9

H.—l4.

Service are tenable for the full length of a course for any degree, diploma, or license —except the degree of Bachelor of Dental Science. Officers who are awarded free places are admitted without fee to all lectures and examinations in the subjects of their course, and are granted the leave of absence necessary for that purpose. Successful applicants are required to enter into an agreement that they will continue in the employment of the Government for a period of at least three years immediately following the termination of the course for which they have been nominated. To ensure the selection of the most suitable candidates a Board was appointed, of which the Public Service Commissioner is Chairman. The matter is one of Government policy, but 1 am confident that every encouragement in this direction should be given to selected officers. Salary- adjustments. Reference continues to be made from time to time to the question of the restoration of the salary cuts. In view of the lapse of time since the salary cuts were introduced, and the subsequent appointments and changes of personnel, and also the fact that two general regradings have since taken place, it is difficult to conceive upon what logical basis any reasonable claim at this stage can exist. In order to set out the matter in its proper perspective, it is proposed to recount briefly the actual steps that were taken to afford relief to public servants to meet the abnormal economic conditions arising out of the war and post-war price fluctuations. The following is a review of the adjustment in remuneration paid to officers to meet the variation in the cost of living since 1916 : — Up to £315 per annum — From Ist April, 1916, bonus granted as under:— Per Annum. Married officers and widowers or widows with dependent £ s. d. children under fourteen years of age .. .. 15 0 0 Single officers and widowers or widows with no children dependent .. .. .. .. .. 7 10 0 Juveniles (under eighteen years of age) .. . . 3 0 0 From Ist April, 1917, bonus renewed as under Married officers and widowers or widows with dependent children under fourteen years of age .. .. 15 0 0 Single officers and widowers or widows with no children dependent .. .. .. .. .. 7 10 0 Juveniles (under eighteen years of age)—If living at home .. .. . . .. 3 0 0 If living away from home .. . . . . 710 0 From Ist October, 1918, bonus increased as under : — Married officers and widowers or widows with dependent children under fourteen years of age .. .. 30 0 0 Single officers and widowers or widows with no children dependent .. .. .. .. 15 0 0 Juveniles (under eighteen years of age) — If living at home .. .. .. .. 6 0 0 If living away from home .. .. 15 0 0 From Ist April, 1919, a general regrading of the Service was carried out, and the amount previously paid by way of bonus was incorporated with salary. From Ist January, 1920, bonus granted as under : — Up to £500 per annum — Married officers and widowers and others with children or £ s. d. others entirely dependent on them .. .. 15 0 0 Single officers and widowers or widows without dependants 710 0 Ist April, 1920 : Bonus granted Ist January, 1920, dropped, and salaries of all officers increased as follows : — p er Annum. £ s. d. Officers receiving £145 and under .. .. .. . . 20 0 0 Officers receiving over £145 .. .. . . . . 50 0 0 When this latter adjustment in remuneration was made there was an understanding that the salary would be adjusted in the event of the cost of living falling.

2—H. 14.