B—ls

Branches During the year a branch was opened at Te Kauwhata, where we previously conducted an agency. We were able here to obtain the use of a building, which was reasonably suitable for our purposes, until it is possible to build. As mentioned above, we are desirous of opening several new branches, but are unable to do so until the necessary buildings can be erected. Agencies Agencies which had been closed during the war for the purpose of economizing in staff were reopened at the following points : Awanui, Clevedon, Darfield, Drury, Edgecumbe, Granity, Heriot, Hikutaia, Kelso, Kerikeri, Lauder, Manakau, Manurewa, Mount Albert, Mount Eden, Ohaeawai, Okaihau, Onga Onga, Otaki Railway, Papatoetoe, Pokeno, Richmond, Taupo, Waharoa, Waikari, Wakefield. All agencies closed during the war have now been reopened, except at three points where reopening has not been considered warranted. The following new agencies were opened : Brown's Bay, Frankton Junction, Great South Road Terminus (Newmarket), Grey Lynn (Newton), Howick, Kaihere, Kaukapakapa, Kumeu, Manukau Road (Newmarket), Midway (Gisborne), New Lynn (Newton), Okaiawa, Penrose, Point Chevalier (Newton), Royal Oak (Onehunga), Ruatoria, Sandringham, Seddon, Silverdale, Waikanae, Waimauku, Waingaro, Wanganui East, Staff At 31st March, 1947, there were still six members of the staff on military service out of the 921 who served in the Armed Forces. As was to be expected, judging from our experience in the first World War, a certain number of our returned men have sought other occupations after their return to New Zealand, and, of course, we have also lost those men who died as war casualties. The totals for the two wars are as follows : World War I. World War 11. Deaths .. .. .. 71 54 Resignations of returned men.. .. 94 93 Total enlistments .. .. .. .. 570 921 It will be seen that the losses of staff due to war were less on this last occasion, and whereas we lost 29 per cent, of those who enlisted in the first war, the loss was 16 per cent, in the second war. This loss of staff, confined chiefly to the twenty to thirty age-group, plus the impossibility during the war years of recruiting the normal number of male juniors, has created a serious gap in our staff which will be felt for many years, as it was after the earlier war. We are taking all possible steps to maintain the staff, both as to numbers and quality. With the expansion of our business the staff is increasing, and is now:— Men .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,468 Women .. .. .. .. .. 394 Total .. .. .. .. 1,862 Careful consideration has been given to staff salaries, and increases granted where merited, bearing in mind the limits fixed under the Economic Stabilization Emergency Regulations. A bonus of 7| per cent, was again paid to officers above salary scale. Many of our officers retired on pension have been feeling the pressure of the rising cost of living, and the Board decided to assist them by way of a bonus, as has been done under similar circumstances on earlier occasions. Married pensioners were granted £3O, single pensioners £l5, and widow life pensioners £lO. 2—B 15

9