May 25.

(c.) Women not exceeding forty years of age who have been
continuously employed in the Department in a non-
permanent capacity for five years may be appointed to a
telephone exchange.

APPOINTMENT OF SWITCHBOARD ATTENDANTS.

9. The names of applicants for appointment as switchboard
   attendants shall be entered in a register in the order in which the
   applications are received, and when a vacancy occurs the applicant
   whose name appears first on the list shall receive the offer of the
   appointment, subject, however, to the following conditions:-
   (1.) That the applicant shall only be appointed if she is deemed
   to be suitable for employment in a telephone exchange.
   (2.) That an applicant who resides in the place in which the
   vacancy occurs shall have preference over those from any
   other place.
   (3.) That any applicant who is the daughter of a widow not in
   independent circumstances shall be considered as being
   ten numbers higher in the register than she actually is.
   The register shall be cancelled on the 31st day of January,
   and a new register opened on the 1st day of February in
   each year. Any applicant desiring her name to be carried
   forward to the new register must notify the Commissioner
   to that effect at any time during the months of December
   and January. If such notice is given the names carried
   forward will be entered in the new register in the same order
   in which they appeared in the old one.

Not more than one daughter in a family shall be eligible
for appointment in a telephone exchange.

APPOINTMENT OF POSTMISTRESSES.

10. In making appointments of Postmistresses preference shall,
    where possible, be given to widows of deceased officers of the Public
    Service, who are dependent on their own earnings. If there are
    none such available, preference shall then be given to other widows
    dependent on their own earnings.

GENERAL DIVISION.

11. No person, except as hereinafter provided, shall be eligible
    for appointment in the General Division unless he is of the full age
    of sixteen years, and not more than forty years of age, nor until he has
    produced to the Commissioner certificates of good health and good
    moral character, and of performance of military service in the same
    manner and to the like effect as required from persons entering the
    Clerical Division. (See General Regulation 157.)
    Persons of exceptional skill in the mechanical arts who have
    proved their qualifications to the satisfaction of the Commissioner
    may be appointed at a higher age than forty years upon the production
    of the like certificates of good health and good moral character.

TELEGRAPH MESSAGE-BOYS.

12. Telegraph message-boys must not be less than fourteen years
    of age. They must have passed the Fifth Standard, as defined by
    regulations under the Education Act, 1908, and produce certificates
    in writing of sound bodily health and good moral character. An
    educational certificate of any reputable private school will be accepted
    upon proof to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, or of some person
    appointed by him in that behalf, that the applicant has passed an
    examination equivalent in all material respects to that required for
    the said Fifth Standard. Preference will be given to boys who have
    obtained a certificate of competency in the Sixth Standard, and still
    further if the certificate be one of proficiency.

GENERAL.

13. An officer of the Seventh Class who has passed the Public
    Service Senior Examination or the Senior Technical Examination
    of the Department, or any examination which the Commissioner may
    hereafter declare to be an equivalent, and who has been in receipt of
    the maximum salary of the class for one year, shall be entitled to
    receive a special payment of £10 per annum until he is promoted to a
    higher class. (See also General Regulation 207.)