H.—l4.

16

Administrative Changes. Since the last report the following changes have taken place in the Administrative Division : —• Agriculture Department: On the 31st March, 1929, Mr. F. S. Pope, Assistant Director-General, retired on superannuation. He was replaced by Dr. A. H. Cockayne, Director of Fields Division, Palmerston North, who was in turn replaced by Mr. J. W. Deem, Fields Superintendent, Palmerston North. Pensions Department: On the 30th June, 1929, Mr. G. C. Fache, 0.8. F., Commissioner of Pensions, retired on superannuation. He was succeeded by Mr. J. H. Boyes, Assistant Commissioner, who was in turn replaced by Mr. H. D. Smith, Registrar of Pensions, Auckland. Mr. W. T. Neill, Surveyor-General, also retired on superannuation on the 31st December, 1928. He was succeeded by Mr. H. E. Walshe, Chief Draughtsman. Mr. G. N. Morris, Official Assignee, Justice Department, Auckland, was selected for a vacancy arising for a Stipendiary Magistrate. His resignation from the Public Service took effect as from the 9th June, 1929. Public Service Board of Appeal. On the 15th May, 1929, Mr. G. N. Morris, one of the elected Service representatives on the Board of Appeal, received notice of his appointment as a Stipendiary Magistrate, and he tendered his resignation as a member of the Board of Appeal. To fill the vacancy, an extraordinary election was held on the Btli July, 1929. Only one nomination was received, that of Mr. C. de R. Andrews, who had been unseated at the triennial election in May, 1928. Mr. Andrews was duly declared elected. The constitution of the Board at the present time is : — Chairman : Colonel J. J. Esson, C.M.G. Government appointee : Mr. J. H. Jerram. Elected Service representatives: Messrs. A. S. Houston (Agriculture Department) and C. de R. Andrews (Valuation Department). There were two sittings of Appeal Board for the year ended 31st March, 1929. Sixty-two appeals were dealt with. The result of the appeals was as follows : Allowed, 1 ; disallowed, 42 ; did not lie, 12; withdrawn, 7. Of these appeals 4 were classification appeals ; 54 were promotion appeals ; 1 was against decision to reduce the status of the officer ; and 3 were against the decision to dismiss the officer. Conclusion. During November and December of last year, at the request of Government, the Public Service Commissioner, the Assistant Secretary to Treasury, and the Secretary, External Affairs Department, visited Western Samoa for the purpose of investigating the staffing and financial arrangements of the various Departments of the Mandated Territory. During the absence of the Commissioner, Mr. A. D. Thomson, formerly Assistant Public Service Commissioner, was appointed Deputy Commissioner, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Act. The Commissioner is indebted to Government for agreeing to recommend the appointment of Mr. B. L. Dallard, Controller-General of Prisons, as Assistant Commissioner to facilitate the quinquennial regrading of the Service, which is being effected this year. Mr. Dallard's wide experience of the Service as a whole, obtained during his previous association with this Office, has proved of valuable assistance in this connection. I desire again to place on record my appreciation of the hearty co-operation and generous support accorded me by the Permanent Heads and by officers throughout the Service in maintaining the efficiency and the high traditions of the Service. Thanks are especially due to the members of my own staff for their loyal and devoted assistance. All of which is humbly submitted for Your Excellency's gracious consideration. P. Verschaffelt, Commissioner. B. L. Dallard, Assistant Commissioner. Office of the Public Service Commissioner, Wellington, 29th October, 1929.