11

8.—9

The statement shown above includes the number of officers absent on military service. The following statement indicates the number of staff engaged in the work of the Department on the 31st March, 1918 and 1919, at the Head Office and at the District Offices :— HEAD OFFICE. On 31st March, 1918. "j On 31st March, 1919. Male. |Female. Total. Male. Female. | Total. Permanent .. 89 61 150 Permanent . . 120 86 * 206 Temporary . . 59 45 104 Temporary . . 45 35 80 254 — 286 DISTEICT OFFICES. On 31st March, 1918. On 31st March, 1919. Male. Female. Total. Male. Female. Total. Permanent .. 85 40 125 Permanent . . 115 57 172 Temporary .. 28 19 47 Temporary .. 41 30 71 172 — 243 426 529 Principal Staff Changes. On the 19th October, 1918, Mr. E. P. flay, Office Solicitor, left the service of the Department to enter into the private practice of his profession. The vacancy was filled by the appointment of Mr. G. G. Rose, Assistant Solicitor. The vacancy caused through the promotion of Mr. Rose was filled by the appointment of Mr. O. E. Bowling, formerly of the Justice Department, Auckland. Mr. M. C. Barnett has been transferred from the position of Chief Accountant to the position of Chief Inspector. The duties of Chief Accountant are being carried out by Mr. Inspector Barr. Mr. 0. P. Purnell, Controller of the Wills, Trusts, and Agencies Division of the Head Office, resigned from the Service on the 31st March, 1919, to enter into private practice as a solicitor. Particulars regarding Military Service of Officers. Total number enrolled in Expeditionary Force .. .. 135 Killed in action . . . . .. . . 17 Died of wounds .. .. .. .. .. 7 Accidentally killed .. .. . . . . .. 1 Died at sea .. .. . . .. . . . . 1 — 26 Resigned before resuming duty. . . . .. . . 6 Resumed duty .. .. .. .. 31 Still absent on military service or on accumulated civil leave 72 — 109 135 Apart from the special outbreak of influenza the year has been marked by a great deal of sickness amongst the senior officers of the Department, who for several years past have borne a heavy burden of work. OPERATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE ACT. The following remarks on the subject appeared in the last report of the Board: — The Board reports that its experience of tin- working of the Department over a period of several months has demonstrated that, the conditions essential to its well-being cannot be realized whilst the provisions of the Public Service. Act control the employment of officers of the Public Trust Office. However suited the Act may be to the; needs of those general Departments of the Public Service where the work is more or less routine in character and