POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT (REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR 1928-29.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1929 Session I, F-01

F.—l.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 1928-29.

CONTENTS.

FAGE Receipts and Payments .. .. 1,9 Staff .. ..... . 1, 10 Overseas Mails ...... 2, 12 Inland Mail-services ...... 2, 12 Rural Deliveries .. .. .. 3, 12 Money-orders .... . . 3 Savings-bank. . .. ... . 3 .Decentralization of Postmen at Wellington 3 Imperial Wireless and Cables Conference .3, 27 International Telegraph Conference ..4, 18 Conference of Engineers ... . 4 Telephone and Telegraph Development ... 4 Carrier-current Telephony .... 4, 42 Increase in Toll Calls .. .. 5 Wireless Long-distance Transmission .. 5 Wireless Broadcasting. ..... 5, 32 Wireless Broadcasting and Copyright .. 6, 33 Trans-Tasman Flight .... . . 6 Work performed for other Departments 6 Registration of Motor-vehicles .. ..6, 13 Motor Transport .. ... . 7 Buildings . . .. .. ..7, 11 Suggestions Board .... .. 7 Post and Telegraph Act, 1928 .. 7 Postmaster - General: Relinquishing of Office .. . . .. . . 8 Details of Revenue, &c. .... 8 Change of Staff Control ... . 10 Regrading Report Form .. 10 Reclassification of the Service .... ' 10 Appeal Board .... . . 10 Departmental Correspondence School .. 10 Examinations . . . . . . 11 Householder Circulars .. 12 Missing Postal Packets ... . 13 Inspection . . ... . 13 Graph showing the. Total Number of Motor-vehicles of all Classes registered Monthly from April, 1925 .. .. 14 Refund of Duty on Motor-spirits .. 14 Departmental Motor-vehicles ... . 14 Workshops . . .. .. 14 Stores Branch . . .. . . 15 Articles delivered ....• . . 16 Average Number of Letters posted per Unit of Population .... . . 16 Number of Post-offices in Dominion .. 16 Undeliverable Postal Packets ... . 16 Miscellaneous Postal Figures ... . 16 Prohibition of Postal Packets .. .. 17 Register of Newspapers and Magazines .. 17 Postage-stamps .... , . 17

PAGE Customs Parcels .. .. .. 17 Customs Examination of Post Parcels and Packets at Palmerston North .. 17 Postal Note£ .. .. .. 17 British Postal Orders .. .. .. 17 Home Savings-tank Boxes .. .. 17 General Election, 1928 .. 18 New Zealand Rugby Eootball Team : Tour of South Africa .. . . 18 Telegraph Arrangements at Places at which Race Meetings are in progress on Saturdays .. .. .. 18 Press Telegraph Attendance at Four Chief Centres on Departmental Holidays .. 18 Telegraph and Telephone Offices open for Business .. .. .. 18 Telegraph and Toll Traffic . . .. 19 Universal-battery system at Palmerston North .. .. .. 19 Machine-printing Telegraphs .. .. 19 Toll Communications : Reduction of Rate for Urgent Calls between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. .. .. .. 19 List of Toll Stations in Telephone Directories .. .. .. 19 Toll Service : Improved Methods of Operation .. .. - .. .. 19 Return of Toll-call Delays and Cancellations .. .. .. 20 Relay Lines for Radio Broadcasting Purposes .. .. .. 21 Extension of Toll and Telegraph Facilities 21 Maintenance of Lines .. .. . . 24 Poles and Wire .. .. ~ 24 Table showing Class and Number of Telegraph Instruments and Batteries in use at Telegraph-offices for the Year ending 31st March, 1929 . . .. 25 New Zealand Submarine Cables .. 26 Cable Services .. .. 27 International Money-order Telegram : Supplementary Telegraph Fee .. . . 27 Daily Letter-telegram Service .. . . 28 Week-end Letter-telegram Service .. 28 Cable Rates .. .. .. 28 Cable Traffic .. .. . . 29 Wireless Services .. . . 29 International Radio-telegraph Convention, 1927 .. .. .. .. 29 Patent Rights in respect of Radio Apparatus .. ~ .. 30

i—F. 1.

F.—l

II

CONTENTS —continued. PAGE PAGE New Zealand Radio Stations : Equipment, Weather Forecasts : Furnishing of InOperation, &c. .. .. 30 formation Free of Charge .. .. 34 British Official Wireless News .. .. 31 Installation of Miscellaneous Telephone Radio Communication between New Zea- Equipment .. .. 34 land and Pacific Islands .. .. 31 Development of Telephone-exchange SysExperiments in Radio - telephony from tems .. .. .. 34 Ordinary Telephone Stations .. 31 Table showing Extensions to Cabling and Installation on Ships of Automatic Alarm Switching Systems .. .. 35 Apparatus .. .. .. 32 Extensions to Cabling and Switching Ships operated by Wireless Signallers: Systems not completed during the Year 36 handrd 10 " 8UUnP ° n CkSSeS ° f MeSSage 39 Open-wire Systems reconstructed .. 36 itt .-i et> ' \ jtV .** * j , •'' Miscellaneous Improvements to TelephoneWeather Keport and forecast: Adoption i ™ j • ,■> V or 7 » r on exchange Equipment during the Year 37 Broadcasting™ Press Messages to Ships at " Extension Stations per 100 Main Stations 37 g ea 22 Telephone Statistics .. .. .. 38 Post-radiogram Service from Ships at Sea World Telephone Statistics .. .. 39 to New Zealand Coast Stations .. 32 Automatic Telephone Exchanges 39 Radio-dealers' Licenses: Amended Fees 33 Graph showing Proportion of Dial and Amateur Radio Receiving-station License Manual Telephones in New Zealand Fee : Special License Fee for Sets in- from 1920 onwards .. .. .. 40 stalled in Public Place .. .. 33 Table showing Equipment installed and Wireless Receiving-station License: In- Equipment in use at Automatic Exstallations in Hospitals and Similar changes on the 31st March, 1929 .. 41 Institutions .. .. 34 Public Call Offices (Coin-in-the-slot TeleAmateur Radio Receiving License : Form phones) .. .. .. ..42 of Application .. .. 34 Checking of Telephone Transmitters and Telephone-exchange Services . . .. 34 Receivers .. .. .. 43 Publication of List of Subscribers to Proposed Establishment of Dominion Telephone Exchanges .. .. 34 Bureau of Standards .. .. 43 Commerce Train : Telephone Facilities . . 34 Departmental Laboratory .. .. 43

APPENDIX. PAGE Designation of Offices changed.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 44 Cable Business .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 44 Radio Telegrams .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 45 (For index to tables see page iii, and for Detailed Index see pages iv-vi.)

f.—i

III

TABLE S. No. 1. —Money-orders issued and payable — page (a) Issued in the Dominion .. .. .. .. .. 45 (b) Drawn on the Dominion .. .. .. .. .. 45 No. 2.—Number and Value of Postal Notes sold .. .. .. .. ..46 No. 3. —Number and Amount of Transactions at Money-order Offices and Post Office Savings-banks in New Zealand .. .. .. .. .. 47 No. 4. —General Statement of Post Office Savings-bank Business for Year ended 31st March, 1929 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 48 No. 5. —General Statement of Post Office Savings-bank Business from 1867 to 1929 .. 49 No. 6. —Estimated Number of Letters and Letter-cards, Post-cards, Book-packets, Newspapers, and Parcels dealt with .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 No. 7. —Registered Articles .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..51 No. 8. —Parcel-post .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 51 No. 9.—Comparative Table showing the Progress of the Telegraph Department and Revenue received for each Class of Message.. .. .. .. .. 52 No. 10.—Revenue derived from Toll Calls and Paid Telegrams in respective Postal Districts 53

ii—F. 1.

E.—i.

DETAILED INDEX.

