H.—l4

10

Allowed in part or whole (including one allowed on recommendation of Commissioner) . . . . . . 9 Disallowed .. .. . . . . . , 12 Withdrawn . . . . . . . . . . 1 Not considered, as not in order . . . . . . . . . 1 Total .. .-:. ... .. ■ ..23 POST AND TELEGRAPH. In order to save time and expense the Board decided to take both the 1913-14 and 1914-15 appeals in each place before passing on to the next centre. The total number of appeals dealt with was as under :— Telegraph. Postal. 1913-14 list . . . . . . . . 263 206 1914-15 list . . . . . . 16 22 Totals .. . . .. . . 279 228 Visits were made to the following towns : Christchurch, Dunedin, Napier, Palmerston North, Hastings, Wanganui, and Auckland. The results were as follow :— Telegraph Branch. Allowed (including 69 on the recommendation of the Commissioner) .. . . . . .. 88 Disallowed . . .. .. . . . . . . 180 Withdrawn/ .. .. . . . . ; . 10 Not considered .. . . . . . . . . 1 Total .. .. . . . . . . 279 The number of appeals allowed on the recommendation of the Commissioner, and the financial effect, will be seen from the following :— -j-j. Increse in Salaries. Allowed by Board .. .. .. 19 £233 Allowed on recommendation of Commissioner . . 69 £324 Postal Branch. Allowed (including 36 on the recommendation of the Commissioner) .. .. . . . . 56 Disallowed . . .. . . .. . . . . 154 Withdrawn . . . . . . . . . . 18 Total .. .. .. . . . . 228 vr Increase in Salaries. Allowed by Board .. .. .. ..20 £128 Allowed on recommendation of Commissioner . . 36 £342 It is noticeable that the majority of appeals were allowed on the recommendation of the Commissioner. That it should be v cusary, as it is under the present legislation, to place formally before the Board of -appeal appeals which the Commissioner is willing to agree to is a cumbersome process, which it would be desirable to meet by giving the Commissioner power to deal with appeals, while preserving the right of an appellant to have his appeal placed before the Board if he is still dissatisfied after receiving the Commissioner's decision.