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Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 33, 7 August 1918, Page 8

It must be admitted that the Defence Department is far too prone to telegraph needlessly; and present quantities should bo rigorously cut down (reports the Defence Commission). Probably because it 'has not to pay in cash, the Defence Department lias not realised what the sending of urgent telegrams means. Many telegrams are not necessary at all—letters would do equally well; but telegrams are marked "Urgent" (double rates) without due regard to necessity. Various instances were quoted us of "urgent" .telegrams being sent from branches of Defence in Wellington to men stationed within the city of Wellington, which could have been delivered to the • addressees at a nominal price by letter by baud, and in less time than occupied by the Telegraph Office in preparing and delivering a telegram. Unnecessary telegrams are sent also, for instance, U> and from Wellington-Pal-merston North, Wellington-Auckland, Wellington-Christchurch, Wellington-Nel-son, the contents of which could easily go by post, or, if they had to be telegraphed, could go at ordinary rates instead of urgent (double) rates, and be condensed often to two-thirds without any risk of obscuring the meaning. On one occasion the ordinary telegraph business at Wellington was held up for some hours owing to the large number of "urgent" Defence telegrams going through without urgent reason, and very serious trouble in consequence was narrowly averted, another Government Department being affected, which, studying reasonable economy, allowed its telegrams to go through at ordinary rates. Messrs. S. George. Nathan and Co. will sell by public auction, in the Chamber of Commerce, to-morrow, at 2.30 p.m., a corner section situated Tory-street and Francis-place, together with four dwell- ( ings and shop; also a. two-roomed dwelling in Alma-street. On 14th August the firm is selling a residence in Oriental Bay and a. dwelling in Brooklyn. On 20th August thoy are submitting a residence in Tinakori-road, and on the 27th a dwelling in Roxburgh-street.