H.—l4

lower than men in outside employment responsible for very small business concerns. It is recognized that with the passing of the Economic Stabilization Regulations the present time is not an opportune one to consider increasing the rates of pay of public servants. The matter, however, is placed on record, and should receive urgent consideration as soon as possible. Rates of pay for administrative officers are, of course, subject to appropriation by Parliament. Indeed, all salaries beyond £765 per annum must be approved in this manner. Naturally rates below £765 per annum can only be considered in comparison with the remuneration received for the higher positions in the Service. A general regrading of the Public Service was due in 1942. Owing to war conditions this was postponed, to take place at a time not more than two years after the termination of the war. Careful consideration will require to be given to this problem when the regrading actually does take place. Another factor which does not assist the Commissioner in recruiting professional officers of the status of medical officers or the higher scientific officers to the Public Service is the limitation of £300 per annum for the retiring-allowance which may be granted to an officer after completing the required period of service. This limitation of the retiring-allowance was fixed at a time when the sum represented comparative affluence. Some thirty years have passed since this amount was fixed, and, in my opinion, this matter should receive urgent consideration in the interests of the officers in the Service, in the interests of the Service generally in keeping a contented staff, and in assisting the recruiting of professional officers of the type mentioned above. Examinations. —The usual departmental examination was held during the year. This examination is for the purpose of qualifying officers for advancement beyond Class VI —i.e., a salary of £335 per annum. Twenty-seven candidates presented themselves at seventeen centres and thirteen succeeded in passing the examination. Shorthand-typists Examinations for entry into the Public Service and promotion within the Public Service were held in November, 1942, with the following results : —

Efficiency of the Service. —Section 15 of the Public Service Act, 1912, requires the Commissioner to report as to the efficiency of the Public Service. 1 have to advise that lam of the opinion that, considering the difficulties which have been encountered during the past year, the Public Service has maintained its high degree of efficiency. With staff possessing little training there must, of necessity, be delays in certain Departments in dealing with the work ; but, generally speaking, the calls made on the Service have been well met. Roll of Honour : Additions since Last Report.—lt is with extreme regret that I record the passing of the following officers who have lost their lives in the service of their country since the last report. This opportunity is taken of expressing to their relatives the deep sorrow of the Public Service in their ioss:—

I Name. Amoore, D. P. Andrew, N. R. .. Andrew, R. K. A. Ball, J. P. Bell, C. D. Bell, J. C. Bennett, J. Bevan, R. Blewett, R. T. Brown, K. C Brown, W. W. Burgess, L. B. Carncross, M. E. Chatwin, D. Clark, A. G. Clark, D. B. ■Cobden, A. P. Collett, H. W. A. Collier, J. A. Cooke, P. F. M. .. Craig, L. L. A. Crawford, H. H. Crombie, W. D. Growther, V. E. Cummings, C. J. Dalzell, E. T. P. ■de Thierry, G. H. Devlin, K. J. Dromgoole, S. H. Easton, K. H. T. Edwards, N. J. .. Farquharson, H. W. Ferguson, W. J. . . Foster, F. R. Fox, J. J.

I Department. Mental Hospitals. Industries and Commerce, Tourist and Publicity. Mines. Customs. Land and Survey. State Advances. Health. State Eire Insurance. Customs. Internal Affairs. Custou.s. Internal Affairs. Scientific and Industrial Research. Public Works. Agriculture. Lands and Survey. Air. Internal Affairs. Public Works. Customs. Land and Income Tax. Customs. Public Works. Social Security. Government Life Insurance Public Works. Public Works. Marketing. State Forest. Lands and Survey. Public Trust. Transport. Labour. Public Works. Broadcasting.

Name. Galloway, J. , Gibson, H. A. . . Grant, M. I). Harrison, G. N... Harvey, E. W. . . Hatten, N. S. .. Hoare, B. P. .. Hodgson, J. R. .. Houston, J. D. Hunter, R. Hutchin, J. L. Ironside, C. G. .. Ives, C. E. Jackson, G. H. .. Jolly, M. C. Jones, R. M. Keat, L. M. Kereopa, H. Land, A. C. Leaf, H. W. Lee, W. P. Lewis, J. Lloyd, G. S. Long, A. C. Love, E. Te W. .. Liidernann, H. J. Lynch, P. L. Lyons, D. G. McCann, H. Mcßae, R. N. W. McEachen, E. J. McElroy, R. J. .. McFarlane, C. R. H. McTntyre, M. A. G. McKeen, C. J. I McKinnon, A. C.

Department. Public Works. Printing and Stationery. Agriculture. Transport. State Advances. Social Security. Agriculture. Public Trust. Land and Income Tax. Public Works. Native. Customs. Mental Hospitals. Land and Income Tax. Justice. State Forest. Lands and Survey. Lands and Survey. State Advances. Native. Public Trust. Lands and Survey. National Commercial Broad • casting. Treasury. Native. Education. Justice. Land and Income Tax. Labour. Internal Affairs. Public Works. Lands and Survey. Agriculture. Mental Hospitals. Printing and Stationery. Public Works.

3

Number of n ... v D w ■, Did not J Candidates. Cred,t Pass " Pass - Falh Sit. Special . . . . . . • • 51 2 21 28 Intermediate .. .. .. .. 82 1 36 14 1 Senior .. .. .. .. 46.1 23 227 205 6 Junior .. .. .. .. 961 59 527 358 17 1,555 85 811 635 24