I have been asked to reply. The number of entrants for the examination is 823. Fifty per cent. of the appointments made to the departmental clerical class are reserved for temporary ex-service men, and of the remainder 45 per cent. are allocated to ex-boy writers, and 5 per cent. to non-service temporary clerks. 150 vacancies have so far been announced to be filled from the competition, but it is probable that this number will be considerably increased.