9

H.—l4

have arisen, and to make clear the intention of the Legislature in regard to appeals on the subject of promotion. Other matters which it is suggested might be considered are the enlargement of the clauses relating to appeals, with the object of enabling a simpler and more direct procedure to be adopted, and also for the purpose of enabling members of the Professional, Educational, and General Divisions to be directly represented on the Appeal Board. The question of fixing the minimum salary of married men in the Public Service by Act is also a matter calling for attention. At present there is no statutory provision for the payment of a minimum, which necessitates special appropriation every year. Other matters of some importance are the method of appointing Permanent Heads of Departments, and making provision for a higher salary than £600 per annum in the Clerical Division to cover exceptional cases. As there appears to be no provision for a retiring-age in any existing Act, it is desirable that a maximum age should be fixed by amendment of the Public Service Act. As the Commissioner has power under section 51 of the Act to dispense with officers on three months' notice, and as the retiring-age has, following what is believed to be the intention of the Public Service Superannuation Act, been fixed at sixty-five, no particular difficulty exists at present except that officers are claiming the right to be retained in the Service until that age. Under the Civil Service Act, 1866, retirement was compulsory at the age of sixty, subject to the officer being required to continue to perform his duties if so directed by the Governor in Council. Boards of Appeal. General Service. When the Second Report was presented the Board was still engaged in dealing with the appeals which had been lodged against the original classification. The actual number of appeals lodged against the original classification was 1,457, which engaged the attention of the Board from the 29th September, 1913, until the 3rd August, 1914, when a short adjournment was made prior to dealing with the 1914-15 appeals. In order to allow appellants every opportunity of placing their cases before the Board, sittings were held in the following towns : Wellington, Blenheim, Nelson, Glenhope, Hokitika, Greymouth, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Napier, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Wanganui, New Plymouth, Auckland, Hamilton, and Rotorua. The following statement shows how the appeals were disposed of:— FIRST GENERAL CLASSIFICATION. Total allowed in part or whole (including 243 on the recommendation of the Commissioner) .. .. 461 Not considered for various reasons . . .. .. 70 Withdrawn .. .. . . .. .. 53 Disallowed .. . . . . . . -. . . 873 Total .. . . . . .. . . 1,457 The financial effect, and the number allowed on the recommendation of the Commissioner, will be seen from the undermentioned figures : — j- Increase JNo - 1913-14, Allowed by Board .. .. ..218 £1,312 Allowed on recommendation of Commissioner 243 £1,865 During the year ended the 31st March, 1915, the number of appeals under all headings (classification, promotions, &c.) dealt with by the General Service Board was twenty-three, and these were disposed of as under : —

2—H. 14.