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Mr. Hogben represented the Dominion at the Empire Education Conference at London in 1907 ; lie is a member of the Senate of the University of New Zealand. Dr. W. J. Anderson succeeds Mr. Hogben as head of the Education Department. Messenger Services. The general messenger services, which are now controlled by the Permanent Head of the Department of Internal Affairs, have been carried out during the year with every satisfaction. One great advantage; of the centralization of the services in out! Department is the ability to provide additional services to Departments in times of emergency, with a minimum of delay. It is gratifying to record that this has been done during the past year, which has been a particularly strenuous one, with little or no inconvenience. In Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch tin: hourly clearance and delivery of departmental correspondence by a motor-bicycle service, with the resultant prompt despatch of letters to their destination, has tended to the more expeditious transaction of business. The system has been extended to Nelson, with beneficial results, and its establishment in another centre is now receiving consideration. The inauguration of this service in Auckland and Christchurch has effected an additional estimated saving of £450 per annum. Electoral Work. The scheme outlined in the Second Report of utilizing Government officers instead of temporary clerks for the purging of electoral rolls and the enrolment of electors was given effect to, with, on the whole, very satisfactory results. While commendably good results were, on the whole, obtained by the lettercarriers and. others charged with the duty, experience has shown that still better work will be performed by placing it in the hands of the letter-carriers who have shown the greatest adaptability, and relieving them from their ordinary duties when required. A trained staff will thus be available in the future. The valuable assistance given to the Chief Electoral Officer in carrying out the new scheme by the Permanent Bead, Post and Telegraph Department, and the Commissioner of Police, is acknowledged. The total cost this last election as compared with that of 1911 shows a saving el' £8,090, while the results are appreciably better. Expansion of Service and Movement of Staff. Departments other than Post and Telegraph. The classified staff on the following dates was : — T.T i Amount. Number. „ Ist April, 1913 .. .. .. 4,641 874,437 1914 .. .. .. 5,095 953,343 1915 .. .. .. 5,613 1,098,960 The increase as at the Ist April, 1915, is abnormal, and is accounted for by the fa tit that 253 temporary employees previously paid out of other votes than salaries were made permanent under the Temporary Employees Act and otherwise, at salaries of £39,477; that Inspectors of Schools taken over under the Education Act, 1914, were classified at £20,581; and that the sum of £27,269, the value of converted emoluments such, as rations, lodging, quarters, &c, heretofore shown separately and. paid out of another vote, has been added to salaries. Allowing, therefore, for these additions, the net additional amount required for 1915-16 is £58,290, which may be regarded as normal. In the figures quoted there is not taken into account overlapping increases under classification which fall due at other dates during the financial year. These will, in effect, reduce the amount actually required. The classification increases provided on the Ist April. 1915. amount to £47,262, as against £51,686 in the preceding year. The movement of the staff is shown in Table I.

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