F.—l

3

Staff Comparative Return of Officers of the Post and Telegraph Department for the Years ended 31st March, 1916, and 31st March, 1917. The total number of officers on the staff on the 31st March, 1916 and 1917, was as under: — 31st March, 31st March, 1916. 1917. . Postmaster-General ... ... ... ... 1 1 Classified staff— Permanent— Administrative Division ... ... ... 3 3 Professional Division ... ... ... 39 38 Clerical Division ... ... ... ...2,855 3,266 General Division ... ... ... ... 3,547 3,652 Temporary— Night-watchmen ... ... ... ... 6 .4 Postmistresses and assistants ... ... 52 118 Switchboard attendants ... ... ... 336 337 Note-sorters, distributors, &c. ... ... 9 69 Letter-carriers, messengers, and chauffeurs 185 Night attendants, telephone exchange 21 Total, classified staff ... ...6,848 7,694 Employees not on classified staff— Country Postmasters and Postmistresses ... 2,346 2,357 Postmasters and telegraphists or telephonists who are Railway officers ... ... ... 153 143 Total ... ... ... ... 9,347 10,194 Health of Staff. The following table gives the average absence of officers on sick-leave :— Number Average Absence Average Absence a . „ a ? , .-..v. for each Officer on Staff. per Sick Officer. employed. Days. Days. Men ... ... ... 6,209 11-7 3-69 Women ... ... ... 1,087* 15-87 9-4 Twenty-four officers died during the year, exclusive of casualties in the Expeditionary Eorce. Personal and Staff. Mr. J. L. H. Ledger, Controller of Money-orders and Savings-banks, retired after forty years' service. Messrs. W. McHutcheson, Chief Postmaster, Dunedin, and G. W. Sampson, Chief Postmaster, Wanganui, retired, each after completing fifty years' service. Mr. W. E. Chisholm, Telegraph Engineer, Dunedin, retired after forty years' and Mr. B. H. Keys, Superintendent of the Telegraph-office, Dunedin, after forty-seven years' service. Mr. H. Kissel, Chief Postmaster, Timaru, died on the Bth July, 1916. He had completed thirtynine years' service. •Up to the 31st March, 1917, the number of permanent and temporary officers of the Department accepted for service with the Expeditionary Forces numbered 1,542. This includes 1 Nursing Sister. Of these officers it is regretted that 80 have been killed in action or have died from wounds or sickness, 1 is a prisoner of war, and 157 have been, wounded. Several officers have won honours while on active service. One has had the D.S.O. conferred on him, 2 have been awarded the D.C.M., 8 have been awarded the Military Medal, 8 have been mentioned in despatches, and 2 have been awarded Serbian decorations. During the year the Department supplied regular reinforcements to the wireless-telegraphy troop of 62 officers sent last year. The Department has also provided a number of expert telegraphists, mechanicians, and linemen for duty with the Eorce, and by selecting trained postal men has enabled the postal arrangements abroad for the Expeditionary Force to be kept in as high a state of efficiency as possible. In July, 1916, Mr. F. D. Holdsworth, Chief Postmaster, Auckland, was appointed to the pofition of Director of Postal Services in connection with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. He at once proceeded to the seat of war, where his wide experience will be of great value. The whole of the work in connection with the distribution and collection of the schedules for the general census of 1916, and also agricultural returns, was undertaken by the Department, and performed to the satisfaction of the Government at a minimum cost. A saving of approximately £5,C00 was effected by the methods adopted by the Department. During the year employment has been found for many returned soldiers, and it has been arranged that preference in the matter of employing lads and telegraph message-boys is to be given to sons of members of the Expeditionary Force after fatherless lads have been provided for.

* including 337 switchboard attendants not on permanent staff.