POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13796, 8 July 1908, Page 6

POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS.

The annual report of the Post and Telegraph Department shows an increase of business v in all; branches. The expenditure, though largely in excess" of "the previous year, still leaves a : substantial credit balance, which ought to be drawn upon for the; further development of postal, telephone and 1 telegraphic facilities in country districts. With Penny Postage and Sixpenny telegrams already in exist- ■' ence, there are * only T a few minor readjustments in post and: telegraph \ charges to be desired; and we may < hope that during the next few years ■> we -shall see a determined effort " made not only to popularise the tele- »: phone system in the cities, but to ; greatly improve the '-; position'/ of, : our >', settlers. An encouraging 'featurelot >'. the report is the continued increase • in Savings Bank deposits, which > have risen by the large sum of i £1,569,000 including interest, and now amount to over £11,500,000. These :. deposits represent largely a reserve . fund against periods of industrial ■ depression, and show that a ;■ wise i provision is being made' during our years of prosperity by thrifty citi- ! zens. The continued increase in old age pensions is hardly as satisfactory ; • these now aggregate over £325,000 ; for the year? with no prospect of any '-■■ v"■-'; ; ; ' ' •- ; ■ -^i^oMP-'-'M - ■■ ■'• ■.' I. : , ■'. ".■''. .■'.-■■■.' ; ' ■'■ ' '''':'■ :: .' : :.:Si''.l',■':■: \VX:Yk. ■ •'. ' ■:-'•■■ ■ '•'-■ •■•'•' ' ■ '~ .' ,; ■:"■ : ''"-"■ \r '■ :i:X-'.' " ''^'Si^/' '£('■'■ ''V' 1 :. ''S-

great reduction in the rate of ini crease. Within a few years the 1) 0 .. minion may anticipate an ann ; S. - charge of nearly half a million B fcj. •' ing for old' age pensions— -levin ■*•" *'■ then we shall not have reached tha "'- quite indefinite limit. . " "'!>