F.—l

IV

Employees not on permanent staff:— 31st March, 1908. Country Postmasters and Postmistresses ... ... ... ... 2,034 Night-watchmen ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Mail-cart drivers .. ... ... ... ... ... 8 Postmasters and telegraphists or telephonists who are Railway officers 178 Total... ... ... ... ... ... 5,999 Comparative Return of Officers of the Post and Telegraph Department for the Years ended 31st March, 1907, and 31st March, 1908. Mar. 31, Mar. 31, Mar. 31, Mar. 31, 1907. 1908. 1907. 19P8. Postmaster-General .. .. .. 1 1 Brought forward .. .. 162 190 Secretary .. .. .. .. 1 1 Sub-Inspector of Telegraphs .. .. 1 1 Superintendent of Electric Lines .. 1 1 Assistant Inspectors of Post-offices .. 4 4 Assistant Secretary and Inspector .. 1 1 Chief Postmasters .. .. 17 17 Chief Clerk .. .. .. .. 1 1 Officers in Charge (separate)* .. .. 6 6 Inspector of Post-offices .. .. 1 1 Postmasters on permanent staff .. 130 136 Inspector of Telegraph-offices .. .. .. 1 Clerks (including Telephone Exchange^ Controller of Money-orders and Savings- Cadettes and Cadets in post-offices) i . „. „ „ Q„g banks and Accountant .. .. 1 1 Operators (including Cadets in telegraph- f ' Assistant Controller of Money-orders and offices) ' Savings-banks and Assistant, Accountant 1 1 Post Office Sorters .. .. ..36 50 Clerks in General Post Office— Letter-carriers .. .. .. 336 390 Secretary's Office .. .. 23 31 Messengers (Post Office) .. 78 99 Inspector's and Dead Letter Branch .. 9 12 Linemen .. .. .. 81 93 Inspector of Telegraph-offices' Branch .. .. 4 Distributors, Sorters, and Polders (Tele- 7 79 Controller of Money-orders and Savings- graph Office) f banks and Accountant's Branch .. 90 97 Telegraph Message-boys .. .. 581 704 Controller of Stores, Assistant, and Night-watchmen .. .. .. 1 2 Clerks .. .. .. ..13 17 Drivers .. .. • .. 7 10 Chief Electrician .. .. .. 1 1 Postmasters and Telegraphists or TeleAssistant Electricians .. .. .. 2 2 phonists who are Railway officers .. 167 178 Mechanicians, Clerks, and Cadets in Country Postmasters, Postmistresses, and Laboratory .. .. .. 11 11 Telephonists .. .. .. 1,870 2,034 Telegraph Inspectors .. .. .. 5 5 Assistant Inspector of Telegraphs .. 1 1 Totals .. .. .. 5,202 5,999 Carried forward .. .. 162 190 * Hitherto included in next following item. t Distributors and Polders, hitherto shown among Clerks. The continued rapid expansion of telegraph business has necessitated the continuance of the school for learners at Oamaru practically throughout the year. In addition to the usual course of instruction, the learners are now being instructed in the working of the Wheatstone automatic instrument. As the lads qualify and pass a technical examination they are drafted for duty at offices. Health of Staff. The following table gives the average absence of officers on sick-leave at the principal offices : — ..,. , . , Average Absence per Average Sick-absence per Numbers comprised. g f ck omceT . * each Officer employed. i I Days. Days. Men ... ... 1,844 8-87 6-68 Women ... 312 2288 18-11 Twelve officers died during the year. Appeal Board. A meeting of the Appeal Board under " The Post and Telegraph Department Act, 1894," began at the General Post Office on Monday, sth August, 1907, and ended on the 12th idem. Thirteen appeals were considered. In seven cases the Board had no recommendation to make ; in one case the appeal was not sustained ; and in the five remaining cases the Board made various recommendations. It was decided to give effect to the findings of the Board in each case as early as practicable. Classification. " The Post and Telegraph. Classification Act, 1907," makes important changes in the classification of officers of the Department. Instead of there being twenty-five classes, some identified by numbei and some by name below the First Division, the Department has now thirteen classes. This in itself makes greatly for simplification of treatment of the scheme of classification ; but when it is considered that the former distribution of officers interposed arbitrary distinctions to keep apart officers doing work of the same relative importance and value for the Department, the amelioration appears still more clearly. For instance, officers of the First Grade in the First Class and Chief Postmasters at the four principal centres were formerly separated, and some slight difference in salary