H.—l4

Other matters which are exercising the minds of the Executive of the New Zealand Public Service Association are : — Rights of Appeal. —The requests of the Association in this matter would involve amending legislation. Payment of Salaries Fortnightly. —Treasury are unable to recommend this matter at present owing to certain budgetary difficulties. Appointment of Qualified Temporary Employees to the Permanent Staff. — As opportunity offers, qualified temporary employees are appointed to the Permanent Staff, provided they are giving satisfaction and that the duties they are performing can reasonably be regarded as likely to continue. The question is one of some difficulty, however, as many temporary employees do not possess the necessary educational qualifications for permanent appointment. Moreover, as any appointments made would be subject to a right of appeal from members of the present permanent staff, any appointments to positions above the lowest grade can be made only where the Commissioner is of opinion that there are no officers already in the Service available and fully qualified to efficiently carry out the duties of the positions under review. Leave for General Division Officers. —This is a matter for uniformity between the Railway, Post and Telegraph, and Public Services. Leave for certain General Division officers in the Public Service is not as liberal as that granted to similar classes of employees in the Post and Telegraph Department, but it is more liberal than that granted in the Railway Service. Alteration to the Railway schedule of leave would involve Government in considerable additional expense. Improvement in Boarding-allowance for Cadets. —It is recognized that rates payable for board have increased over recent years, particularly in Wellington. Budgets have been submitted, and it appears that certain hardship exists in a few cases, but in these cases the hardship is caused more by expense other than board, such as tuition and coaching fees, insurance, &c. It should be realized that the Public Service is one of very few employers who at present pay additional rates of remuneration to officers in recognition of the fact that such officers are required to reside away from home. The restiveness throughout the Service has become more pronounced recently and has culminated in certain sections of temporary employees seeking to break away from the New Zealand Public Service Association. Samoa and Cook Islands. A further effort has been made to achieve uniformity in the Islands Public Services. Regulations. The first draft of regulations under the Public Service Act has been prepared and submitted to the Administrations. The criticism has been reviewed, and it is hoped to issue the approved regulations during the year. An Inspector has been appointed to the External Affairs and Cook Islands Department, and this should enable a closer touch to be kept with the problems of the Islands Services, as well as assist in obtaining complete uniformity. Previously it was possible to make periodical visits of inspection only at fairly lengthy intervals. Mr. W. Tailby, the Inspector, who has had considerable Islands experience, has already spent some weeks at Nine, and in due course will be visiting the other Islands controlled by the External Affairs Department. Teachers' Salaries. The amended regulations dealing with teachers' salaries in New Zealand have been considered in relation to the salaries paid to European teachers in the Islands. A new scale has been approved based upon the New Zealand scale in relation to the

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