A.—4.

Statement op Current Assets and Liabilities as at 31st March, 1928. Assets. £ s. d. Liabilities. £ s. d. Cash in hand and at bank .. .. 1,634 10 4 Reserves .. .. .. .. 26,332 19 5 Advances .. .. .. .. 2,159 16 2 Deposits .. .. .. .. 14,037 4 1 Unallocated stores .. .. .. 19,019 4 1 Advances .. .. .. .. 12,028 15 1 Buildings and machinery .. .. 4,000 0 0 Currency notes .. .. .. 30,000 0 0 Public Works (Loan Account) .. .. 141,925 18 1 Loan Account, New Zealand Government— S.s. " Lady Roberts " —Capital costs .. 3,700 0 0 Public Works .. ..£142,500 Public Works Loan Redemption Fund Political .. .. .. 5,000 Investment Account .. .. 8,940 5 6 147,500 0 0 Suspense Accounts .. .. .. 5,685 18 5 Chinese Accounts —Repatriation costs .. 9,279 17 10 Investments —New Zealand Government debentures and stocks .. .. 41,790 0 0 Surplus and Deficit Account—Balance at 31st March, 1928 .. .. .. 10,323 3 10 £239,178 16 5 £239,178 16 5 Note. —Regarding assets, these accounts do not include the value of land, buildings, and other real property under the control of the Administration belonging to the Mandated Territory ; or book debts, departmental stocks (except as shown), furniture and equipment (house and office), horse transport, &c., paid for out of revenue in previous years. PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. Several estates have been finally wound up, and only a few small estates have come to the Office for administration during the year. These small estates, while involving an amount of work out of all proportion to their importance, are generally unremunerative to the Office. There are still several estates in which the beneficiaries have so far been unable to agree regarding the distribution of the assets. All investments are amply secured. Official Assignee.—No bankruptcies have occurred during the year, and all estates under the administration of the Official Assignee have been wound up with the exception of one, in which three individuals are involved. Clearing-house.—Payments are still being received on account of ex-enemy deportees and absentees, and are being periodically accounted for according to the class to which they belong. Final returns in connection with the vested properties are not yet available awaiting a decision regarding valuations.

STAFF. Careful attention continues to be given to the question of staffing the various Departments, having regard to the service required of them by the public.

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European* Staff as at 31st March, Department. 1925. 1926. 1927. 1928. Administrator ...... 1 1 1 1 Secretariat .. .. .. .. 6 5 5 5 Agriculture .. .. .. .. 5 5 6 7 Customs and Harbour .... 8 8 9 8 Education .. .. .. .. 9 13 13 11 Justice .. .. .. .. 3 3 3 3 Labour .. .. .. .. 2 2 2 2 Lands and Survey ...... 6 7 6 5 Medical • .. .. .. .. 23 24 26 22 Native Affairs ...... 4 4 4 3 Police and Prisons ...... 6 7 6 6 Postal .. .. .. .. 4 4 4 4 Public Works ...... 5 9 11 8 Stores .. . . .. .. 4 .3 Treasury .. .. .. .. 4 4 4 4 Radio Station ...... 8 8 7 8 Resident Commissioner's Office, Savai'i 4 5 4 4 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 1 Grand totals for Administration Depart- 103 | 112 111 101 ments * Includes half-castes, who by virtue of the positions they fill, are eligible for inclusion in the European St»fi Classification List,