H.—l4.

account of marriage. The sudden loss of efficient staff was severely felt, so much so that the Commissioners agreed to the re-employment in a purely temporary capacity of several former State trained dental nurses who had left the Service on account of marriage. By the acceleration of appointments it is hoped that the lack of suitably trained staff will shortly be met. Recent legislation has placed additional work on the Pensions Department and has resulted in accretion to the staff of that Department.

(b) Development Services.

Great activity in the development-work of the Dominion has reflected itself in the increase in the number of employees in the service of the above Departments. Many departmental activities which were dormant during the depression years gained new life with the improvement in economic conditions. The institution of the forty-hour week has also been responsible in part for the increase shown. In some respects the growth in the Public Works Department's temporary staff is more apparent than real. Groups of employees previously not regarded as coming directly under the control of the Public Service Commissioners have now been brought under their jurisdiction.

(c) Trading Services.

Rapid expansion of the staff of the State Advances Corporation was unavoidable owing to the transfer from the Lands and Survey Department of mortgages vested in the Crown in respect of advances made to discharged soldiers under the authority of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, 1915. The passing of the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act, 1936, resulted in great increase of work of a temporary nature in this Department. The housing policy of the Government

2—H: 14.

9

, . •, ,™ n 1st April, 1938. 1st April, 1937. (Provisional.) Permanent. Temporary. Total. Permanent. Temporary. Total, Agriculture .. .. .. 537 235 772 588 326 914 Industries and Commerce, Tourist 150 104 254 162 158 320 and Publicity Lands and Survey .. .. 543 157 700 582 183 765 Mines .. .. .... 57 15 72 61 18 79 Primary Products Marketing . . 30 129 159 33 142 175 Public Works .. . . .. 835 1,051 1,886 905 1,533 2,438 Scientific and Industrial Research .. 121 99 220 157 132 289 State Forests .. .. .. 100 81 181 109 70 179 2,373 1,871 4,244 2,597 2,562 5,159

1 J A -1 irnr, 1st April, 1938. 1st April, 1937. (Provisional.) Permanent. JTemporary. Total. Permanent. Temporary. Total. I . Government Insurance .. . . 112 32 144 109 23 132 Public Trust 759 228 987 771 213 984 State Advances .. .. . . 315 228 543 394 460 854 State Fire Insurance .. . . 139 54 193 146 54 200 National Commercial Broadcasting... .. .. .. 24 243 267 1,325 542 1,867 1,444 993 2,437