A. E. PAGE Act, Post and Telegraph, 1928 .. .. .. 7 Eastern Extension cable— page Appeal Board . . .. .. 10 Number and percentage of messages forwarded Articles bearing previously used stamps .. .. 16 and received .. .. .. 29 Articles delivered .. .. .. .. 16,50 Press telegrams .. .. .. 29 Articles registered .. .. .. .. 51 Share of business .. .. .. 29 Automatic telephone exchange : Equipment in- Election: General, 1928 .. .. .. 18 stalled and in use on 31st March, 1929. . .. 41 Engineers, Conference of .. .. .. 4 Automatic telephone exchanges.. .. 39 Examinations .. .. .. .. It Automatic telephones in New Zealand .. .. 40 Expenditure of Department .. .. 1, 9 Awards for suggestions .. . . .. 7 Extensions to cabling and switching systems at telephone exchanges.. .. .. 35 B. G. Board of Appeal .. .. .. 10 Book-packets posted and delivered .. .. 50 General Election, 1928.. .. .. .. 18 Boxes,, home savings-bank .. .. .. 17 Graph — British official wireless news .. .. 31 Post and Telegraph expenditure .. .. 8 British postal orders sold .. .. 17 Post and Telegraph revenue .. .. .. 8 Broadcasting .. .. .. .. 5, 32 Showing proportion of dial and manual telephones And copyright .. .. .. .. 6, 33 in New Zealand from 1920 onwards .. .. 40 Press messages to ships at sea .. .. 32 Showing total number of motor-vehicles of all Buildings .. .. .. .. ..7,11 classes registered monthly from April, 1925 .. 14 Business done for other Departments .. .. 6 Telegraph and toll revenue .. .. .. 8 C. H. Cables and wireless : Imperial Conference .. 3, 27 Health of staff .. .. .. .. 2, 10 Cable messages— Home savings-bank boxes .. .. .. 17 Daily letter-telegram: Extension of service .. 28 " Householder" circulars .. .. .. 12 • Deferred .. .. .. .. .. 29 Intercolonial traffic .. .. .. .. 29,4;4 International traffic .. .. .. .. 29,44 I. Number .. .. .. .. .. 29,44 Press .. .. .. .. 29 Imperial Wireless and Cables Conference .. 3, 27 Rates .. .. . . .. 28 Increase in toll calls .. .. .. .. 5 Received .. .. .. .. ..29,44 Inland mail-services (see " Mail-services"). Reduced rates .. .. .. 28 Inspection of post-offices .. .. .. 13 Traffic .. .. .. .. ..29 Insurance Fund, Marine .. .. .. 16 Value .. .. .. .. 44 International money-order telegrams: Supple-Week-end letter-telegram : Extension of service 28 mentary telegraph fee .. .. .. 27 Cables— International Radio-telegraph Convention, 1927 .. 29 Eastern Extension (see " Eastern Extension cable "). International Telegraph Convention, Brussels, 1928 4, 18 Pacific (see " Pacific cable "). Miscellaneous .. .. .. 27 Repair of .. .. .. .. 26 L. Submarine .. . . .. .. 26 Carrier-current telephony .. .. .. 4, 42 Laboratory .. .. . . .. 43 Change of staff control.. .. .. 10 Leave, sick . . .. .. .. .. 2, 10 Circulars, " Householder" .. .. 12 Letters and letter-cards— Code language: International Telegraph Convention, Dead, dealt with .. .. .. ..16 Brussels, 1928 .. .. .. .. 4, 18 Dead, proportion to number delivered .. .. 16 Coin-in-the-slot telephones .. .. ..42 Delivered .. .. .. .. ..16,50 Communication between New Zealand and the Imperfectly or insufficiently addressed .. 16 Pacific islands by radio .. .. 31 Missing .. .. .. .. 13 Conference — Posted and delivered .. .. 50 Engineers .. .. .. ... .. 4 Posted per unit of population .. .. 16 Imperial Wireless and Cables .. .. 3, 27 Posted with libellous addresses .. .. 16 International Telegraph .. .. .. 4, 18 Posted without addresses .. .. .. 16 Cook Strait cables .. .. .. 26 Long-distance wireless transmission .. .. 5 Copyright relating to broadcasting .. .. 6, 33 Correspondence School.. .. .. .. 10 Customs examination of parcels and packets at M. Palmerston North .. .. . . .. 17 Customs parcels . . .. .. 17 Machine-printing telegraphs .. .. .. 19 Magazines— Registered .. .. .. .. 17 D. Removed from the register .. .. .. 17 Mail-services— Daily letter-telegram : Extension of service .. 28 Inland .. .. .. .. .. 2, 12 Dead-letters .. .. . . .. 16 Interruptions of .. .. .. 12 Decentralization of postmen at Wellington .. 3 Overseas .. .. .. .. .. 2, 12 Designation of offices changed .. .. 44 Rural .. .. .. .. .. 3, 12 Departmental Correspondence School .. .. 10 Maintenance of telegraph and toll lines .. .. 24 Departmental laboratory .. . . 43 Marine Insurance Fund .. .. . . 16 Departmental motor-vehicles .. .. .. 14 Missing postal packets .. . . .. 13 Dominion Bureau of Standards : Proposed esta- Money-order— blishment .. .. .. .. 43 Exchange with other country.. .. .. 45 Duty, refund of, on motor-spirit .. .. 14 Issued and paid .. .. .. .. 3, 45

IV

F.—l.

