H.—l4,

5

the revenue and finance Departments and those under Internal Affairs. These Departments show only an expansion in staff in keeping with the increased population and the development of the Dominion : — Administrative . Department. 1913. 1923. 1928. Revenue —■ Customs .. .. .. .. .. 240 279 299 Land and Income Tax .. .. .. 72 145 153 Stamp Duties .. .. .. .. 37 74 77 Finance — Treasury .. .. .. .. 62 79 88 Audit .. .. .. .. .. 53 100 144 Miscellaneous — Internal Affairs .. .. .. .. 132 224 200 Census and Statistics .. .. .. 11 56 56 Registrar-General's .. .. .. 23 35 45 Land and Deeds .. .. .. 88 131 136 Native and Native Trust.. .. .. ..53 82 89 Apart from the foregoing particulars of essential and inevitable increase in staff in the last fifteen years, due to national development, it should be mentioned that staff comparisons with 1913 and earlier periods are obscured by reason of the fact that prior to the introduction of Commissioner control a large number of temporary employees were paid out of appropriations other than salaries. These now appear under that head, making the inflation of the salary charge appear greater than it actually is. Another factor which has tended to swell the salary bill, but which is merely a readjustment showing a compensating reduction of another item, has been the conversion of emoluments to salary, which hitherto were shown under the heading of free rations, lodgings, quarters, &c. Free issues in kind were abolished by the Commissioner because of the abuses associated with this practice. The salary bill appears to be heavier, whereas actually in this connection there has been an economy in the total expenditure. Where, as is clearly indicated by the foregoing review, the expansion of staff is the outcome of the normal development of the country coupled with the ever-increasing demand for additional services, ib is both erroneous and unfair to ascribe the increased burden to extravagant administration. The public services of this country are run efficiently and economically. There is a plain reason for the presence of every person employed, and any curtailment of expenditure is not a matter of organization but of Government policy, as it lies with Government to determine whether it will discontinue or curtail services which time and experience have shown to be essential for the full development of the Dominion on a broad national basis. A reference to Table 111 in the appendix hereto will show that, after making allowance for reductions and increases to staff, during the past financial year there has been a net addition of 228 in the personnel of the Public Service. In conformity with the policy outlined in the previous paragraphs, it will be noted that these increases have been mainly in Departments which are giving expression to Government policy by way of increased social services and the promotion of development of the country. The principal increases in staff during the past year were as follows : — Agriculture Department .. .. .. 18 Education Department .. .. . . .. .. 18 Health .. . . .. . . . . 19 Mental Hospitals .. .. . . . 81 Public Trust .. . . .. .. .. .. 44 Public Works .. . . .. .. .. . . 25 State Forest .. .. .. .. .. 10 which account for 215 of the 228 mentioned above.