H.—l4.

In the above classes the applicants are arranged in order of merit according to the marks obtained. Since the adoption of this method of recruitment to the Clerical Division of the Public Service, it was only towards the end of last year and about the middle of the present year that class (d) was reached when making appointments. It therefore follows that practically all of the appointees during the past four years have on appointment to the Service advanced some way toward obtaining a degree or a professional examination. Although the possession of examination qualifications does not necessarily imply that the officers so qualified are more efficient than others, it does indicate that the Public Service is obtaining recruits who are equipping themselves as best they can for the better performance of their duties and for carrying responsibility in the future. In this connection the numbers of officers with accountancy and law qualifications have advanced over the period during which the Public Service Act has been in operation as shown : —

The age-limit for appointment to the. Clerical Division was originally eighteen years. This was subsequently altered to nineteen years for applicants with the University Entrance Examination and to twenty-one years for applicants with higher qualifications. This alteration was made to meet the cases of lads who, owing to the depression, would have missed the opportunity of appointment to the Service. Although, unfortunately, a few cases have occurred where lads have failed to gain appointment owing to their reaching the maximum age before their names on the order-of-merit list have been reached, the alteration opened the door to a great many. A comparison with other countries reveals that the amendment did much to avoid a matter which has become very much of a problem to overseas administrations. During the years 1931 and 1932 only two appointments to cadetships were made ; in 1933, 137 were appointed ; in 1934, 207 ; in 1935, 359 ; whiie for the period January to June of the present year 239 have been appointed. Public Service Examinations fob Shorthand-typists. The usual examinations for shorthand-typists were held in November of last year. The Junior and Senior Entrance Examinations were held in thirty-eight centres, and there were 1,269 entries, an increase of 155 over the previous year. Nine hundred and eleven candidates were successful in passing the examinations, 344 failed, and 14 did not present themselves. These examinations are competitive. An order-of-merit list of the successful candidates is prepared for each examining-centre, and appointments to the Service are, as far as possible, made from the local pass-list, candidates who have passed the Senior Examination being given preference. The Junior Examination requires a speed of eighty words a minute in shorthand and thirty words a minute in typewriting, while the Senior speeds are 110 words a minute in shorthand and forty words a minute in typewriting. The Intermediate and Special Examinations are held in the four chief centres. For these there were 117 entries ; 40 of the candidates were successful, 76 failed, and 1 candidate absented herself from the examination. The requirements of the Intermediate Examination are 130 words a minute in shorthand and fifty words a minute in typewriting, and of the Special Examination 150 words a minute in shorthand and fifty words a minute in typewriting.

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j 1913. J 1924. | 1929. | 1936. Accountants' Prof., B.Com., M.Com. . . 18 160 228 531 Law Professional, LL.B., LL.M. .. 43 88 177 233