H.—l4.

Reference was made last year to the growth of trie social-service State. In this connection it is interesting to observe the rapid advance made by the School Dental Service during the past fifteen years. The first trainees were appointed in April, 1921, and since that date the number has increased as shown below : — Date. 1922. 1927. 1929. 1932. 1936. Number . . ~ . . 31 129 178 200 210 Despite this increase there is still a demand throughout the country for the appointment of additional nurses. The numbers of permanent officers in the various Departments under the control of the Commissioner have fluctuated during recent years as shown in the table hereunder: —

Permanent Staff. —Number of Officers.

3

(Excluding Administrative Officers, Native-school Teachers, and Officers on Extended Leave or on Loan to other Administrations.) Department lst Apri1 ' lst Apri1 ' Department. 1930 1933. (Provisional). Agriculture .. . . .. .. 558 513 522 Audit .. .. .. .. .. 158 162 173 Cook Islands .. .. .. .. .. 4 Crown Law . . . . . . .. 6 6 7 Customs .. .. .. .. 310 292 347 Defence .. .. .. .. 47 31 33 Education .. .. .. .. 297 257 270 External Affairs .. .. .. 6 3 External Affairs and Cook Islands .. .. .. 6 Government Insurance .. .. .. 107 96 111 Health .. .. .. .. 453 403 391 Immigration .. .. .. . • 10 Industries and Commerce .... 10 Industries and Commerce, Tourist and .. 159 189 Publicity Internal Affairs .. .. .. 379 258 225 Justice . . .. .. . • 270 301 Justice and Prisons .. .. .. .. .. 543 Labour .. .. .. .. 102 96 216 Land and Deeds .. .. . . 131 123 119 Land and Income Tax .. . . .. 159 172 . 201 Lands and Survey .. .. .. 627 570 596 Marine .. .. . . .. 189 163 166 Mental Hospitals .. .. .. 945 1,089 1,089 Mines .. .. .. .. .. 53 49 51 National Provident and Friendly Societies 35 29 National Provident, Friendly Societies and .. .. 34 Government Actuary's Native .. .. .. .. 74 80 141 Native Trust .. .. .. .. 28 28 Pensions .. .. .. .. 107 101 116 Police .. .. .. .. .. 6 6 7 Prime Minister's .. .. .. 1 1 6 Printing and Stationery .. .. 305 237 248 Prisons 243 242 Public Service Commissioner's .. .. 8 8 9 Public Service Superannuation . . .. 9 8 8 Public Trust 646 645 721 Public Works 758 637 734 Scientific and Industrial Research .. 53 56 67 Stamp Duties .. .. .. .. 76 71 44 State Advances .. . . .. 97 102 52 State Fire Insurance .. .. .. 136 135 133 State Forests .. .. .. .. 123 98 98 Tourist .. .. .. .. 103 Transport .. .. .. . • 7 7 25 Treasury .. .. .. .. 88 79 88 Valuation .. .. . ■ • • 83 75 83 Totals .. .. .. 7,803 7,392 7,869