H—s

Awards as at 31st March, 1946 —continued

SECTION XII.—CIVILIAN STAFF AND DOCKYARD WORKMEN Permanent and Temporary Civilian Staff There has been a heavy decrease in the strength of the civil Public Service staff, particularly amongst the female staff, following the raising of the declaration of essentiality on the Public Service. The following table shows total civil staff employed in the Navy Department since the outbreak of war: — Ist September, 1939 .. .. .. 80 31st March, 1940 .. .. .. 119 31st March, 1941 .. .. .. .. 242 31st March, 1942 .. .. .. .. 385 31st March, 1943 .. .. .. .. 536 31st March, 1944 .. .. .. .. 622 31st March, 1945 .. .. .. .. 646 31st March, 1946 .. .. .... 555 2. During the year the Naval Store Depots at Palmerston North and Lyttelton were closed down, but operations continue in the stores at Lower Hutt, Aotea Quay, Wellington, and Ashburton. 3. There has been the greatest increase in male staff during the year than at any other time during the war period. There were very heavy losses of female staff, however, causing gaps in complement which have not been filled. Female staff became increasingly harder to obtain on the labour market, and even at the end of the year, some seven months after the termination of hostilities, the supply had not improved. Reductions in activities, however, are causing the gap between staff requirements and available staff to decrease.

19

Awards. II.K.Z.N, serving in R.N.Z.N. It.N.Z.N, serving with U.N. R.N. on Loan to R.N.Z.N. Total. Officers. J Ratings. Officers. Eatings. Officers. Ratings. Periodic Companions of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M.) British Empire Medal (B.E.M.).. . .. Mentioned in Despatches - ; 6 12 V io I "2" 14 9 i i l 1 4 6 1 5 3 1 10 20 14 1 16 15 Total 18 11 25 3 12 8 77 Total awards 27 46 223 28 28 32 384 Foreign . Awards American Navy Cross American Silver Star Medal American Letter of Commendation American Bronze Star Medal French Croix de Guerre 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 16 ! •' • • 1 2 1 6 3 5 23 3 2 Total of foreign awards 1 19 3 7 36 #