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FINANCIAL The revenue for the year ended the 31st March, 1949, was £9,519,652. Payments in respect of working-expenses (including interest on capital liability amounting to £659,045) totalled £9,877,525. The excess of payments over receipts was £357,873. But, as the payments included capital expenditure, as well as payments for renewals, it is expected that, after allowing for reserves, there will be a small profit on the year's operations. A detailed Statement of Receipts and Payments in respect of the working of the Post Office is shown in the Appendix (Table No. 1). STAFF STAFFING POSITION In common with other employers, the Post Office continued to. encounter difficulties during the year arising from labour shortage. While there does not seem to be any immediate prospect of appreciable improvement, there are signs of a gradual easing of the situation. There is no doubt that immigration is helping in a limited way to alleviate the position. Staff shortages are most acute at Auckland and Wellington and in a few other districts where major telephone extension works are being undertaken or are contemplated. An important factor in the Auckland and Wellington situation is the dearth of living-accommodation, especially for shift-workers, and this lack has necessitated the Post Office providing hostels for its staff. Approximately 650 officers are accommodated in departmental hostels, the majority at Wellington, where local recruitment efforts yield little or no results. While the rate of turnover of Post Office staff cannot be viewed with equanimity, there was, nevertheless, a net increase in total staff during the year. Although the Department's staff turnover is higher than in pre-war years, the latest figures, which represent 7 per cent, of the total, compare more than favourably with those in outside industry where much higher percentages can be noted from official surveys. PERSONNEL Comparative Return op Persons Employed in the Department ~ , , n, 31st March, 31st March, Permanent staff— :]94B> 7 1949. Administrative . . . . . . . 15 15 First Division . . . . . . 5,217 5,432 Second Division . . . . . . 5,710 6,298 10,942 ' 11,745 Temporary and casual staff • . • . 4,803 4,532 *15,745 f 16,277 Non-classified staff — Postmistresses and assistants .. .. 221 226 Non-permanent staff— Country postmasters and telephonists . . 1,199 1,187 Railway officers . . .. .. .. 75 72 17,240 17,762

* Includes 93 serving with Armed Forces. t Includes 4 serving with Armed Forces.

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