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Although the Public Service Act, 1912, and, the regulations thereunder have been amended from time to time, there has been no complete revision, and it is clear that substantial alterations are called for to bring them into line with modern requirements. The Commission proposes to examine legislation of other countries and invite suggestions from the Public Service Association with a view to submitting to Government proposals for a revision of the Act, to be followed by an overhaul of the regulations. CONTROL OF SERVICE PRIOR TO Ist NOVEMBER, 1946 Regrading of the Public Service As indicated in the last annual report, the agreement of Government was obtained to the regrading of the Public Service as at Ist April, 1946. Although considerable preparatory work was completed before that date, and, although the report of the Consultative Committee was extremely valuable as a basis! for regrading, there was much to be done subsequently to Ist April, 1946. It is greatly to the credit of the then Commissioner and his staff that the regrading list was published on 2nd October, 1946, which was very much earlier than has been the case in the past. The early publication of the regrading list gave general satisfaction to officers in the Service. Staffing of Mental Hospitals In a further endeavour to relieve the acute shortage of staff in mental hospitals, the Public Service Commissioner agreed, at the request of the Public Service Association, to set up a committee to consider the problem. The committee comprised Mr. G. T. Bolt, Assistant Public Service Commissioner, Chairman; Dr. J. Russell, Deputy Director-General of Mental Hospitals; and Mr. J. K. Hunn, then President of the Public Service Association. The main functions of the committee were to consider suggestions for facilitating the recruitment of staff, to make recommendations regarding the recruitment and retention of staff, and to consider suggestions for the improvement of conditions of work. A comprehensive report was submitted and many of the committee's recommendations have been put into effect, while others are still receiving consideration. Retirement of Commissioner This section of the report relating to the administration of the Service before Ist November, 1946, would not be complete without appreciative reference to Mr. J. H. Boyes, who retired from the position of Public Service Commissioner on 30th September, 1946. Mr. Boyes, who served many years in the Pensions Department, was Commissioner of Pensions when, in 1936, he became joint Public Service Commissioner with the late Mr. T. Mark. On the passing of the Social Security Act, 1938, Mr. Boyes was appointed Chairman of the Social Security Commission, a position for which he was well qualified in view of his long experience with the Pensions Department. On the death of Mr. Mark in 1941 he was appointed Public Service Commissioner, and: brought to that position the sympathetic understanding he had shown in his adminstrat?on of the Social Security Department. During the war he was faced with many problems resulting from reductions of staff and, the need for recruiting ai large number of temporary employees to meet the requirements of Departments which had to cope with many additional wartime duties. During his term of office many improvements in the conditions of employment of public servants were introduced, culminating in the regrading of the Public Service, which was completed before Mr. Boyes retired. After the retirement of Mr. Boyes, Mr. G. T. Bolt was Deputy Public Service Commissioner until Ist November, 1946.

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