Money-order—continued. page R. Number of transactions .. .. 47 Radio — page Telegrams, International: Supplementary tele- Amateur receiving-station licenses: .Form of graph fee .. .. .. 27 application .. .. .. 34 Motor-spirit, refund of duty on .. .. .. 14 Amateur radio receiving-station license : Fee for Motor transport .. .. .. .. 7 sets installed in public places .. .. 33 Motor-vehicles— Apparatus, patent rights in respect of .. .. 30 Departmental .. .. .. .. 14 British official wireless news .. .. .. 31 Registration of .. .. .. .. 6, 13 Broadcasting .. .. .. .. 5, 32 Broadcasting and copyright .. .. .. 6, 33 Broadcasting of press messages to ships at sea .. 32 N Broadcasting: Relay lines for .. 21 Newspapers Communication between New Zealand and Pacific Posted and delivered .. .. .. 50 islands .. .. .. .. . . 31 Received without addresses .. .. . . 16 Equipment and operation of New Zealand coast Registered .. .. .. .. 17 stations .. .. .. .. 30 Removed from the register .. .. .. 17 Experiments in radio-telegraphy from ordinary Returned to publishers .. .. .. 16 telephone-stations.. .. .. .. 31 New Zealand radio stations: Equipment, opera- Imperial Wireless and Cables Conference .. 3,27 tion &c. .. ..30 Installation on ships of automatic alarm apparatus 32 New Zealand rugby team : Tour of South Africa 18 International Radio-telegraph Convention, 1927 29 Long-distance transmission . . .. .. 5 Post-radiogram service from ships at sea to New Zealand coast stations .. .. .. 32 Receiving-station license : Installations in hos- _ . . pitals and similar institutions .. .. 34 Ocean cable services (see Cable messages, Pacific Telegrams : Number and value .. .. 45 cable, &c.). Weather forecasts: Adoption of new form .. 32 A^ erS -ii . Radio-dealers'licenses: Amended fees .. .. 33 Absence on sick-leave, average .. .. 2, 10 Radio-telegraph station open for business .. 18 ° f ™ Rates, cable ' 28 Health .. .. .. .. .. 2, 10 Receipts and payments .. .. ..1,9 •' '• Reclassification of Service .. .. .. 10 Offices: Designation changed 41 Re f un d of duty on motor-spirit . . .. 14 Overseas mails 2,12 Registered articles 51 Registered articles, undeliverable .. .. 16 Registered letters unclaimed. . . .. .. 16 !'■ Registration of motor-vehicles .. .. .. 6, 13 Pacific cable — Regrading report form.. .. .. .. 10 Number and percentage of messages forwarded Relinquishing of office by Postmaster-General .. 8 and received .. .. .. 29 Report, regrading .. .. ~ 10 Press .. .. .. .. 29 Revenue of Department .. .. 1, 9 Share of business .. .. .. 29 R ura ] deliveries .. .. .. ..3,12 Packets— Customs : Examination at Palmerston North .. 17 g_ Postal, miising .. .. .. 13 Postal, prohibited . . .. .. 17 Salaries . . .. .. .. .. 9 Unclaimed, auction of .. .. 17 g an Francisco mail-service .. .. . . 12 Parcels— Savings-bank— Customs : Examination at Palmerston North .. 17 Balances at credit of depositors .. ..3,48 Customs parcels .. . . .. .. 17 Deposits: Amount, &c. .. 3, 47, 48, 49 Delivered .. .. .. .. .. 16,50 Excess of withdrawals over deposits .. 3, 47, 48, 49 Despatched overseas .. .. .. 51 Interest . . .. .. .. 3, 47, 48, 49 Foreign (inwards), declared value of, and Customs Number of depositors .. . . .. 48, 49 duty collected on .. .. .. .. 17 Offices open .. .. .. ..48,49 Foreign (outwards), declared value of . . .. 17 Transactions .. .. 3, 47, 48, 49 Number and weight .. .. .. 51 Withdrawals .. .. .. 3,47,48, 49 Posted and delivered .. .. ..50 Service, reclassification of .. .. .. 10 Received from overseas .. .. .. 51 Slot telephones .. .. .. 42 Patent rights in respect of radio apparatus .. 30 Staff — Post and Telegraph laboratory .. .. 43 Casual .. .. .. .. 10 Post-radiogram service from ships at sea to New Change of control . . .. .. 10 Zealand coast stations .. . . 32 Health .. .. .. .. .. 2, 10 Postmaster-General: Relinquishing of office .. 8 . Minister's remarks concerning .. .. 1 Post and Telegraph Act, 1928 .. .. .. 7 Number .. .. .. . . 10 Postage-stamps .. .. .. 17 Personal .. . . . . .. 10 Postal notes— Stamps: New issue .. .. .. 17 Commission .. .. .. 17 Stamp-vending machines .. .. .. 17 Sold .. .. .. .. ..17,46 Stores — Sold (British) .. .. .. 17 General contracts . . . . .. 15 Postal packets— Marine Insurance Fund. .. .. .. 16 Missing .. .. .. .. 13 Orders for Dominion products . .. 15 Prohibited . . .. .. .. 17 Purchases .. .. .. .. 15 Undeliverable .. .. .. 16 Received and issued: Value .. .. .. 15 Post-cards — Rules relating to, issue of . . .. 16 Delivered . . .. .. .. 16 Sale of obsolete and unserviceable material .. 16 Posted and delivered .. .. ..16,50 Stores Branch .. .. .. .. 15 Postmen, decentralization of, at Wellington .. 3 Submarine cables, New Zealand.. .. .. 26 Post-offices — Suggestions— Closed .. .. .. . ■ • ■ 16 Awards for.. .. .. .. ~ 7 Designations changed .. .. 44 Board .. .. .. .. .. 7 Established . . .. • • • • 16 Inspection of .. . • •. ..13 Number .. . . . . . . .. 16 T. Press : Telegraph attendance at four chief centres Telegrams— on departmental holidays .. .. .. 18 Daily-letter service : Extension .. .. 28 Press messages : Broadcasting to ships at sea .. 32 Government: Number and value .. ..52,53 Public call offices .. .. .. 42 International money-order: Supplementary teleProhibited postal packets .. .. .. 17 graph fee .. .. .. 27

V

VI

F.-l

Telegrams—continued. page Telephone—continued. Page Number and value .. .. .. 19, 52, 53 Exchanges—continued. Of all codes . . .. .. .. 19, 52 Return of equipment installed and in use in Ordinary : Number and value .. .. 19, 52 automatic exchanges on the 31st March, 1929 41 Press : Number and value .. .. .. 19,52 Subscribers connected .. .. .. 38 Urgent: Number and value .. .. .. 19, 52 Services .. .. .. .. 34 Week-end letter service: Extension .. .. 28 Statistics .. .. .. 38 Telegraph — Telephones — Amount of business .. .. .. 19, 52, 53 Automatic, in New Zealand .. .. 40 Arrangements at places at which race meetings are Checking of transmitters and receivers .. .. 43 in progress on Saturdays .. .. . . 18 \ Percentage of business and residential stations .. 39 Attendance at four chief centres on departmental ! World statistics .. .. .. 39 holidays for press purposes . . .. 18 i Toll communications — Conference at Brussels, 1928 .. .. .. 4, 18 Increase in . . .. .. .. 5 Development .. .. .. .. 4 Reduction of rate for urgent calls between 8 p.m. Engineers' Conference .. .. .. 4 and 8 a.m. .. .. .. 19 Instruments and batteries .. .. 24 Return of delays and cancellations .. .. 20 Lines — Trans-Tasman flight .. .. .. .. 6 Extension of toll and telegraph facilities .. 21 Length of erected, &c. .. .. .. 24 Maintenance of .. .. 24 U Poles and wire .. .. .. 24 Superimposed .. .. .. ..24 Unclaimed packets, auction of .. .. .. 17 Macmne-printmg Undelivered postal packets .. .. .. 16 Number of telegraph instruments and batteries Universal battery system : Palmerston North .. 19 in use .. .. .. 25 J J Offices open for business .. .. . . 18 Receipts and payments .. .. 9 Revenue .. .. .. 9, 19, 52, 53 ... Telegraph and toll services- Vancouver mail-service 12 General election, 1928 . . .. .. 18 New Zealand Rugby team : Tour of South Africa 18 Telegraph and toll traffic : Number and value .. 19 W. Telephone and toll stations open for business .. 18 Wireless— Telephone— Amateur radio receiving-station license : Special Carrier-current system .. .. .. 4,42 license fee for sets installed in public places .. 33 Development .. .. .. .. 4 Amateur receiving-station licenses: Form of lixtension of toll and telegraph facilities .. 21 application .. .. .. ..34 Extension stations per 100 main stations .. 37 British official wireless news .. .. .. 31 Facilities for commerce train .. . . 34 Broadcasting .. .. .. .. 5, 32 Furnishing weather forecasts free of charge .. 34 Broadcasting and copywright.. .. .. 6, 33 List of toll stations in telephone directories .. 19 Broadcasting of press messages to ships at sea .. 32 Maintenance of lines .. .. 24 Communication between New Zealand and Pacific Statistics .. .. .. . . 38 islands .. .. .. .. ..31 Toll calls : Return of delays and cancellations .. 20 Equipment and operation of New Zealand coast Toll service: Improved methods .. . . 19 stations .. .. .. .. 30 Toll lines used as relay lines for radio broadcasting Installation on ships of automatic alarm apparatus 32 purposes . . .. .. 21 international Radio-telegraph Convention, 1927 29 Exchanges— Long-distance transmission .. .. .. 5 Automatic .. .. .. 39 Patent rights in respect of apparatus .. .. 30 Automatic : Switching equipment for small Post-radiogram service from ships at sea to New telephone communities .. .. 40 Zealand coast stations . . .. 32 Carrier-current system .. .. .. 4, 42 Receiving-station license : Installation in hospitals Development of .. .. 34 and similar institutions . . .. 34 Extension stations per 100 main stations .. 37 Restriction upon class of message handled by ships Extension to cabling and switching system .. 35 operated by wireless signallers .. .. 32 Extensions not completed during year .. 36 Services .. .. .. .. 29 Graph showing proportion of dial and manual Weather report and forecast: Adoption of new telephones in New Zealand from 1920 onwards 40 form .. .. .. .. 32 Installation of miscellaneous equipment .. 34 Wireless and Cables Conference .. .. 3, 27 Miscellaneous improvements .. .. 37 Wireless-telegraph stations open for business .. 18 Open-wire systems reconstructed .. . 36 Work performed for other Departments .. .. 6 Percentage of business and residential stations 39 Workshops .. .. .. .. .. 14

