F—l

PERSONAL Mr. C. L. Mayo, Deputy Director-General, retired on superannuation on the 6th. March, 1946, after completing forty-two years' service. He was succeeded by Mr. P. N. Cryer, Second Deputy Director-General, who was replaced in turn by Mr. C. 0. Coad, Divisional Director, General Post Office. Mr. E. H. R. Green, Deputy Chief Engineer, was appointed Chief Engineer on the 6th March, in succession to Mr. M. A. Pike, who retired on the sth March after completing almost forty-two years' service. Mr. Green was replaced by Mr. A. D. Baggs, Superintending Engineer, General Post Office. The Director-General, Mr. H. M. Patrick, M.Y.0., returned on the 16th March from a short visit to Australia which was made with the object of obtaining information concerning the salaries and conditions of employment of officers of the Commonwealth Post Office. The last official visit to Australia by an administrative officer was made in 1928. Mr. P. N. Cryer, then Second Deputy Director-General, and Mr. H. W. Curtis, Divisional Director, General Post Office, were members of the New Zealand delegation which attended telecommunication conferences held in London and Bermuda in July and November. The New Zealand delegation was headed in London by.Mr. J. G. Young, C.8.E., a former Director-General of the Department, and in Bermuda by Mr. Cryex. COMPAR ATIVE RETURN OF PERSONS EMPLOYED IN DEPARTMENT 31st March, 31st March, Permanent Staff — 1945. 1946. Administrative .. .. .. .. .. 17 19 First Division .. .. .. .. .. 4,370 4,189 Second Division .. .. .. .. .. 7,305 7,314 11,692 11,522 Temporary and Casual Staff .. .. .. .. 5,188 4,225 *16,880 f15,747 Non-classified and Non-permanent Staff — Country Postmasters and Telephonists, including Railway officers .. .. .. .. 1,577 1,548 18,457 17,295 * Includes 4,198 serving with Armed Forces. f Includes 1,901 serving with Armed Forces. Officers on War Service The total number of officers who have resumed duty following service with the Armed Forces is 3,803 (2,222 from overseas service and 1,581 from service in New Zealand). There are 1,901 employees still serving, of whom 919 have returned from overseas service and are expected to resume duty in the near future. Of the number still with the Forces overseas, 97 are serving with the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Brigade attached to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, and 14 are serving with the R.N.Z.A.F. unit in Japan. War Casualties It is with deep regret that record is made of the following casualties sustained by departmental employees while serving with the Forces : killed in action, 62 ; killed on active service (includes death officially presumed), 139; accidentally killed, 39 ; died of sickness, 12 ; died while prisoner of war, 8; died of wounds, 21 ; missing, 6 ; wounded, 251 ; prisoners of war, 173 : total, 711.

3