party Risks) Act, 1928, totalled £322,695. Mileage-tax amounting to £31,358 was collected in respect of 961 vehicles. STORES The value of stores and equipment ordered during the year is as follows, the figures for the previous year being given for comparative purposes : — For Post and Telegraph Department — £ £ From suppliers in New Zealand .. .. 270,953 238,855 Ordered overseas .. .. .. .. 294,987 379,792 For other Departments— From suppliers in New Zealand .. .. .. 95,992 75,057 Ordered overseas .. .. .. .. 89,221 21,010 The value of the stocks held in the Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington storekeeping districts at the end of the year, as compared with that of the stocks held on the 31st March, 1944, is as follows : — 31 Bt March, 1945. 31st March, 1044. District £ £ Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 561,847 336,011 Christchurch 217,444 134,097 Dunedin 147,863 105,215 Wellington .. .. .. .. 1,855,837 1,021,081 £2,782,991 £1,596,407

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