17

H.—l4

Evasions of the Public Service Act. No evasions of the Act have been noticed during the past year. Hours of Attendance. The present hours of attendance observed in Government offices —namely, 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. —were adopted during the war period in order that assistance might be afforded to local authorities to enable them to cope with the tramway traffic. It was thought that with the return to more normal times the original hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. should be reverted to, and steps were taken in this direction. It was found, however, that such a course was impracticable in all centres for the time being, as the traffic problem is still a most difficult one. It is to be hoped that an improvement will be effected shortly, as the present hours are not conducive to efficiency, owing to the fact that under the present arrangements officers in the same office work different hours of duty. Committee appointed by Government to inquire into Matters affecting the Public Service. During the year a considerable amount of time of the Commissioners was taken up in connection with the work of the Committee appointed by Government to inquire into matters affecting the Government service, with a view to the curtailment of expenditure, promotion of efficiency, &c. The Committee went very fully into the work of each Department of State, and has suggested several means whereby expenditure may be considerably reduced and new or increased revenue obtained. Uniformity Committee. With a view to securing uniformity in matters common to all branches of the Service, Government appointed a committee consisting of the Public Service Commissioner, the General Manager, New Zealand Railways, the Permanent Head, Post and Telegraph Department, the Assistant Public Service Commissioner, and the Assistant Secretary to the Treasury to report from time to time on such matters as pay, overtime, leave, compassionate allowances, &c. The work of this committee has secured a measure of uniformity which would not have been otherwise possible. Conclusion. Before concluding, the Commissioners desire to acknowledge their great obligation to Permanent Heads and other principal officers. The past year has been a most difficult one, but the loyal co-operation of all officers has lightened the task of the Commissioners. The urgent requirement for rigid economy, the restriction of unremunerative services, and the prevention of undue expansion of staff, together with the retirement from the Service of the least efficient officers, will necessitate the continuance of that support. At the present time everybody is looking —and the Commissioners are sure they will not look in vain—for the strictest economy to be observed in all Departments. The Commissioners have no hesitation in affirming that the Dominion has every reason to be proud of its officers ; on the whole they are a competent and upright body of men and women, who ungrudgingly give the State whole-hearted and loyal service. All of which is humbly submitted for Your Excellency's gracious consideration. W. R. Morris, Commissioner. P. Verschaffelt, Assistant Commissioner. Office of the Public Service Commissioner, 29th November, 1921.

3—H. 14.