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F.—l

10

STAFF,

Comparative Return op Persons employed in the Post and Telegraph Department. The total number of persons employed on the Ist April, 1929 and 1930, was as under : — Permanent Staff — Ist April, 1929. Ist April, 1930. Administrative Division .. .. .. .. 4 4 Clerical and Engineering Divisions .. .. 3,453 3,485 General Division .. .. .. .. .. 5,091 5,456 8,548 8,945 Temporary staff .. .. .. . . .. 159 76 Casual staff .. .. .. .. .. 1,104 698 9,811 9,719 Non-permanent' staff — Country Postmasters and Telephonists .. .. 1,825 1,786 Postmasters who are Railway officers .. .. 91 86 Total staff .. .. .. ..11,727 11,591 During the year 90 female employees on the temporary staff were appointed to the permanent staff, and on the Ist April, 1930, in order to bring the construction and maintenance staff up to its authorized strength, 139 casual employees are to bo given permanent status. Health of Permanent Staff. The following table gives the average absence of officers on sick-leave this year as compared with last:— Number on Average Absence Average Absence for Stafi. per Sick Officer. each Officer employed. Year ended 31st March, 1930 — Men .. .. ..8,198 9-62 4-98 Women .. .. .. 747 16-05 10-10 Year ended 31st March, 1929 — Men .. .. ..7,816 10-09 4-61 Women .. .. .. 732 15-38 9-50 It has to be recorded with regret that twenty-six officers died during the year, seven of them being officers with over twenty years of service. Two died as a result of accidents while on duty, and one as a result of exposure while engaged on line-reconstruction work in the earthquake area. The first accident occurred on the 24th December, 1929, when Master H. A. Vercoe, Message-boy, Helensville, lost his life as a result of injuries received by striking his head against a stationary wagon when he was riding a bicycle. A strong head-wind and a heavy rain-shower were contributing factors, and it is believed that the lad had his head bent over his machine and failed to observe the wagon in his way. The second accident occurred at Kaponga on the sth March, 1930, when Mr. L. Allan, a Line Foreman stationed at Hawera, met his death by falling from a telegraph-pole on which he was working. The fall was the result of his receiving an electric shock from a high-tension wire. An inquest was held, the Coroner finding that death was accidental and that no blame was attachable to any one. The Department spares no effort to guard against accidents of this kind, but, unfortunately, precautionary measures were of no avail on this occasion. Mr. D. O'Sullivan, an Overseer in the Engineering Branch, met his death under unusual and sad circumstances in July last. He was sent to Westport with a party to restore telegraph and telephone communication interrupted as the result of the earthquake. He did very fine work indeed in the face of great difficulties and dangers. He worked in the worst portions of the district and took up tasks that would have daunted most men. Unfortunately the weather was most inclement, and as a result of exposure and overstrain Mr. O'Sullivan was laid aside by influenza and bronchitis, from which he failed to rally. There is no doubt that self-sacrificing service in the Department's interests and devotion to duty lost to the Department one of its best officers. The Department's sympathy is extended to the relatives and friends of the deceased officers. Payments to Dependants op Deceased Officers. The Department does not allow its interest in the dependants of officers to cease on the breadwinner's death. It is provided that when an officer dies in the Service a monetary payment equivalent to the leave due on retirement shall be granted to the widow or dependent children of such officer, according to the officer's length of service. Such payments are made as promptly as possible. They prove a welcome relief in many cases, and have often provided sufficient ready funds to the relatives to tide them over a trying period. In addition, compassionate allowances are paid to the widows of officers who die in the Service. The payments are based on the service of the officer at death. These payments have been found to be much appreciated benefits, and to meet a want that has been pressing in the more necessitous cases. The loss of the head of the household has frequently reduced families to straitened circumstances, and the measure of relief afforded by the Department provides at least for all immediate needs. The payments

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