H.-14

12

70. In the event of vacancies occurring in the permanent Service such officers are regarded as applicants, and their claims considered. If an absent officer is found to be the best qualified for a vacancy which carries promotion he is appointed, and the vacancy temporarily filled. Every effort is being made to conserve the rights of officers who are serving in the Army, and it has been decided that appeals by them will be received, on their return to civil duty, notwithstanding the timelimit. Leave of Absence: Members of Public Service with ExncnnTONARY Forces. 71. It has also been decided that on their return to civil duty officers may be granted leave of absence on full pay equivalent to the accumulated annual leave; which would, have accrued due had they remained in New Zealand; and Government has agreed, on the recommendation of the Commissioner, that in the event ol' an officer of the Public Service dying while on active service payment for the number of days of accumulated annual leave due may be made to his estate. 72. A further concession has been made by arranging that the accumulated annual leave may be taken at any time preferred by the officer, provided the Department can so arrange. 73. Generally, the regulations as to sick-leave of officers discharged from the Expedit onary Force have been relaxed; and the provisos in Regulation 49 — that leave of absence shall be subject to the conditions of total sick or special leave during the previous twelve months not exceeding fourteen days, and that all the days in excess of the number of days allowed for sick-leave or special leave shall be deducted from annual leave of absence —will not apply in the case of annual leave to officers in connection with any sick or special leave granted on their discharge from the Expeditionary Forces. Shorthand-writers . 74. The Service is suffering from the lack of male shorthand-writers, and, although officers with a knowledge of in constant demand for important positions, it is apparently difficult to induce boys to take up the study of this useful art. While there are many women in the Public Service whose skill is of a high order, there are positions to which, for known reasons, it is not desirable to appoint women. 75. In order to encourage boys to qualify in shorthand, an offer has been made to promote juniors who can pass a satisfactory examination to a salary of £120. So far there are very few entrants. 76. Every facility is offered to boys in Wellington to avail themselves of the shorthand classes established by the Commissioners. 77. In view of the good work done by several women as reporters of conferences, &c, and who, at the suggestion of the Commissioners, sat for and passed the Law Court Reporters' Examination, they have been promoted to a special grade. Legislation affecting Public Servants. 78. in the War Legislation Act, 1917, it is provided that no person who is a contributor to the Superannuation Fund shall, during the continuance of the present war, be entitled to retire from the Service on superannuation without the consent of the Minister of the Department in which he is employed. Due provision is made for the preservation of the rights of officers who are contributors to the fund, and no officer entitled to retire who is retained is obliged to contribute during the period of his retention. 79. In the same Act it is provided that officers cannot be transferred from one Department to another without the consent of the Minister in charge of the Department in which the officer is employed. 80. Under section 17 of the Appropriation Act, 1917, the period during which consideration may be given, in deciding the promotion of officers, to the examinations passed by them was extended until the 31st March, 1918.