1

1929. NEW ZEALAND.

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT (REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR 1928-29.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

To His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir Charles Fergusson, Baronet; General on the Retired List and in the Reserve of Officers of His Majesty's Army ; Doctor of Laws ; Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George; Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath ; Companion of the Distinguished Service Order ; Member of the Royal Victorian Order. May it please Your Excellency,— I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Post and Telegraph Department for the year ended 31st March, 1929. RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS. On the Ist April, 1928, the Post Office Account was separated from the Treasury, and under the new arrangement the working-expenses are met out of the revenue of the Department, instead of being taken from the Consolidated Fund. Under this method a slight change has taken place in the accounts, and receipts which are considered as legitimate trading returns are now treated as revenue instead of credits in aid to the vote Post Office Account. The amount of revenue collected during the year was £3,445,545, and the working-expenses amounted to £2,921,736,- leaving a balance of receipts over payments of £523,809. This balance has been invested to provide the necessary reserves, for depreciation and other purposes, in accordance with statutory authority. The sum of £428,000 being interest on capital liability which was previously paid out of Consolidated Fund, is included in the working-expenses. STAFF. The numerical strength of the staff remains much as it was last year, and I am glad to be able to state that the high standard of efficiency referred to in previous reports has been maintained. When one reflects upon the huge volume of business transacted by the Department throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion (the cash value of all transactions for the year amounted to £219,425,000) one cannot help but appreciate how essential it is that the staff entrusted with the handling of such a volume of business should be highly trained and extremely capable. The Department could not carry on efficiently and without loss if there were drones in the hive. Happily the Service is one in which restriction of output is not known. The spirit of the Service is such that each individual officer —from the lowest to the highest —gives of his best, whether his immediate duty be the delivering of a telegram, the selling of a postage-stamp, the registering of

I—F. 1.

F.—l

2

amo tor-vehicle, or the performing of a marriage ceremony. With a view to increasing the efficiency of individual officers, the Department has a series of examinations for testing an officer's ability in various directions. Before a message-boy is appointed to a cadetship he is required to pass an examination which tests his knowledge of English, arithmetic, algebra, geography, and other subjects, as well as his knowledge of purely postal or telegraph work. Before a clerical officer proceeds beyond £155 per annum in salary he is required to pass what is known as the Competency Examination, which tests his knowledge of his particular official duties. Before being promoted to a controlling position each officer is required to pass an examination designed to test his detailed knowledge of the work of the branch in which he seeks promotion and his general knowledge of the activities of the rest of the Service. In this examination, apart from marks for matter, the officer is awarded marks according to his knowledge of the use of the English language. For many of the examinations which they are required to pass officers are able to avail themselves of the valuable assistance given by the departmental Correspondence School, in which are employed an Instructor and ten assistants. The work of the Service as a whole is the sum total of the work of individual officers, and it is by the intensive education of the individual officer that the Department hopes to continue to hold for the Service the very high place it now occupies in the public esteem. It is the Department's aim to meet the public wherever possible, and the need for co-operating with the public is being instilled into the personnel of the Department. Public appreciation of the efforts of the Department is not wanting, and, although complaints are received from time to time, rarely is one made which is of a serious nature. In many cases of complaintinquiry shows beyond all doubt that the fault did not lie with the Department. For the year 1927-28 the average absence on account of sickness was for men 4-33 days, and for women 10-02 days. For the year 1928-29 the figures are 4-61 and 9-5 respectively. Where it is necessary, as it is in the Post and Telegraph Department, to provide continuous service over the whole twenty-four hours of the day, it is obvious that the maintaining of the staff in good health is of paramount importance. Therefore, while no effort is spared in preparing officers for the efficient performance of their duties, the need for conserving the health of the staff is not overlooked. Moreover, the Department believes that in adhering to its policy of seizing every practical opportunity for improving the conditions of working it is not only acting in the interests of the members of the staff, but is also giving increased opportunity for the rendering of efficient service to that great public with which it is so intimately concerned. OVERSEAS MAILS. Mails for the United Kingdom, United States of America, and Canada continue to be despatched with regularity by the Vancouver and San Francisco contract steamers. Practically no interruption occurs in the ordered precision of the running of the mail-steamers, and invariably the mails reach Vancouver and San Francisco in time for despatch overland by the express trains connecting with the fast Atlantic steamers. The presence of Mail Agents on the vessels enables mails for the Dominion to be sorted and ready for despatch to destination immediately on arrival at New Zealand ports. INLAND MAIL-SERVICES. The contracts for the performance of mail-services in the South Island were re-let during the latter part of 1928. The number of mail-services in the South Island is approximately only half the number in the North Island. Competition for the South Island services was not so keen as it was in connection with the re-letting during the previous year of the contracts for the North Island services, but a feature of the South Island re-letting was the number of " block " tenders received. Owing in some measure to this fact, a saving of £2,100 was effected in the cost of the services in operation as at the Ist January, .1929, compared with the cost of those in existence on the 31st December, 1928. Considerable changes were effected in many routes, enabling a greater number of settlers to participate in the services at little or no increase in cost to the Department.

F.—i

3

The various mail-services and rural deliveries have throughout the year been carried out to the Department's satisfaction, and little trouble has been experienced in regard to the ability of contractors to fulfil their obligations. It would seem that contractors generally are satisfied with the subsidies they receive. RURAL DELIVERIES. The rural-mail-delivery system is recognized as one which assists in the development of the country. Nevertheless, a strict watch is kept to ensure that services are not established unless the prospective revenue approximates the subsidy payable. An outstanding feature of the year has been the activity in the Southland District in replacing small country post-offices by the more modern rural-delivery service. This activity denotes the popularity of the rural delivery with the Southland farming community. The Department continues to extend the rural-delivery system to serve the less thickly populated areas ; and it may be mentioned that, even with the payment by the box-holder of a fee, a relatively heavy loss still has to be borne by the Department. MONEY-ORDERS. The money-orders issued exceeded those of the previous year, but there was a slight decrease in value. The total number of orders issued was 807,885, and the value £4,977,522, as against 803,481, valued at £4,995,090, for the previous year. The commission amounted to £24,883 16s. 6d., an increase of £108 10s. 3d. over the previous year. SAVINGS-BANK. Although the withdrawals for the year exceeded the deposits by £859,559 7s. 9d., a comparison with the business of 1927-28 indicates that there has been an improvement of over £2,000,000. The deposits amounted to £27,252,381 and the withdrawals to £28,111,940, as against £27,611,066 and £30,584,997 respectively, for the previous year. The interest credited to depositors was £1,745,050, and the amount standing at credit on the 31st March totalled £48,644,217, an increase of nearly £900,000 over the previous year. DECENTRALIZATION OF POSTMEN AT WELLINGTON. In the larger cities a certain amount of time is spent by postmen in travelling to and fro between the post-office and the starting and finishing points of their walks in distant suburbs. As an experiment, it has been decided to bring into operation at Wellington a decentralization scheme, under which twenty-four postmen will be transferred from the .Chief Post-office —twelve to the Kilbirnie Post-office, and twelve to the Wellington South Post-office. It is expected that the change will result in a substantial saving in salaries and tram fares. If the scheme proves a success it will be extended both in Wellington and to other centres. IMPERIAL WIRELESS AND CABLES CONFERENCE. The development of radio science has focused attention upon the possibilities of radio communication supplanting in a great degree the use of the cable services as the main vehicle of communication between the countries of the world. In particular, the operation of the beam wireless system between Great Britain, Canada, and Australia, has made serious inroads in the revenue of cable administrations. The state of affairs became so serious that a conference of representatives of the Governments of Great Britain and her dominions, colonies, and protectorates, was convened to review the position, and, if possible, to find some means of co-ordinating the wireless and cable systems with a view to obviating the destructive competition. As a result, certain conclusions were arrived at, and recommendations were made for the merging of the wireless and cable interests under one control.

