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engaged in transport and communication as between 1921 and 1936. Under this heading are comprised not only railway and' similar transport workers, but also persons engaged in the Post and Telegraph Department. The increase of 3,300 over the period under review doubtless reflects the increased use of motor transport and the development of the railway services. The heading " Commerce and Finance ' 7 includes such institutions as the Public Trust, the State Insurance Offices, and the employment agencies of the Labour Department, and the increase of approximately 600 males and 170 females reflects particularly the expansion of the Public Trust Office, but also to some extent the, expansion in the activities of the State Insurance Department and of the employment agencies. The figure for those engaged-in public administration and professional work, which includes, besides those specifically classified as engaged in public administration, those engaged in defence, law and order, religion and social welfare, health, and education, is more stable over the period. There was some wide internal fluctuations within this group, but generally the figure has remained very steady. This steadiness, however, is perhaps deceptive in that during the period between 1931 and 1936 there were very heavy retrenchments within the service, while the normal recruitment programme was not proceeded with. As a consequence, the figures for 1936 were abnormally low, and will show a very marked increase in 1945. In the local government field the increase of approximately 11,000 as between 1921 and 1936 is due largely to a major increase in the number engaged on roadmaking and a very heavy increase in the number engaged in electric light and power work and supply. The roadmaking again reflects the employment-promotion policy of the time, while the increase in the electric-light field reflects the development of the Power Boards and the spread of electricity throughout the community. The fluctuations under the heading of " Transport and Communications " are relatively minor, although as between 1926 and 1936 there was a fall of over 600, probably as a result of the cutting-out of services due to the depression. Under the heading of " Public Administration and Professional " there was a steady and continuous increase of approximately 4,000 males and 2,000 females as between 1921 and 1936. Within the administrative field there was an increase of 1,700 male officers. Teachers are classified as employees of local bodies on the understanding that Education Boards are local bodies. There was an increase of 1,200 males and about 500 females in the teaching profession. There was an increase of over 2,000 in the female staffs of hospitals and 600 in the male staffs. The increase in the education and public-health activities of local bodies is indicative of the improved facilities which were made available in the period under review. Of all Government employees the largest group is the group engaged in general administration, which absorbed approximately 36 per cent, of the total Government employees, both central and local, in 1936. The next largest group was the field of transport and communications which absorbed slightly less, about 35 per cent. It is particularly interesting to notice that in the public administration group there were only 2,000 less females than males employed in local bodies in 1936, the respective figures being 12,445 and 10,405. Relevant to this question of Government employees is the proportion of the total occupied personnel which are engaged in Government services. Figures of these details are given in the next table : —•

Table No. 115.—Table showing the Percentage of Government Employees (both Central and Local) to the Total Occupied Personnel in 1921, 1926, and 1936 respectively

91

Year. Central Government. Local Government.. Total. Males. Females. 1 Total. Males. Females. Total. Males. Females. Total. 1921 1926 1936 9-5 9-9 10-6 4-7 4-1 3-7 8-5 8-7 . 91 4-6 6-1 5-6 8-0 9-6 8-1 5-3 6-8 61 14-1 16-0 16-2 | 12-7 13-7 11-8 13-8 ! 15-5 I 15-2