CHRISTMAS TELEGRAMS

Evening Star, Issue 18160, 28 December 1922, Page 6

CHRISTMAS TELEGRAMS

LARGE DEGREASE THIS YEAR. Figures compiled by the superintendent of the Dunedin Telegraph Ollico (Mr V. It. Anderson) show ('hat there was a noticeable decrease in the'number of messages handled during the Christmas period tins year as compared with the number handled during the same, period last year. The figures for the two periods arc ns follow: „ Trans-

The totals this year thus show' a decrease of 50.1 on the number of telegrams forwarded, a decrease of 643 on the number received, and a decrease of 418 on the number transmitted, making a total decrease of 1,362. This drop is, no doubt, accounted for by the larjje exodus of people from the city on Saturday, It may be explained that the transmit messages are those received and forwarded on to other stations. The office was clear of all the outward traffic by 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve, which is believed to be a record for Dunedin. It has generally been 1 a.m. or 2 a.xn. before the operators have been clear of the messages. All inward messages were disposed of by 4 a.m. on Sunday. The only delay occasioned was by the Auckland messages, which were slow at limes in coming through. The telegrams were delivered in every part of the city and suburbs by a large staff of messengers between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sunday. The boys were very keen, and the last message was delivered a few minutes after 11.

The lines gave practically no trouble on Christmas Eve, wlTich is somewhat unusual when such a vast amount of extra traffic has to be dealt with. The telegraph stations which closed at 5 p.m. were released before 6 p.m., and those stations which closed at 8 p.m. were released at 8.45 p.m. This was also very smart work on the part of the local operators, as the stations closing at 5 p.m, are generally not released until close on midnight on Christmas. It was one of the smoothest Christmas Eves ever experienced by Mr Anderson. A staff of sixty-two operators was on duty at the machines on Saturday and Christmas Eve. The fact that the work was disposed of in such excellent time shows that all concerned carried out their duties in a most commendable manner.

1921. Forwarded , Rccvd. mils. Dec. 21 ... ... 1,866 2,603 2,240 Dec. 22 ... ... 2,147 2,790 2,597 Dec. 23’ ... ... 2,568 3,501 4,184 Dec. 24 ... ... 2,584 3,77.1 7,238 Totals ... 9,165 12,665 16,059 Trans1922. Forwarded. . Recvd. mits. Dec. 20 ... ... 1,8*13 2,416 1,907 Dec. 21 ... ... 1,884 2,560 2,433 Dec. 22 ... ... 2,431 3.602 4,110 Dec. 23 ... ... 2,557 3,554 7,191 Totals ... 8,864 12,022 15,461