00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. This means a loss of valuable business in the early morning and the evening. The Manager, who only recently joined this branch and is very enthusiastic, wishes to extend office hours to run from 7.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., provided that his staff will co-operate in a staggered-hours system.

Under this system the length of the working day for each employee will remain as at present, but the time of arrival (and hence of departure)

will vary. In this way staffing can be spread out over the longer opening hours.

Of course, if the scheme proves successful the total quantity of work handled by the branch will increase, but the new scheme might well lead to higher profits for the company and thus to higher staff bonuses.

Some members of staff might wish to have the same time of arrival for each working day; others might like different times for different days. However, once a duty rota had been fixed it would be necessary to give one or two weeks' notice of changes.

If the staff are willing to try this new scheme for a trial period, particularly to see whether their rush-hour travel problems are eased by it, the Manager hopes to introduce it in six weeks' time. He first needs to know quickly and fully what staff reactions to the proposal will be.

(LCC Private Secretary's Certificate)

9. The Sales Manager, whose assistant you are, has been asked at short notice to visit Vinland to discuss with a Government representative the possibility of a large contract with your firm. He has never visited Yinland and knows little about it.

You have made a hasty visit to the library and collected the following information. Incorporate what is relevant into a report for your Sales Manager, inventing and adding any information you think necessary, for example your firm's business, what clothing he will need and topics on which further information should be sought during his visit.

Vinland is situated in the N. Atlantic Ocean. It is 250m. from the S.E.

coast of Greenland. Length 298m. and breadth 194m. Pop. (1967)

156,033. Vinland is an ice-covered plateau built up of volcanic rocks and pierced on all sides by fjords and valleys. The lowlands cover about one-fourteenth of the whole area and are almost the only part of the island which is inhabited, the central tableland being absolutely uninhabitable on account of its extreme barrenness. Glacier fields cover over 5,000 sq. miles. There are several active volcanoes. A large portion of Vinland is covered with lava and hot springs or geysers are scattered throughout the island. The chief products are salted and frozen fish, meat and fish oil and much of this goes to the U.K. Olafsfjord is the capital with a pop. of 62,03 5.

(The Universal Encyclopaedia)

HOLIDAY WITH THE HEROES

- IN VINLAND. This summer Olaf Olafsson leads two special Saga tours. Sites made famous by the Sagas and talks illuminating Vinland's epic past. These tours bring history thrillingly to life for the academic and the enthusiastic layman alike. See also Vinland's natural wonders, active volcanoes, geysers and lava flows. A really adventurous holiday in this unspoiled Norse haven.

For the sportsman trout and salmon fishing or pony trekking over lonely moorland. For the birdwatcher many exotic species like the ptarmigan or golden eagle. The marvellous scenery alone is sufficient reason for a visit.

Travel is easy - 3 hours from London by air or sail twice weekly from Leith.

(From a travel brochure)

In the last few years Vinland has been gradually emerging from the northern twilight. The changes began with the Second World War and the Anglo-American occupation. Capital was pumped into the country and the forces brought powerful machinery for road making and similar purposes. Farm machinery was bought and land reclamation undertaken on a large scale. Electrification and housing schemes were embarked upon. There was a considerable influx of people from neighbouring countries and Germany.

There are now acres of greenhouses heated by water from thermal springs and a great many farmhouses, as well as several whole villages, are heated in the same manner.

But the economic situation has remained precarious and the standard of living low. There are few manufacturing industries and not many manufactured goods and little farm produce for export. For exports Vinland still depends mainly upon the fishing industry and the fishing grounds are showing unmistakable signs of depletion.

These hard economic facts, together with a growing awareness of its strategic situation have combined with a growing urge to 'progress' and prosperity to lead the Vinland government to take an increasingly aggressive attitude towards its Western neighbours.

The unilateral extension of territorial limits from 12 to 50 miles offshore has led to ugly incidents between Vinland fishery protection vessels and foreign fishing fleets.

The recent demand for payment of £3m. a year from NATO for use of the Vinland bases has led to further acrimonious exchanges but seems likely to be met.

In future, however, Vinland's economic prosperity is likely to rely most on the recent discovery of large deposits of the radio-active ore, thorium, in the interior of the country.

Vinland has already shown herself ready to take on her powerful neighbours. The strategic importance of these deposits will enable her to strike some very advantageous bargains and the country is undoubtedly on the brink of a period of great growth and development.

(Article in Watchword)