CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12] — Page 533

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Department. In order in some measure to keep pace with the work; since February last the clerks from the Branch Offices have had each daily to do from two to four hours extra work; i.e. after their spell of work is over at a Branch Office in the forenoon they get their food and repair to the General Office for duty, those going on afternoon duty doing three hours at the General Office before getting their tiffin and going to relieve the forenoon officers at the Branch Offices.

A hardship to them, but necessary, as the numbers are inadequate. Working on these lines for the past nine months there has been no margin for sickness or leave, and when either the former occurs or the latter is granted it presses heavily on the already over-worked remainder, not infrequently necessitating individuals from the spell off duty having to do extra work entirely apart from the receipt and despatch of contract mails, which always requires all hands.

The six (one in the Registration Department has been already taken on) additional clerks already mentioned to join in January have their duties fully laid out. The Branch Office clerks should constitute a reserve, which hitherto has been absent.

There should be six clerks in each spell in the General Office, apart from window clerks, for sorting and closing mails. At present there are four, exclusive of the Branch Office clerks. Mr. P. Remedios makes a fifth in the morning relief, but his duties are exceptional and permanent; he does not change duties; it is very advisable to have the same officer to open all mails as far as possible, and as his hours average about 10 a day they could not well be increased.