21

H.- -14

emphasize the fact that this inefficiency in typewriting has been found to have a very detrimental effect in the training of girls who aspire to become qualified mechanical office-appliance operators. This disability has been found to operate to such an extent in the preparation of the girls that it has been found necessary to form an evening class for teaching these learners typing only. The Public Service now offers good scope and substantial monetary and other benefits to efficient shorthand-writers and typistes, and if these advantages were more fully realized they would be sufficient to induce competent well-trained girls to offer when applications are invited for vacancies. The only comfort to be derived from the present position is that it is not singular to New Zealand. The difficulty in securing competent shorthand-writers and typistes seems to be just as great in the Old World. It was found necessary in the Post and Telegraph Department, owing to the expansion of business and the dearth of suitable applicants for employment, to institute classes in (among other subjects) shorthand and typing, to assist junior officers in the service who desire to advance their prospects. The question of extending a scheme similar to that in operation in the Post and Telegraph Department to all branches of the Public Service is therefore being considered. It may be mentioned that a somewhat similar scheme is in. operation in connection with the Western Australian Railways, where boys are allowed to attend classes in English, arithmetic, and mathematics, as well as in other mechanical subjects. ■ Already advantage has been taken of the shorthand and typewriting class established for young officers of the Post and Telegraph Department; and facilities have been extended to a limited number of male cadets in the general Service in Wellington to attend either the morning or afternoon session to receive tuition in these subjects. SUPERANNUATIO \. While I have nothing directly to do with superannuation, I venture to suggest that some change in the present scheme is desirable. Now that about 90 per cent, of officers join the Service at fifteen or sixteen years of age, and as such officers will, under present conditions, be entitled to retire on full pension at the age of fifty-five or fifty-six, it should be considered whether contributions should not cease at the latter ages. At present, it is found that officers of the Post and Telegraph Department who are reaching forty years' service and are entitled to a maximum pension are retiring freely. It is somewhat obvious that if an officer is drawing a salary of £250 per annum, from which is deducted, say, £20 per annum lor superannuation, and he is entitled to a pension of £166, he hesitates about remaining in the Service if he is to continue to pay £20 per annum for no additional benefit. If the contributions ceased at the end of forty years, it would be equivalent in such a case to an. increased salary of £20 per annum, and would be a saving to the Superannuation Fund of £146 per annum so long as the officer remained in the Service. Another method would be to regard twenty years as the lowest age at which an officer could join the fund. Iri*a country such as New Zealand, it is unsatisfactory that officers should retire at such an early age as fifty-five, often with the idea, no doubt, of competing in business with men outside the Service who have not the advantage of the assured income the pensioner has. Report of the British Civil Service Commission. The Commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of the British Civil Service have reported, after sitting for two years. In view of the establishment of central control in this country, the report is particularly interesting from the fact that one of the principal recommendations of the Commission is in the direction of establishing a permanent central control of the whole Service by a Special Committee of the Treasury, with duties analogous to those of the Public Service Commissioners of this Dominion. As is generally known, the Treasury in Great Britain is already invested with large powers of general control over the Civil Service. The Commissioners recommend the creation within the Treasury, and subject to its