THE COMMONWEALTH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8343, 1 February 1913, Page 9

THE COMMONWEALTH

"Oh, Australia, fair and lovely, Empress of tho southern sea.”

In his annual report on tho administration of the Federal service, the Commissioner (Air AlcLachlan) states that the total number of permanent employees in Juno last was slightly over 17,000, representing an increase of 19-10 officers as compared with the figures for January, 1911. Tho expenditure on salaries advanced from £2.098,530 in 1911 to £2,434,051 in 1912. although tho increased cost of £135,521 a year is to some extent attributaoie to the large number of new appointments. It is also due in part to tho important salary concessions granted by the Government to officers of all ranks. Increments of salary were approved during 1911-12 to the extent of £203,220, which included an expenditure of £47,997 in payment of the minimum wage to adult officers. Tho cost of the minimum wage provisions at June 30th last was £70,544. Promotions of officers involved an expenditure of The number of officers participating in the promotions was 1559. Thus for the eighteen months ended Juno, 1912, the total amount expended in the several departments in increased remuneration to officers was £246,750, while cost of new appointments for the same period was £236,203, or a total of £482,953. Against this amount must he set off £147,432, representing savings by retirements, deaths, dismissals, etc.

Under the system of granting district allowances to compensate officers for the disadvantages of residence in remote or tropical localities, and to meet the higher cost of living in these places an expenditure of £53,554 was incurred. In the central administrative departments a gradual increase of staffs And expenditure has been effected during the past, five years. The number af officers has advanced from 391 in 1907 to 904 in 1912, while the cost of salaries has risen from £98,887 to £188,701 for the same period. The greatest expansion has occurred in th<f Postmaster-General’s Department, ivhcre the number of officers employed has during 1911-12 been increased by .oOS. The permanent working force of this department was strengthened by 3993 officers, bringing tho total stab up to 14,891 officers, as compared with j 930 transferred at Federation. During the 18 months ended June, 1912, no fewer than 2425 new positions were created; these were in tho mechanical, line construction and maintenance, and telephone sections of the department. As a set-off against this number, ‘ however, 390 positions were abolished.

Dealing with the Postmaster-Gene-ral’s Department from a. financial standpoint, it is shown by the Commissioner that for 1911-12 the expenditure on the salaries of permanent employees has been augmented’by £l4O, ,-lu, while, taking a period of four and a. half years (1908-12), the aggregate cost of salaries has increased by £552,.03, bringing the expenditure as at Juno 30th last up to £1,988,666. If existing rates of pay are compared •vith those granted by the States prior to Federation, it is estimated that for a similar number of officers the Federal Government is now disbursing an amount of £178,394 more in salaries than would have been the case had State conditions of payment continued to prevail. In the three transferred departments—Customs, Defence, and the Postmaster-General’s—tho staffs have since Federation been increased oy 4956 officers, while salary expenditure has grown to the extent of £805,j.2.

The amended regulation under the Customs Act, which has recently been promised by the Commonwealth authorities, in connection with the export of butter, was published in the “ Commonwealth Gazette” some days ago. It prohibits from January Ist, 1913, the export from the Commonwealth of all butter which contains any fat other than butter-fat, any preservative other than boric acid, any colouring matter unless deemed by tho Minister to be harmless, or which contains more than 16 per cent, water, or 3 per cent, casein, or 4 per cent, salt, or i per cent, boric acid, or less th:in'. 82 per cent, butter-fat.

Just prior to the close of tho last Federal Parliamentary session complaints were mad© in the House that in some instances doctors had charged half a guinea for signing the certificates which are required in making claims for the maternity bonus. With a view to arriving at some uniform system the Federal Treasury officers oommunioatpd with the Victorian branch of th© British Medical Association asking what view they took of the matter. A reply has now been received to th© effect that members of th© association have agreed by resolution to -make no charge for signing the certificate, provided they were present at the birth. This decision has now been brought under the notice of the New South Wales branch of the association by the Treasury, and it is suggested that they arrive at a similar decision. In cases where doctors are not connected with the British Medical Association, the mothers concerned must make their own arrangements.

Recognising tho great value of the superior breeds of goat for milk production, the Longreach (Q.) Shire Council recently wrote to the Department of Agriculture respecting the matter. It was explained in reply that at the present time the importation of goats from the United Kingdom and Europe was prohibited by the Commonwealth regulations. It was added that the Government had recently received a letter from the British Goat Society stating that goats were unavailable, owing to tho demand for them from all parts. Tho president stated further that Toggenhurg goats gave from 700 to 800 quarts of milk annually, and some up to 1000 quarts.

An official statement issued by the Federal Treasury shows that up to January ISth, 24,920 applications for the maternity allowance had been received, and 23,163 granted. Notice of rejection had been sent to 135 applicants, and the cases of 1617 others were under consideration.