F.—l

4

The particular interest of New Zealand in the recommendations which are likely to be adopted by the Governments concerned lies in the fact that the Dominion is a partner in the Pacific cable. The recommendations are outlined at page 27. INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPH CONFERENCE. At the International Telegraph Conference held at Brussels in September, 1928, the Dominion was represented by Mr. F. Strong, a senior officer of the British Post Office. The conference dealt solely with the question of the use of code language in international telegraph correspondence, and its decisions must be deemed satisfactory both, to cable-users and to the Department. A full report on the conference appears at page 18. CONFERENCE OF ENGINEERS. Telegraph and Telephone Engineers from all parts of the Dominion assembled in Wellington from the 9th to the 18th October, 1928, for the purpose of discussing in conference the matters coming within the province of the Engineering Branch of the Department. The conference was attended by twenty-eight Engineers, and was the most representative of its kind yet held. The main purpose of the conference was to discuss the technical bulletins issued by the Chief Telegraph Engineer in connection with the subjects investigated by him on his recent tour abroad. In addition, the activities of the Engineering Branch were fully covered by papers and discussions, and Engineers were made acquainted with pending developments in the New Zealand communication services. TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH DEVELOPMENT. The steady development of telephone communication is being maintained. It is the aim of the Department to bring the telephone within reach of all, and, to this end, no effort is spared in keeping telephone communication in the highest state of efficiency and at the lowest possible cost to the users. That the trend towards greater use of the telephone is world-wide is indicated by the great extensions of telephone-lines in recent years in various countries of the world. In particular, constant additions are being made to the countries with which telephone communication is available by the American-Anglo-Continental telephone services. New Zealand, of course, is not favourably placed geographically in respect of establishing communication with other countries, but the Department is doing everything possible to extend the scope of long-distance telephone communications within the Dominion. It is clear that the telegraph is being supplanted to a great extent by the telephone. This is due to the growing ease with which a message may be conveyed by telephone. But, while the telegraph has no doubt suffered a permanent check, it is likely, where long distances are concerned, to remain the main avenue of communication. CAR fIIER-CURRENT TELEPHONY. The Department's Engineers are ever on the alert to adapt to New Zealand telephone conditions any new system or method of operation which is likely to prove beneficial from the point of view of economical and efficient working. As the result of the tour abroad in 1927 of the Chief Telegraph Engineer, there has been adopted in New Zealand telephone practice a system known as " carrier-current " telephony. Application of the new system constitutes perhaps the most remarkable change and .progressive move that has taken place in telephone practice for many vears. To the layman the working of the system is something akin to sending a wireless message along a wire which is already being used for transmitting other messages without interfering with such messages. Wireless energy is released, but instead of being broadcast it is directed along a telephone circuit. Under carrier-current principles

E.—l

5

a circuit is capable of carrying at the one time several different radio-frequency bands, and each frequency band provides a channel for a separate conversation. The several conversations, although carried on simultaneously, are delivered separately at the distant end. By the use of the system,. therefore, the carryingcapacity of a telephone circuit may be increased several times. That is to say, the application of carrier current enables several persons to hold conversations over the one circuit at the one time. Not only is the carrying-capacity of the circuit increased, but the volume of speech over long distances is considerably improved. Thus, in addition to enabling the Department to defer for many years the erection of additional toll circuits, the advent of carrier current gives to the public the direct benefit of greater ease in making long-distance communications. In the near future carrier current will enable a person in Auckland to converse with a person in Dunedin at any hour of the day or night with the same facility as if he were in the same city. A detailed and technical description of the working of the carrier-current system is given at page 42. INCREASE IN TOLL CALLS. The outstanding feature of telephone business during the year was the increased use of the telephone for toll purposes, the total number of calls being over 10,000,000, representing an increase on the previous year's traffic of approximately 10 per cent. The toll revenue amounted to £442,896, an increase of over II per cent. While this greater use of the toll lines was stimulated to some extent by greater commercial activity and by the more extensive use of the telephone in the social life of the community, probably the largest contributing factors were the increased speed of service, the improved quality of speech, and the greatly extended range of service that has been provided during recent years. The toll revenue for the year exceeded the revenue derived from telegrams, the relative figures being—Toll, £442,896; telegrams, £404,565. Ten years ago the corresponding figures were— Toll, £169,550 ; telegrams, £316,099. WIRELESS. Long-distance Transmission. While there has been no remarkable development in wireless communication, the year has been notable for the steady progress in perfecting long-distance communication, particularly in regard to short-wave working. Outstanding instances of highly successful short-wave communication were the reception and rebroadcasting in New Zealand of news of the world's heavy-weight boxing championship in New York on the 27th July, 1928 ; the broadcasting of news of the Pacific and Tasman flights ; and, most arresting of all, the establishment in January, 1929, of two-way communication between a New York station and an aeroplane flown by Commander Byrd in the Antarctic regions. Regular reception continues to be had at Awaruaradio of the transmissions from the Rugby high-power station. This is referred to at page 31. Except for occasions of atmospheric interference, there is little break in the continuity of reception of these signals. Broadcasting. The service of broadcasting established by agreement with the Radio Broadcasting Co. of New Zealand, Ltd., continues to function satisfactorily, and is steadily developing as the public learns to appreciate the advantages of this modern branch of science. A very interesting feature of broadcasting is the part that the earlier telephone art has played in the development of the broadcasting service. It may truthfully be said that much that passes for the triumph of radio is actually a product of the art of telephony. As broadcasting progresses, it is clear that the use of toll telephonelines for relay purposes is bound to become more general. It is becoming obvious that much of the entertainment radio-listeners receive can be brought a considerable part of the way by land lines.

