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as was desirable, but since the beginning of last year inspection by departmental Inspectors and officers of the Public Service Commissioner's Office has been vigorous. It may, however, be necessary to appoint a second Public Service Inspector, in order to ensure a more frequent examination of the work of individual officers, particularly outside Wellington, and to give officers at a distance from their Head Office an opportunity of stating their cases in person. Departmental arrangements for inspection are generally in a satisfactory condition. In addition to inspections of a general nature made by the Commissioners, the Public Service Inspector, and departmental Inspectors, the Inspector of Departmental Accounts, attached to the Treasury, works in conjunction with the Public Service Inspector as far as possible. Minimum Wage. Reference lias been made in previous reports to a, minimum wage for married men. It is satisfactory to be able to state that Government has now made provision for funds for a minimum wage to married men not under twenty-one years of age of 12s. per diem, or £187 16s. per annum. With the cost-of-living bonus added the minimum is now £202 16s. Expansion of the Service. The following are the principal Departments which show expansions' of the Service, for the reasons stated : — Board of Trade and Industries and Commerce Department. —-The Industries and Commerce Department is new, and will require considerable staff of fairly highsalaried officers —as, for example, Accountants at £500 per annum, who have been appointed in connection with the anti-profiteering policy. Immigration Department. —This Department will probably increase considerably owing to the extended immigration policy, which is now assuming fairly large dimensions. Education Department. —The following appointments of principal officers have been made : Chief Inspector of Primary Schools ; Chief School Medical Officer ; Chief School Dental Officer ; Supervisors for the Education of Girls and Infants. A number of Dentists are about to be appointed. Public Health Department. —Expansion has been in the direction of additional Medical Officers, additional Sanitary Inspectors, and Health Patrols. Marine Department. —The number of Surveyors of Ships and Inspectors of Ships' Gear has been considerably increased. Labour Department. —A fairly large and expensive staff has been appointed in connection with the housing scheme. Lands and Survey Department. —The returned, soldiers settlement scheme has resulted in considerable expansion of the Department. Public Trust Department. —This Department continues to expand, not only in connection with general work but in the direction of opening new offices. There has been considerable difficulty in securing qualified Accountants and Estates Administration Clerks. Forestry Department. —This is a new Department which is likely to expand rapidly. External Affairs Department. —This is a new Department which has been created primarily in connection with the administration of the Samoan mandate. Recruiting and Training of Officers. The supply of boys who had passed the Public Service Examination was much below requirements last year. This may be accounted for by the increased popularity of the medical, legal, and teaching professions, and the fact that the age of leaving school appears to be gradually becoming higher than before the war. There is still an unsatisfied demand for Accountants with the University qualification, and for male shorthand-writers. Female shorthand-writers are even more difficult to obtain than during the war.