H.—l4.

New Zealand Reparation Estates, Samoa.—A visit was made to each of the plantations within reasonable access of Apia. The salaries now approved have been based upon uniformity of standard with the Administration and with the staffs of other Islands. Although the Administration and Reparation Estates are separately controlled, close co-operation is necessary, and uniformity of salary scales is therefore essential. The Public Trust work has now been transferred from the Administration to the Reparation Estates under the direct control of the Accountant. Cook Islands. —This group was visited by Mr. J. H. Boyes, Public Service Commissioner, together with an Inspector (Mr. S. Roberts) and the Assistant Secretary, External Affairs and Cook Islands Department (Mr. A. B. Ross). It was not possible to visit the outer Islands, but a complete inspection was made at Rarotonga. There are two staff groups in the Cook Islands—European and Rarotongan — and it was found possible to apply the scales previously approved for the Samoan staff. This should make for uniformity and should also permit an interchange of European officers where such a course is desirable. It was found that at some points there was need for change in the office systems being used, and the necessary steps have been taken. Some staff adjustment was also made. Nine. —This Island was visited by a Public Service Inspector and the AssistantSecretary, External Affairs Department. The staff under the Resident Commissioner is relatively small and consists of two groups —Europeans and NiueIslanders. Here again the scales adopted for Samoa were applied. Expansion of the Public Service. References are constantly being made in the press and elsewhere to the everincreasing number of persons who are servants of the State. Criticism is made that the increase is in part due to extravagant administration of the Service. We are convinced that the Service is efficiently and economically run. The great demand for increased social services, the betterment of working-conditions inside and outside the Service, the renewed activity in the development of the Dominion, and the entry of the State into commercial realms are some of the main reasons for the growth of the Public Service. Any curtailment of expenditure in this connection is a matter of Government policy. It may, however, be stated that once a service to the public has been instituted by the State any move to afterwards withdraw such service will be met by bitter opposition from the persons benefiting directly or indirectly by the action of Government. The expansion of the Public Service over the past twelve months is dealt with hereunder by various headings : —

(a) Social Services.

In the Health Department more than the usual annual quota of probationer dental nurses were appointed in an endeavour to make up the leeway of depression years, when appointments ceased. With the improvement in economic conditions many of the trained staff tendered their resignations, in practically all cases on

8

1st April, 1937. ' 1st April. 1938. (Provisional.) Permanent. Temporary. Total. Permanent. Temporary. Total. Education (excluding teachers) .. 280 151 431 i 303 ! 159 i 462 Health .. .. .. 430 172 602 1 485 ; 190 | 675 Labour .. .. .. 332 629 961 412 587 j 999 Mental Hospitals .. .. 1,508 45 1,553 i 1,430 46 1,476 National Provident .... 35 18 53 33 19 52 Pensions .. .. .. 157 101 258 ; 170 ! 106 276 Broadcasting .. .. .. 90 110 200 ! 97 74 171 2,832 1,226 | 4,058 j 2,930 1,181 j 4,111 ... j .. | , |