F.—l

Broadcasting and Copyright. With the acceptance by the public of wireless broadcasting as a regular means of education and entertainment, serious consideration has had to be given to the question of copyright. Prior to the' advent of broadcasting, copyright legislation dealt mainly with the protection against piracy of literary and artistic works, and performances of musical and other classes of work in public halls. Claims have now been made by the Performing Eight Association, purporting to represent the owners of copyright, for payment in respect of items transmitted by broadcasting stations. The position has been met temporarily by the enactment of the Copyright Amendment Act, 1928, which provides for payment of a percentage of license fees, received from listeners. TEANS-TASMAN FLI(HIT. The pioneering flight of the " Southern Cross " in June, 1928, across the Pacific from the United States of America to Australia by way of Honolulu and Fiji was followed by the crossing of the Tasman Sea from Sydney to New Zealand in September, 1928, and the recrossing from New Zealand to Sydney a month later. The " Southern Cross," with Captain C. Kingsford Smith and Lieutenant C. P. Illm (co-commanders), and Messrs. H. A. Litchfield and T. 11. McWilliams, navigator and wireless operator respectively, left Sydney for New Zealand on the 10th September, 1928, at 7.11 p.m., New Zealand standard time, and landed at Christchurch next day at 9.21 a.m. On the return flight the " Southern Cross " left Blenheim Aerodrome on the 13th October, 1928, at 4.54 a.m., New Zealand summer time, and landed at the Eichmond Aerodrome (Sydney) next day at 4.17 a.m., New Zealand summer time. The Department spared no effort in ensuring that the aviators received the vital information, regarding weather and other conditions, necessary for the achievement of the venture. It co-operated with the Meteorological Office with the object of obtaining and co-ordinating weather reports from essential points on the west coast of the South Island and in the vicinity of Cook Strait. Liberal arrangements were made for attendance at various offices during the course of the flights, vigilant watch for messages from the aeroplane was kept at all radio-stations, and every facility was afforded for enlightening the public regarding the progress of the " Southern Cross." WOEK PEEFOEMEI) FOE OTHEE DEPAETMENTS. With its widespread ramifications the Post and Telegraph Department is eminently suited to act as agent for other Departments. It is perhaps correct to say that the Postmaster of every village performs, besides work for the Post Office, a fair amount of work for other Departments. The total volume of such work is considerable. Last year the money handled in this respect amounted to approximately £26,000,000. But, high as it is, this amount represents only a fraction of the cash value of the whole of the transactions of the Post and Telegraph Department, which for the year just closed amounted to £219,425,000. Of the work performed for other Departments the largest sums dealt with are on account of the Pensions, Public Trust, Land and Income Tax, and State Advances Departments. Large sums are also handled on account of motor-registration. In connection with the last-named, the premiums under the Motor-vehicles Insurance (Third-party Eisks) Act, 1928, will be collected by the Post and Telegraph Department as from the 15th April, 1929, BEGrISTEATION OF MOTOB-VEHICLES. If the present rate of increase is maintained, motor-registrations will soon reach the 200,000 mark. The identification-plates for the motor-registration year ending the 31st May, 1930, were manufactured by the Precision Engineering Co., Wellington. The plates, which have white figures on a blue ground, are of neat appearance, and the workmanship is considered to be equal to that of former years. The Precision Engineering Co. has secured a contract for the manufacture of plates for the three years ending the 31st May, 1932.

6

7

F.—l

MOTOR TRANSPORT. The control of the Public Service garage system is still a function of the Department. Mention was made in last year's report of the practice of having departmental motor-vehicles throughout the Dominion inspected at suitable intervals by an officer specially detailed for the work. The results obtained justify a continuance of the arrangement. During the year a contract was let to a New Zealand firm for the making of two seven-seater saloon and two seven-seater landaulet bodies for four English motor-car chassis. The cars are now in commission, being used for the higher-class service work. The Department continues to purchase motor-vehicles for other Departments. BUILDINGS. The need still exists at many places for new or additional accommodation for the conduct of post and telegraph business. During the year, however, satisfactory progress was made with the building programme. Notable works were the erection of a post-office building at Waverley, the making of extensive additions to the postoffice buildings at Hawera and Waipukurau, and the erection of a large garage at Dunedin. At Napier the erection of a chief post-office building is well under way, and will be completed in 1930. At Dunedin, the old chief post-office building has been demolished, and the site has been excavated in readiness for the erection of the new building. At Greyraouth extensive alterations and additions axe being made to the chief post-office building. Among other departmental buildings the erection of which is to be proceeded with in the near future are Courtenay Place (Wellington), High Street (Christchurch), and Upper Symonds Street (Auckland). Large additions will shortly be made to the post-office buildings at Masterton, Nelson, Newton, and Whangarei. During the year a number of sites have been acquired with a view to erecting thereon post-office buildings when required. The increase in the number of motor-vehicles in use in the Department has necessitated the provision of further garage accommodation. The practice is to erect garages at places at which suitable accommodation for renting is not available or at which the renting of accommodation would be unprofitable. In order to keep the expenditure on garages as low as possible and to provide accommodation for motor-vehicles at places at which tradesmen are not available for the erection of garages, the Department is, by way of trial, having small movable garages constructed at a centre and forwarded in sections to the places at which they are required. The maintenance of departmental buildings and fittings involves considerable expenditure. Control of the expenditure was assumed by the Department from the beginning of the financial year 1928 -29. Previously such expenditure was controlled by the Public Works Department. SUGGESTIONS BOARD. Since the Suggestions Board was constituted in August, 1927, 612 suggestions have been reviewed by the Board. In the case of twenty-five of these suggestions, awards totalling £115 10s. have been made. In the case of the remaining suggestions, the officers concerned have been commended or thanked for the suggestions. POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT, 1928. The several enactments of the General Assembly in and since 1908 relating to the Post Office, electric lines, and the Post and Telegraph Department were consolidated in the Post and Telegraph Act, 1928.

p.—l

8

POSTMASTER-GENERAL: RELINQUISHING OF OFFICE. The Hon. W. Nosworthy relinquished control of the Department on the 10th December, 1928, and the report herein is a record of the transactions undertaken principally during his tenure of office. The offices of Postmaster-General and Minister of Telegraphs were assumed by me on the 10th December, 1928. DETAILS OF REVENUE, ETC. Matters of detail with reference to the financial operations and business of the Department will be found at length in the statement and tables which follow. I have the honour to be, Your Excellency's most obedient servant, Jas. B. Donald, Postmaster-General. General Post Office, Wellington.

POST AND TELEGRAPH REVENUE for Years 1904 to 1929 in Graphic Form.

POST AND TELEGRAPH EXPENDITURE for Years 1904 to 1929 in Graphic Form.

ANNUAL REVENUE. Postal, Telegraph (including Tolls), and Telephone Branches.

F—1

F.—l

9

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1929.

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS.

The receipts and payments of the Department for the financial year 1928-29 are shown in the following table

The total cash value of the transactions of the Department, inclusive of the above, amounted to approximately £219,425,000 for the year.

Receipts and Payments for the Years 1881-82, 1891-92, 1901-02, 1911-12, 1921-22, and following Years.

2—F. 1.

Item. Postal. Telegraph. Total. Receipts. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Postages .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,146,761 4 OJ .. 1,146,761 4 OJ Money-order and postal-note commission .. .. 49,701 12 8 .. 49,701 12 8 Private box and bag rents and rural delivery fees .. 45,137 15 6 .. 45,137 15 6 Miscellaneous receipts .. .. .. .. 200,193 7 3£ 20,495 4 11J 220,688 12 3 Paid telegrams .. .. .. .. .. .. 404,564 17 1 404,564 17 1 Paid tolls .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 442,895 16 11J 442,895 16 11£ Telephone exchange rentals .. .. .. .. .. 1,135,795 8 2b 1,135,795 8 2£ Totals .. .. .. .. .. 1,441,793 19 6 2,003,751 7 2J 3,445,545 6 8£ Payments. Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. 679,649 8 4 954,339 12 8 1,633,989 1 0 Conveyance of ocean mails .. .. .. .. 67,508 14 7 .. 67,508 14 7 Conveyance of inland mails .. .. .. .. 135,468 15 4 .. 135,468 15 4 Con.veyanceofmailsbyra.il .. .. .. .. 114,400 0 0 .. 114,400 0 0 Maintenance of telegraph and telephone lines .. .. .. 131,299 0 8 131,299 0 8 Renewals and replacements .. .. .. .. .. 50,000 0 0 50,000 0 0 Motor services and workshops .. .. .. 37,622 0 0 24,856 19 11 62,478 19 11 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. 147,949 2 8 150,642 8 6 298,591 11 2 Interest on capital liability .. .. .. .. 117,235 0 5 310,764 19 7 428,000 0 0 1,299,833 1 4 1,621,903 1 4 2,921,736 2 8 Balance of receipts over payments .. .. .. 141,960 18 2 | 381,848 5 10J *523,809 4 0J Totals .. .. .. .. .. 1,441,793 19 6 12,003,751 7 2J 3,445,545 6 8£ * This balance is required to cover depreciation of the Department's assets, and has been invested.

