IL—l4.

There is no regular method by which an administrative officer can obtain a review _of his salary other than by application to the Minister in Charge for consideration when the estimates are being framed. Very few increases of this nature have been approved during the past few years, and the position has been accentuated by the payment of salaries to several recent appointees to new administrative positions far in excess of those paid to permanent heads of long .service and in charge of important Departments of State. in previous reports it has been pointed out that there should be a definite grading of administrative due regard being taken of the duties, importance, and responsibilities of the positions. Minimum and maximum salaries would then be fixed for every position. When comparison is made of the salaries paid to the occupants of managerial positions in outside firms, to executive and professional employees of local bodies, quasi-Government concerns, control boards, &c., with those paid to similar classes of officers in the Public Service, it is obvious that the Service rates are relatively low. If the Public Service is to be made attractive to men of capacity it is all important that the remuneration of officers exercising important administrative functions should be adequate and commensurate with the importance of their duties. The following table shows the percentage of permanent staff (both for the Public Service under the control of the Public Service Commissioners and for all State Services) at various salary groups. The latest figures available are given : —

Expansion op the Public Service. Reference lias frequently been made in the annual reports of Public Service Commissioners to the rapid growth in the number of public servants due to the ever-increasing demand for expansion of social and other services. During the past year this growth has been more apparent than ever before. In the years of the depression services were cut down wherever possible, and, where still carried on, were operated with reduced staffs. As conditions improved the demand and the need for restoration and expansion of these services were felt. In many cases it was necessary to employ increased staffs to make up the lee-way of several years. Resumption of former activities and the passing of new legislation have resulted in unprecedented demands for increased trained staffs, not only in existing services, but also to equip new Departments of State created thereby.

4

Public Service (under Control of Public Service Commissioners, including Ad- Whole of State Services ministrative Officers and Native-school (excluding Judges). Salary Group. Teachers). Officers. Salaries. Officers. Salaries. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. £1,150 and over .. .. 0-16 0-63 0-07 0-31 £920 and over .. .. 0-52 1-76 0-29 1-05 £800 and over .. .. 1-05 3-18 0-55 1-83 £760 and over .. .. 1-65 4-64 0-73 2-34 £475 and over .. .. 10-19 20-42 4-81 10-61 £290 and over .. .. 54-33 69-92 38-07 51-49 £265 and over .. .. 63-33 77-76 51-16 64-59 £235 and over .. .. 75-09 87-38 66-54 78-86 £215 and over .. .. 79-04 90-34 77-55 88-37 £180 and over .. .. 83-69 93-46 84-37 93-45 Under £180 .. .. 16-31 6-54 15-63 6-55 Under £180 .. .. 16-31 6-54 15-63 6-55 Under £215 .. .. 20-96 9-66 22-45 11-63 Under £235 .. .. 24-91 12-62 33-46 21-14 Under £265 .. .. 36-67 22-24 48-84 35-41 Under £290 .. .. 45-67 30-08 61-93 48-51 Under £475 .. .. 89-81 79-58 95-19 89-39 Under £760 .. .. 98-35 95-36 99-27 97-66 Under £800 .. .. 98-95 96-82 99- 45 98-17 Under £920 .. .. 99-48 98-24 99-71 98-95 Under £1,150 .. .. 99-64 99-37 99-93 99-69 £1,150 and over .. .. 0-16 0-63 0-07 0-31