H.-14,

1915. NEW ZEALAND

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER (THIRD REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command, of His Excellency.

To His Excellency the Right Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency: As Commissioner appointed under the Public Service Act, 1912, I have the honour to submit the following Report, as required by section 15 of the Act:— Work of the Commissioners. The matter appearing elsewhere in this report gives a general indication of the work of the Commissioners during the year. On the outbreak of war it was so obvious that unusual and unexpected work would be required for which no Department had the necessary machinery, that Government was offered such assistance by the Commissioners as could be made use of. This offer was availed of, and the services of Mr. Triggs, Assistant Commissioner, have been utilized for a considerable time in connection with the provision of insulated tonnage for freighting New Zealand produce to oversea markets ; in organizing and supervising arrangements for the importation of wheat by Government ; the purchase and distribution of flour; and the establishment and control of the Imperial Government Frozen-meat Supply Branch. Latterly he has been acting as representative for the Government on the Overseas Shipowners' Committee. The work has entailed long hours and close application. In addition to the foregoing, Mr. Triggs has acted as Chairman of the Government Buildings Accommodation Board. Mr. Thomson, Assistant Commissioner, conducted inquiries into the canteen arrangements of the troopships, and submitted to Government a scheme for their control which, it is understood, was adopted and has worked satisfactorily. He is now acting as Chairman of the Education District Boundaries Commission. These duties have thrown the work of inspection somewhat in arrear, but it is hoped that it will be possible to overtake this in the course of a few months. In the meantime the Commissioner has inspected offices at Dunedin and Christchurch, and has visited Invercargill, Dunedin, Timaru, Christchurch, and Palmerston North for the purpose of hearing the representations of the recently transferred School Inspectors in connection with their proposed classification.

I—H. 14.