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District Offices. Permanent . . 654 i Permanent . . 670 Temporary . . 195 Temporary . . 197 849 " 867 975 987 Increase in the number of staff during the year, 12. 28. Qualifications of Officers. —Most junior officers are engaged in the study of law, accountancy, or commerce. An analysis of the professional qualifications of officers of the Department is as under :• — Barristers and solicitors . . . . . . 29 Passed LL.M. degree . . . . . . . 25 Passed LL.B. degree .. . . . . . 31 Passed Law Professional Examination . . . . 68 Passed M.A. degree . . . . . . . . . . 5 Passed B.A. degree .. .. .. .. . . 4 Passed B.Com. degree . . . . . . . . 12 Passed Accountants' Professional Examination . . 166 29. Officer deceased. —The death of Mr. E. Collins, who at the date of his decease had occupied the position of District Public Trustee at Nelson for a period of three years and a half, is recorded with regret. The late Mr. Collins was an able and experienced officer, and during his service in the Department he held various responsible positions both at Head Office and at the district offices. 30. Retirements. —The following officers were retired {a) Mr. H. V. Uren, District Manager, Thames, on the grounds of ill health. It was hoped that release from official duties would have led to a restoration of Mr. Uren's health, but this hope was not realized, as his death occurred on the day following the expiration of the special leave granted him on his retirement. (b) Mr. R. B. Ross, Farm Inspector, resigned. 31. Remuneration of Temporary Female Officers. —In June, 1937, the salaries of temporary female members of the Office staff were converted from a weekly to an annual rate, the conversion dating as from the Ist January, 1937. 32. General Regrading of Public Service. —A general regrading of the Public Service was effected as from the Ist April, 1937, and in relation thereto the salaries of both permanent and temporary officers of the Public Trust Office were carefully reviewed by the Public Service Commissioners. 33. Transfer of Rural Intermediate Credit Work to State Advances Corporation.- — Under the provisions of section 40 of the Mortgage Corporation of New Zealand Act, 1934-35, and Order in Council dated the sth March, 1937, published in the New Zealand Gazette of the 11th March, 1937, the control of the Rural Intermediate Credit scheme was transferred from the Public Trust Office to the State Advances Corporation as from the Ist July, 1937. Although the arrangement under which the work had previously been conducted by this Office technically ceased on that date, the Public Trust Office, to meet the convenience of the State Advances Corporation, acted as the agent of the Corporation from the Ist to the 31st July, and the physical transfer of the books, records, and accounts was not effected until the latter date. With the transfer of the control of the Rural Intermediate Credit

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