III

F.—l

Statement showing Revenue and Expenditure of the Post and Telegraph Department for the Ten Years ended 31st March, 1909, and for the Years 1881-82 and 1891-92.

Personal. Mr. D. Robertson, Secretary of the Department, left for a six-months visit to Europe on the 22nd December, 1908. During his absence the position of Acting-Secretary was filled by Mr. W. R. Morris, Assistant Secretary and Inspector. Staff. The title of " Inspector of Telegraphs " has been altered to " Telegraph Engineer," as being more in keeping with the duties performed. Several minor changes have also been made in the titles of clerical officers. Comparative Return of Officers of the Post and Telegraph Department for the Years ended 31st March, 1908, and 31st March, 1909. The total number of officers on the staff on the 31st March, 1908 and 1909, was as under:— 31st March, 31st March, 1908. 1909. Postmaster-General ... ... ... 1 1 Classified staff, — First Division ... ... ... ... ... 3 3 Clerical Division ... ... ... ... ... 2,158 2,441 Non-clerical Division .. ... ... ... 912 952 Telegraph message-boys ... .. ... ... 704 702 Total, classified staff ... ... ... 3,778 4,099 Employees not on permanent staff, — Country Postmasters and Postmistresses ... ... 2,034 2,064 Night-watchmen ... ... ... ... ... 1 3 Mail-cart drivers ... ... ... ... ... 8 2 Postmasters and telegraphists or telephonists who are Railway officers ... ... ... 178 190 Total ... ... ... ... 5,999 6,358 Health of Staff. The following table gives the average absence of officers on sick-leave at the principal offices : —

Nine officers died during the year.

Year. Revenue. Expenditure. Balance of Revenue over Expenditure. .881-82 £ 234,529 s. d. 8 0 £ s. 233,291 10 d. 4 £ s. d. 1,237 17 8 1891-92 320,058 1 3 268,343 1 1 51,715 0 2 1899-1900 1900-1901 1901-1902 1902-1903 1903-1904 1904-1905 1905-1906 1906-1907 1907-1908 1908-1909 488,245 16 4 503,835 19 5hJ 488,573 1 11£ 525,098 17 3* 580,771 4 51 633,305 12 7J 684,878 11 2 746,249 16 0J 822,639' 8 9+ 913,994 17 2| 390,448 1 7 418,271 16 11 465,756 9 5 487,814 10 0 526,746 14 5 559,921 1 5 578,726 11 7 619,121 0 9 709,024 16 2 807,652 9 10 97,797 14 85,564 2 22,816 12 37,284 7 54,024 10 73,384 11 106,151 19 127,128 15 113,614 12 106,342 7 9 6_ 6_ 3. 0* 2_ 7 3_ 7* Total for ten years £824,109 13 3

L, , . , Average Absence per Numbers comprised. Bi ° ck office _ * Average absence for each Officer employed. Men ... Women ... 1,979 350 Days. 9-91 2303 Days. 5-49 17-11