LAST YEAR’S FIGURES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 220, 15 August 1928, Page 6

LAST YEAR’S FIGURES

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

MORE REVENUE LESS EXPENDITURE.

(By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 14. Tho report of the Post and Telegraph Department for the past financial year was presented to Parliament to-day. The Postmaster-Gen-eral expressed his gratification witn the result of the year’s working—a further increase of revenue of £IUB,845 and another decrease of expenditure amounting to £46,703. Thus in two years the revenue has mere ased by £229,115 and the expenditure has decreased by £109,985. Hon. W. Nosworthy, reviewing the figures, savs: (l My department aims at conducting its n'ffairs as a business man conducts his, and judging by the results it is not falling far from short of its goal. The results achieved are even the more remarkable when it is homo in mind that the year just past nag not a particularly good one tor certain sections of the business community. It is a reasonable assumption that the sound financial position is due in no small measure to the efforts of the administration, to attract business. The steps it has already taken to increase business on the postal and telephone sides are but forerunners of bigger efforts that will be made in the future. It is the wish of my department not to attract new business merely to increase its revenue, but to make known to the public services which may be utilised with advantage to the business and social life of the Dominion. “A telephone call which saves a long journey must add to the V . being'of the community, and on this assumption every means of informing the public of the facilities for communication is being explored. The variety of services rendered by the Post and Telegraph Department is greator than in the case of any other department of Stlnte, and lit is the belief of my officers that these services are net being availed of to anvthing like the extent that they will be when the general public more fullv realises their value.” The staff of the department, excluding non-permanent postmasters, and telephonists and railway postmasters has been reduced in the year by 499 officers, yet tho department lias undertaken a larger volume of work than in any preceding year. The expressions of appreciation of the services rendered have been general throughout the country. The department has a huge army of 10,000 officers.