THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S ANNUAL REPORT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 143, 27 August 1881, Page 2

THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S ANNUAL REPORT.

The twenty-second annual report of the Postmaster-General, which has just been presented to Parliament, is vei'y satisfactory. The Postal and Telegraph Departments were amalgamated at the commencement of the year, and it is pleasing to learn that everything " has, so far, worked smoothly, and without the least friction." Since last August, in consequence of tbe amalgamation, the services of fifteen officers, ' having aggregate salaries of £2,761, were dispensed with. Three of these officers have, however, been pensioned, and over £1,700 was paid as compensation to the others. The revenue for the year, which ha J been estimated at £145,000, amounted to over £150,000, whilst the receipts for services in the colony were increased during the year by over £6,000, or nearly 5£ per cent, more than in the preceding year. The expenditure was £141,358, which left a profit of nearly .£9,000. " Hitherto," we are told by tlie Postmaster-General, " there has been a balance of expenditure over revenue." This is, indeed, very satisfactory ; but it must be remembered that, up to tbe present time, new postal services had to be opened up all over the colony, and many miles of telegraph wire had to be put up. These must, as a matter of course, decrease year by year, as the system becomes complete. The average number of letters posted, in proportion tc the estimated population, was 24*46 to each person in the colony. The report ' says, and we cordially agree with it : — " It is a matter of satisfaction to state that the United States Post Office authorities have now consented to establish an exchange of • money orders between tbe United States and New Zealand." This supplies a want that has been much felt, because there can be no doubt that trade is steadily on the increase between this colony and the United States. The total amount deposited iv the Savings Banks during the year was £864,441, whilst the withdrawals amounted to £780,504. The total sum to the credit of depositors at the end of March, was £903,765, being an increase of £116,759 over the previous year. For the convenience of depositors, the Savings Banks are now opened on Saturday evenings in the cities of Auckland, Wellington, Ohristchurch, and Dunedin. Were we not well aware how hard-worked the officers of the Department are, we should like to see the same thing done all over the colony. But it is proverbial all over the world that the Post Office Departments give the poorest salaries, whilst exacting the largest possible amount of work from their employes. Bearing this in mind, vre do not wisb. to sco then' buydens increased: we should, on the contrary, much prefer to see them lessened. Twenty-seven new Post Offices were established, and six re-opened, whilst twenty-two were closed, no less than three of these being in the district represented by the Postmaster-General. In this case, apparently, kissing has not gone by favor, as is too often the case with constituencies having the good fortune to be represented .by a Habinet Minister. The total number of miles travelled, in connection with the transmission of inland mails, has increased to 2,631,568, or more than 40,000 in the year 1879 ; tbe annual expenditure being a little over £35,000. The net cost of the San Francisco mail service was £8166, and of the Galle-Brindisi service £9464. Turning to our own district, we find that Hawera occupies the second place in the Wanganui postal district, but for the sake ol comparison, we put the returns from the only three offices mentioned in the Taranaki district as well. The figures appended will show the large amount of business transacted at this office :—: —

Savings Bank at New Plymouth, as compai # ed with Wanganui, is no doubt partly due to the number of Constabulary stationed in the district. The same remarks also apply to Hawera. but in a lesser degree, because there is only a small force at Manaia, and not more than half-a-dozen men at Waihi. During the discussion of the Postal Estimates, many hou. members pointed out that the officials in their districts were wretchedly paid and terribly overworked. Prom an extensive knowledge of the colony — and of the other colonies, for that matter— we can readily believe the statements made. The office in Hawera is one of the best paying in the whole colony, when the population is taken into account. Those who go there day after day cannot fail to be struck with the amount of hard work that has to be got through, and people of bilious temperaments may well wonder bow it is that the officials can manage to be as courteous and attentive as they invai-iably are. Just recently, a promising young man connected with the office was attacked with illness, and after a short struggle died from the effects of a relapse. We do not say the department is accountable for the late Mr. Anderson's death, but we do not hesitate in venturing an opinion that the hard work and the constant strain he had to undergo since he came to Hawera prepared the way, to some extent, for the ravages of the disease by which he was attacked. It is well known that people of sedentary habits are very liable to certain derangements of the system. If there is not sufficient time given for healthy exercise, and if a constant strain on tbe nervous system is kept up, disease, if it does come, as it is almost certain to do, makes rapid headway. Poor young_ Anderson was seldom heard to complain of hard work, but those who happened to go daily to the office could judge for themselves. We learn, therefore, with much regret that the Department has only seen fit to grant his relatives one month's salary towards the liquidation of the expenses incurred during his illness and for the funeral. These amounted to about £40 : the month's salary to £10 or £12. We desire to bring this matter prominently under the attention of the Postmaster-General. If he chooses to make inquiries, we doubt not that our statements can easily be substantiated. We also desire to bring under his notice the fact that the present postmaster and telegraphist and his assistant are constantly put to the same strain which paved the way for the ravages of the illness in the instance referred to. A wise man does not overburden his horses or his bullocks. Surely, then, it is neither good policy.^ nor in accordance with the dictates of humanity, to constantly overwork human beings. The Press must do in this case what members of the House have endeavored to do for other places — namely, speak a kind word for those who are at all times courteous, often under very trying circumstances, more especially as they ai*e debarred from ventilating their grievances through the Press.

No. of Total M.O. Total S.B. Issued. Amount. Deposit) Wanganui ... 3,323 .£11,334 ,£18,51} New Plymouth 2,144 17,643 27,04( Hawera ... 1,053 3,535 7,59] Patea ... 865 2,818 2,81( Marton ... 683 2,127 1,11! Bulls ... 553 1,656 571 Waitotara ... 334 1,225 87( Turakina ... 325 1,060 25! Waverley ... 297 880 401 Norumnby ... 238 725 251 Waitara ... 203 707 32( Inglewood ...' 141 382 38( Manutalii .., 87 314 23< The large amount of deposits in tli<