POST AND TELEGRAPH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 22 August 1908, Page 6

POST AND TELEGRAPH.

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. IMPORTANT CHANGES. At tho annual dinner of the Wellington Letter-Carriers' staff last evening, tho Prima Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), replying to tho toast of "Tho Government," gavo somo interesting figures illustrating tho growth of the Post and Telegraph Department. After referring to tho groat importance of the work of tho letter-carriers, the Prime Minister said ho would take tho opportunity of saying a few words about the remarkablo growth that had taken place in tho Post and Telegraph service, and he referred to the wonderful record tho last year and tho first quarter of tho present year showed. Rcgardiug letters posted, there was an increase over 1906 of 6,775,000, the grand total being 85,000,000, and constituting a record. Thore was a furthor increase of 1,250,000 articles of all classes posted, tho total being 125,500,000. This snowed how great the peoplo were in letter-writing. Post Office Savings BanU. Tho extraordinary position of the Post Office Savings Bank was indicated by last quarter's deposits, which amounted to £2,607,G58, being £185,217 in excess iof tho deposits for tho samo uarter of last year. This showed that the peoplo of small means utilised tho Savings Bank and the number of separate deposits increased by nearly 13,000. The money order business for tho Juno quarter, issued and paid, amounted to £891,000, ail increase of £101,817 upon the same quarter of last year. This was duo to tho recent reductions in rates and commissions ou inland orders, amounting to 50 por cent., and also tho reduction on foreign orders. As to tho transmission •of small sums, tho total number of postal notes issued during tho quarter was 288,253, reproI senting a valuo of £92,841, an increase of £7199. ' '

A Wonderful Record. This was a wonderful record, and although we mic;ht have a feeling of pessimism occasionally, -it showed that there was a great deal of life and vigour as exhibited in the luLjrus, and tnoru was 110 cause for any anxiety. The numbor of telegrams sent during tho quarter was 1,736,150,' an iucrease of 15,000 over tho same 'period of last year, tho increase in revenuo being £3274. In Auckland, 'Wellington, Christcliurch,. and Dunedin, the letter-carriers' delivery had been increased to fivo times daily, and no one could be fastidious enough to' complain of having tho carriers at tho doors all day. Fees to be Reduced. Tho Prime Minister announced that in places where there was no delivery, the fees for private letter-boxes would bo reduced from January 1, 1909, Tho presont fee of £1 for twelve months would become 10s., and for six months it would bo reduced from 10s. to Cs. _ This would cost about £1500 a year, but it expected that practically tho' li'holo amount would bo recouped. Post Office and Telephone Hours. Prom next month, tho post offices in the four centres wero to. open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. instead of from 9 a.m % to 5 p.m. as at present. Nearly 800 appointments were made last year, and tho importance of extending the facilities could be seen. The hours of small telephone exchanges would be altered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. in all places where there wero fifty subscribers. . Peoplo frequently • desired to use tho postal and telegraphic services before tho present opening hours and ti was desirable to give increased facilities. Referring to the work" of tho Dead Letter Office, ho said that the number of letters and letter-cards posted without address for tho quarter, was 2185, and 56 letters were posted containing money. It was strange how_ peoplo mado such mistakes, but tho officials wero usually blamed'. The total valuo of . these letters was £2284. Sovcn Million Letters. Last year, tho Wellington carriers delivered' 6,250,000 letters, over 1,250,000 post and letter-cards and over 5,000,000 bpoks and newspapers. This was wonderful for tho men in the service at Wellington alone and probably next year, they would deliver .7,000,000 letters. (Applause).