Year. Receipts. Payments. Balance of Receipts Excess of Payments F 9 over Payments. over Receipts. 1 . £ £ £ £ 1881-1882 .. .. .. .. 234,529 233,291 1,238 1891-1892 .. .. .. .. 320,058 268,343 51,715 1901-1902 .. .. .. .. 488,573 465,756 22,817 1911-1912 .. .. .. .. 1,087,710 988,911 98,799 1921-1922 .. .. .. .. 2,811,535 2,451,571 359,964 1922-1923 .. .. .. .. 2,687,768 2,114.994 572,774 1923-1924 .. .. .. .. 2,688,954 2,120,584 568,370 1924-1925 .. .. 2,889.450 2,4.16,257 473.193 1925-1926 .. .. .. .. 3,100,396 2,409,556 690,840 1926-1927 .. .. .. .. 3,220,666 2,346,274 874,392 1927-1928 .. .. .. .. 3,329,511 2,299,571 1,029,940 1928-1929 .. .. .. .. 3,445,545 2,921,736* 523,809 * Includes payment of interest on capital liability, which was previously paid out of Consolidated Fund.

p.—l.

10

STAFF. Comparative Return of Persons employed in the Post and Telegraph Department. The total number of persons employed on the Ist April, 1928 and 1929, was as under :— Ist April, Ist April, Permanent staff — 1928. 1929. Administrative Division .. .. .. .. 4 4 Clerical and Engineering Divisions .. .. .. 3,519 3,453 Genera] Division .. .. .. .. .. 5,04.1 5,091 8,564 8,548 Temporary staff .. .. .. .. . . 165 159 Casual staff .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,061 1,104 9,790 9,811 Non-permanent staff— Country Postmasters and Telephonists .. . . 1,867 1,825 Postmasters who are Railway officers .. .. 96 91 11,753 11,727 Health of Permanent Staff. The following table gives the average absence of officers on sick leave : —■ Number on Average Absence per Average Absence for Staff. Sick Officer. each Officer employed. Men .. .. ..7,816 10-09 4-61 Women .. .. 732 15-38 9-50 Twenty-one officers died during the year. Personal. Mr. G. McNamara, Secretary of the Department, left New Zealand on the 12th March, 1929, to attend the Universal Postal Union Congress to be opened in London on the 10th May, 1929. During his absence Mr. J. Robertson, First Assistant Secretary, will act as Secretary ; Mr. M. B. Esson, Second Assistant Secretary, will act as First Assistant Secretary ; and Mr. W. J. Gow, Chief Postmaster, Auckland, will act as Second Assistant Secretary. CHANGE OF STAFF CONTROL. At Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin the positions of Superintendent, Telegraph Office, and Stores Manager have been abolished. The telegraph-offices and the stores branches at the places named are now under the control of the respective Chief Postmasters. REGRADING REPORT FORM. For regrading purposes a new form of report on officers in receipt of a salary of £295 per annum and over was brought into use during the year. The form was designed in order that a more comprehensive report might be obtained in respect of each officer's suitability for promotion and a greater degree of uniformity achieved in the assessment of the values of officers in regard to the various positions. RECLASSIFICATION OF THE SERVICE. The regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act, 1928, provide for the reclassification of the Service at intervals of not more than five years. The next regrading is effective from the Ist April, 1929. During the year the revaluation of positions was completed. The principle of reclassification applies to positions that have decreased as well as to those that have increased in value. Arising out of revaluation, 416 positions have been regraded, and appointments thereto, based upon the greatest merit for the particular position, have been made by the Public Service Commissioner on the recommendation of the Departmental Promotion Board. APPEAL BOARD. The Post and Telegraph Appeal Board, under the chairmanship of Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., sat on three occasions during the year. Ni ne ty~fi ye appeals were dealt with, of which two were allowed. DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL. Officers continue to make full use of the Departmental Correspondence School, which provides tuition in subject-matter relative to various departmental examinations. There were 1,280 enrolments in 1928. The curriculum is to be extended in the near future to include the subject of automatic telephony.

11

F.—l.

EXAMINATIONS. The number of officers who entered for departmental efficiency examinations held during the year was 1,812. The candidates who were either wholly or partially successful numbered 959. BUILDINGS. During the year buildings were erected as follows :— Post-office buildings— Herekino. Tokoroa. Hinds. Waikaia. Te Akau. Waverley. (The building at Tokoroa was erected by the local settlers, half the cost being borne by the Department.) Garages— Dunedi'n. *Tokomaru Bay. Featherston. Waipu (old stable converted). Henderson (movable type). *Waipukurau. Lumsden (small shed converted). * Waverley. Papakura (additional). Increased or improved accommodation for departmental purposes has been provided at the following places : — Ashburton. Mokauiti. Ashhurst. Ohinewai. Auckland (central telephone exchange, Papakura. Wellesley Street). Paparoa. Avondale. Pembroke. Gore. Te Teko. Hanmer Springs. Waikanae. Hawera. Walton. Kaponga. Waipukurau. Matamata. Wellington (Radio). Milton. Wellington (Savings-bank Branch, C.P.0.). The following works are in progress : — Greymouth (addition and alterations). Mercer (new post-office building). Napier (new chief post-office building). Ohakune (garage and store, and accommodation for " carrier current " telephone equipment). Rotorua (addition and alterations). Shirley (new post-office building). The erection of new post-office buildings at the following places has been authorized :— Courtenay Place (Wellington). New Lynn. Cust. Northcote. Dunedin. Palmerston (South). High Street (Christchurch). Additions and alterations at the following places have been authorized :— Cromwell. Newton. Invercargill. Wairoa. Masterton. Whangarei. Nelson. Sites. —A site for a post-office building was purchased at Grey Lynn, and sites for storage purposes were bought at Invercargill and Palmerston North. Additional land for the post-office site at Hastings was taken in March, 1928, under the Public Works Act. Agreement as to compensation has not yet been reached. The purchase has been authorized of a post-office site at Birkenhead, and storage sites at Dannevirke and Gisborne. A lease was entered into with the Railway Department for the use of an area of land at Newmarket, with buildings thereon. It is intended to use the buildings as workshops, &c. In the report for the year 1924-25 reference was made to an exchange of real estate between Government and the Auckland City Council which resulted in the transfer to the Council of the Auckland East (Shortland Street) Post-office building and site. Owing to difficulties which subsequently arose, and on which agreement has not been reached, the exchange has not yet been effected.

* Garage arid store.

