TELEGRAPH OFFICE HOURS.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 103, 29 October 1900, Page 5

TELEGRAPH OFFICE HOURS.

In consequence of the poor support accorded to the system of continuous opening of telegraph offices instituted last month, the Postmaster-General has decided to modify the scheme. The return for September shows that only 1444 messages were forwarded outside the ordinary, hours on week-days. Fifty per cent, of these were transmitted between 8 p.m. and. midnight; 2.22 per cent, between midnight and 2 a.m., and 6.37 between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. Including Sundays,it was found that'' over 78 per cent, of the total number of messages were lodged before midnight, and as no improvement is shown this month continuous attendance will be abolished, and the offices 'Chat have lately been, open continuously will be available to' the public from 8 a.m. to midnight on week-days. On Sundays they will be open for half-an-hour in the morning. The rates will be. sixpence for twelve words both on week-days and Sundays. Evening newspapers, instead of being restricted to 300 words on Sundays, will be allowed to receive ad libitum at Is per hundred words, provided it itf found that the privilege is not abused. The opening of offices till midnight will probably be extended to Westport,, Blenheim, Nelson, New Plymouth, and the Thames — hitherto 11 o'clock offices, On holidays the stations, instead of being open continuously, will be opened from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 7 p.m, to 8 p.m. The rate for press messages to evening; papers on holidays will be Is per hundred words or fraction of a hundred, instead of 2s 6d. This applies to the ten towns at which offices are now open continuously, but if midnight opening is extended to the other towns mentioned above, these offices will be opened on holidays too. The new .scheme will come into force on Ist November.

The members of the Midland Club gathered in the club-room on Saturday afternoon, when Mr. W. E. Woods (President), on their behalf presented a gold chain and medallion to Mr. B. Latta, who, until the beginning of the present season, had acted as honorary Secretary and honorary Treasurer at different periods in the past five years. Mr. Woods spoke in warm acknowledgment of the ■ services of Mr. Latta to the club."