11

H.—l4

Paterson, A. S., Clerk, Lands and Survey Department, Wellington : To undergo course of study in England. Tregurtha, F. C. P., Engineering Cadet, Shannon : To undergo workshops training in England. Tyndall, A., Assistant Engineer, Public Works Department, Whangarei : To study engineering abroad. In addition to the foregoing, under reciprocal arrangement with the Education Department, the following officers were granted leave of absence to enable them to temporarily exchange with officers abroad : — McKenzie, N. R., Inspector of Schools, Wellington : With Canadian Inspector. Mcllraith, J. W., Inspector of Schools, Auckland : With London Inspector. Muir, Miss 1). M. X., Special School, Otekaike : With specialist teacher in Mental Defective School in London. Offences committed by Officers. Full investigation has been made in all cases of offences committed by officers, and. inquiries have been held where necessary. The principal classes of cases dealt with during the year, and the decisions arrived at, are as follow :— (a.) Neglect of duty : Resignation enforced. (b.) Improper conduct : Resignation enforced. (c.) Loss of cash : Disrated. (d.) Insurbordination : Services term.in.ated. (c.) Neglect of duty : Resignation enforced. (/.) Negligence and carelessness due to intoxicating liquor : Disrated. (g.) Defalcation by forging voucher : Forfeited office. (h.) Misappropriation : Forfeited office. (i.) Misappropriation : Forfeited office. (j.) Dereliction of duty : Fined. (Jc.) Conviction for crime committed outside Service : Forfeited office. (I.) Defalcation : Forfeited office. (m.) Assault: Services terminated. The four cases of misappropriation and defalcation referrred to above were dealt with by the Courts in accordance with the provisions of the Public Revenues Act. Amendments to General Regulations. During the year the principal amendments were as follows :— Regulation 49 : Providing the amount of deduction to be made from annual leave on account of sick-leave taken on full, half, and without pay. A similar alteration was also made in connection with the special regulations relating to the Prisons, Printing and Stationery, and Public Works Departments (workmen). Regulation 150 : Authorizing the officers in charge of operations in the State Forest Service to engage or discharge temporary workmen. The regulation was further amended in the case of the Marine Department to include each local officer in charge. It was also decided to accept the examination of the Institute of Actuaries as an equivalent examination for the purposes of Regulation 205 (<I). Clause 7 of the regulations relating to the training of electrical engineering cadets was revoked. Period of Probation. The probationary period to be served by new appointees is two years. Consideration is being given to the advisability of a further extension of this term. PCxperience has proved that a percentage of appointees, either through want of capacity or because the work of the Public Service is not congenial to them, do not turn out a success. This applies principally to juniors, with some of whom it is found that two years is insufficient to gauge accurately their ultimate capacity. It is desirable, both from the point of view of the State and the lad himself, that if it is clear he has chosen a wrong career by joining the Service a break should be made before he becomes a permanent official. If he remains there is a chance of his becoming a failure for all time, whereas by exploring other avenues at as early an age as possible he is more likely to find a vocation more in keeping with his ambition.