ON ACTIVE SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2520, 22 July 1915, Page 3

ON ACTIVE SERVICE

STATE EMPLOYEES' RESPONSE TO CALL OF EMPIRE. "Owing to the number of officers who volunteered for military service immediately on the outbreak of war, and tho number specially required for clerical work in the Defence Department, it was a matter of difficulty for a time to satisfactorily ensure tho carrying-on of the current work of Departments," says the Public Service Commissioner in his annual report. "The assistance of permanent heads who, almost without exception, waived objections to the temporary transfer of their officers to Departments whore work was more pressing, enabled tile Work of most Departments to return to I'airly normal conditions. Tho choice of applicants for temporary clerical work became restricted as commercial business recovered itself soon after the outbreak of war, but t'he Commissioners were successful in obtaining a number of clerks for such work as they might be considered suitable, and the results of the Publio Service Examination's enabled cadets to bo appointed in February, and March. At the present time, with the exception of a fow cases in which it is stated by Departments that only trained officers can be employed, the condition of the work of Departments is practically normal. It has not been necessary to consider the restriction of any service to tho publio by any Department. "A hearty response to the call for volunteers from the Service for military duty was expected, but the result exceeded anticipations, and tho Commissioners are gratified to observe that the loyalty of tho Public Service has been displayed in such a practical way. Every facility has been placed in the way of Publio Servants to volunteer and on April 1 last 635 officers had been given leave to join the Expeditionary forces. This number has been considerably added to since then." '

Tlie Wellington Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association has sent ■ the following polite little apology to all the victims of tho Carnival mock court proceedings:—"Dear Sir,—On behalf of tne Travellers' Patriotic Committee, I beg to sympathise with you as a 'first offender.' You were found guilty of a serious offence, and paid the penalty. We must thank you for your valued assistance in the cause: and the New Zealand Wounded Soldiers', Sailors', and Their Dependents' IHind lias benefited to the amount imposed upon you for your misdeeds.— Yours faithfully, (Signed) E. A. Phelps, Hon. Secretary."