c.—i

8

Staff Employment. At the Ist April, 1928, the staff of the Department numbered 636 permanent and 74 temporary officers. Some 22 new appointments to the permanent staff were made during the year, and 11 officers were transferred from other Departments. On the other hand, 18 officers resigned, 9 retired, 1 died, and 12 were transferred to other Departments. The staff at the 31st March, 1929, numbered 629 permanent and 86 temporary officers. Departmental Changes. Retirements during the year were those of Mr. W. T. Neill, Surveyor-General; Mr. J. Stevenson, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor, Blenheim; and Messrs. H. R. Aktinson, A. Hodgkinson, C. Macfarlane, R. R. Percival, W. J. C. Slane, J. H. Treseder, and J. H. W. Wardrop. Transfers to other Departments included those of Mr. R. Self, to the Valuation Department, and Mr. F. W. E. Mitchell, to the Treasury.

Senior Appointments and Promotions.

Honours awarded to the Department. Since the publication of the last annual report His Majesty has been graciously pleased to bestow upon the Under-Secretary of the Department the honour of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division). Previous recipients of honours have been :— William C. Kensington (Under-Secretary, 1902-12), 1.5.0. John Strauchon (Under-Secretary, 1912-14), 1.5.0. James Mackenzie (Under-Secretary, 1914-16), 1.5.0. Thomas N. Brodrick (Under-Secretary, 1916-22), 0.8. E. and 1.5.0. Reports on Cognate Subjects. As in former years, separate reports are required to be laid before Parliament in connection with many of the operations carried out by the Department. They comprise : — Surveys.—The report by the Surveyor-General on the work of the survey (or technical) branch of the Department is submitted in parliamentary paper C.-la. Swamp - drainage.—The report required by the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, is contained in parliamentary paper C.-4. Discharged Soldiers Settlement.—The annual report under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915, is furnished by the Department in parliamentary paper C.-9. Scenery-preservation.—The statutory report containing details of reservations and statement of accounts appears in parliamentary paper C.-6. Drainage Operations in Hauraki Plains. —A report by the Chief Drainage Engineer on this subject appears in parliamentary paper C.-8. Public Domains.—A brief summary of the vear's operations is given in parliamentary paper C.-10. Rangitaiki Land Drainage.—The annual report on the operations in the Rangitaiki Plains is given in parliamentary paper C.-11. Kauri-gum Industry.—The annual report under the Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1914, is given in parliamentary paper C.-12. National Endowments. —The annual report required by section 302 of the Land Act, 1924, appears in parliamentary paper C.-14.

Officer appointed. Previous Position. Position to which appointed. Date. E. 0. Weir .. Land Transfer Draughtsman, Chief Draughtsman, Dunedin .. 28/5/28 Dunedin A. R. White .. Clerk, Wellington .. .. Accountant, New Plymouth .. 28/8/28 L. Avann .. Accountant, New Plymouth .. Assistant Accountant, Head Office 13/8/28 P. R. Wilkinson Chief Draughtsman, Blenheim .. Commissioner of Crown Lands and 12/3/29 Chief Surveyor, Blenheim H. E. Walshe .. Chief Draughtsman, Head Office Surveyor-General .. .. 1/4/29