F.—l

12

Miscellaneous.—The separate wooden public-telephone cabinets which had been in use for a number of years outside the chief post-office building, Auckland, were replaced by two sets of cabinets constructed of bronze. At Dunedin, excavation in connection with building operations on the land adjoining the automatic telephone-exchange building made it imperative to strengthen the foundations of the exchange building. At Kurow, Lincoln, Little River, Waika.ri, and Woodlands the postal business was separated from the railway business, separate accommodation for the post-office being provided in each case in the railway-station building. The cost of the necessary alterations to the railway-station premises was borne by the Post and Telegraph Department. In December the railway-station premises at Kurow, in which the post-office was conducted, were destroyed by fire. Consideration is now being given to the question of erecting a separate post-office building. In the meantime the post-office is accommodated in temporary premises. Extensive alterations were made to the accommodation occupied by the Savings-bank Branch of the Chief Post-office, Wellington, in order to relieve congestion in the public space and to facilitate the transaction of business. Improved strong-room accommodation was provided in the General Post Office building. OVERSEAS MAILS. The R.M.M.S. " Aorangi" and R.M.S. " Niagara" continue to carry mails under contract between Auckland and Vancouver, and the R.M.S. " Makura " and " Tahiti " continue to carry mails under contract between Wellington and San Francisco. The average times of transmission of mails during the year were as follow : Auckland to London (via Vancouver), 30-8 days ; London to Auckland (via Vancouver), 30-8 days ; Wellington to London (via San Francisco), 29-5 days ; London to Wellington (via San Francisco), 31-4 days. The contracts for the two services expired on the 31st March, 1929, but it was arranged with the contractor (the Union Steam Ship Co. of New Zealand, Ltd.) for the contracts to be extended for a further term of one year —i.e., to the 31st March. 1930. «r INLAND MAIL-SERVICES. The South Island mail-service contracts were relet in the latter part of 1928, the services in the Invercargill Postal District undergoing greater change than those in any other part of the South Island. The result has been increased efficiency at a reduced cost. In July, 1928, the railway-line between Paeroa and Tauranga was completed, connecting the latter place and the districts east thereof with the main railway system. The completion of this work enabled the Department to despatch mails for Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty district the whole distance by train, thus rendering unnecessary the two main trunk road services between Waihi and Tauranga, and Rotorua and Whakatane. With the making of other changes of a minor nature an improvement has been effected in the general mail-service arrangements of the districts concerned. In November, 1928, floods in the Wairarapa and Manawatu districts dislocated mail-service arrangements to some extent. Interruptions were caused in the service between Levin and Foxton ; and, owing to the blocking of the Manawatu Gorge by a large slip, considerable delays occurred in the despatch of mails between the Manawatu and the Wairatrapa and Hawke's Bay districts. In November, 1928, a mail-car engaged in the performance of the Palmerston North - Tangimoana mail-service caught fire. A mail-bag and a number of private bags belonging to settlers were destroyed. In June, 1928, a separate contract was entered into under which parcels for Wairoa, which were formerly despatched irregularly by sea, usually about once a week, are forwarded overland daily. The new facility removed a certain amount of discontent which had existed in Wairoa because of the lack of a regular parcel exchange. The schooner " Elsie Mary " while on a trip from Gisborne to Auckland had to be abandoned on the 18th March, 1929, off the Aldermen Islands. Besides general cargo, the vessel carried five hampers of mail-matter. The mails were lost with the vessel. RURAL DELIVERIES. Requests for the establishment of rural mail-services have been numerous in the Invercargill Postal District, and the more settled southern areas of the country now have a network of rural deliveries, most of which are daily in frequency. The farmers of Southland fully appreciate the great advantage of being able to transact postal business at or near the gates of their homesteads. There are now in the Dominion over 19,000 settlers who are rural box-holders. " HOUSEHOLDER " CIRCULARS. The revenue from "Householder" circulars posted during the year was £11,511, as against £7,384 for the previous twelve months. The number of " Householder" circulars posted was 5,697,714.

13

F.—l

MISSING POSTAL PACKETS. During the year 6,276 inquiries for missing postal packets were investigated by the Department, with the result that 3,728 of the packets, or approximately 60 per cent, of the total number, were traced or satisfactorily accounted for. The position regarding responsibility for the delay in delivery may be summarized as follows : Sender responsible for delay, 1,086 ; addressee responsible for delay, 1,329 ; Post Office responsible for delay, 361 ; no delay, or responsibility not fixed, 952. In 2,548 cases the manner in which the packets were disposed of could not be ascertained. Compared with the total number of articles posted, this represents a loss of 0-00102 per cent. As has been mentioned in earlier reports, it is a remarkable fact that postal packets containing bank-notes and other articles of readily negotiable value form a surprisingly large part- of the unregistered mail-matter carried by the Post Office. Such unregistered packets constitute a source of continuous temptation to all persons, outside as well as inside the Post Office, through whose hands they pass. INSPECTION. Inspectors paid 1,854 visits of inspection to post-offices during the year. REGISTRATION OF MOTOR-VEHICLES. During the year ended the 31st March, 1929, 18,739 cars, 4,167 commercial vehicles, and 4,768 cycles—a total of 27,674 vehicles—were registered. The registrations during December, 1928—viz., 2,701 cars, 467 commercial vehicles, and 517 cycles, a total of 3,685 —were higher in number than during any other month since the Motor-vehicles Act, 1924, came into operation. Deputy Registrars of Motor-vehicles were required to collect in the behalf of the Government Statistician returns covering the operations of organized motor-transport services during May and November. Statements of the number of registrations recorded in the central register at the end of each month are now supplied to the Census and Statistics Office for insertion in the Monthly Abstract of Statistics. A special return covering the registration of all trucks in the Dominion was prepared for the Transport Department. The following figures show the number of motor-vehicle registrations (including dormant registrations) as at the 31st March, 1929 : — North Island. Cars .. .. .. .. .. ~ 82,360 Commercial vehicles .. .. .. .. .. 19,809 Cycles .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21,846 124,015 South Island. Cars .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 48,196 Commercial vehicles .. .. .. .. .. 8,970 Cycles .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15,398 72,564 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 196,579 The above figures do not include those vehicles for which 3,200 demonstration-plates were issued to dealers. Registrations which were cancelled between the coming into operation of the Motor-vehicles Act, 1924, and the 31st March, 1929, are as follow North Island. Cars .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,319 Commercial vehicles .. .. .. .. 1,426 Cycles 2,900 — 7,645 South Island. Cars .. .. .. .. ■ • ■ ■ 2,302 Commercial vehicles .. .. ... .. .. 811 Cycles 2,755 ■ 5,868 Total .. .. .. 13,513 The total number of vehicles registered during the period Ist January, 1925, to 31st March, 1929, was 210,092. The Motor-vehicles Insurance (Third-party Risks) Act, 1928, which prescribes that Deputy Registrars of Motor-vehicles are to collect the insurance premiums payable under the Act, does not come into operation so far as motor-vehicle owners are concerned until the beginning of the 1929-30 relicensing period, which is to commence on the 15th April, 1929. All the necessary preparatory work in connection with the collection of the premiums is well in hand. It was found necessary during the year to obtain more commodious accommodation in which to carry out the work of the Registrar of Motor-vehicles. As the additional space required could not be made available in the General Post Office building, Wellington, the central register and staff were accommodated in Nathan's Buildings, Grey Street, AVellington.

F.—l

14

Graph showing the Total Number of Motor-vehicles of all Classes registered Monthly from April, 1925.

REFUND OF DUTY ON MOTOR-SPIRITS. The Motor-spirits Taxation Act, 1927, which, prescribes that persons using motor-spirits for purposes other than as fuel for a motor-vehicle in respect of which an annual license fee is payable under the Motor-vehicles Act, 1924, came into operation on the 7th January, 1928. The Act prescribed that all claims for refunds had to be made within a period of ninety days from the date of consumption of the motor-spirit. The experience gained in dealing with refunds during the first two quarters showed clearly that sufficient time in which to lodge applications had not been allowed by the principal Act. In 1928 steps were taken, therefore, to amend the principal Act to provide that claims are to cover the quarterly periods ending respectively on the last days of March, June, September, and December in each year. The time allowed for lodging claims was extended to permit of applications being lodged at any time during the month following the close of a quarterly period. Now that claimants are more fully acquainted with the requirements of the Act, it is hoped that complaints will be reduced to a minimum. Return showing the Amount of Duty refunded on Motor-spirit consumed during the Year ended 31st December, 1928. at ~i. c m • Amount Refunded. JN umber oi Claims. „ , £ s. d. March quarter .. .. .. .. 2,773 6,902 10 5 June quarter .. .. .. .. .. 4,142 14,576 611 September quarter .. .. .. .. 4,186 12,820 5 2 December quarter .. .. .. .. 5,290 14,828 14 1 Total .. .. .. .. 16,391 £49,127 16 7 DEPARTMENTAL MOTOR-VEHICLES. At the 31st March, 1929, there were in use by the Department 116 motor-cars ; 432 motorlorries, trucks, and vans ; and 37 motor-cycles —a total of 585 vehicles. During the year 124 new vehicles were purchased, and 94 vehicles were withdrawn from service for disposal at auction. WORKSHOPS. Throughout the year the workshops at the four principal centres and in certain of the smaller towns coped successfully with the upkeep of departmental equipment, which, especially in regard to electrical and mechanical appliances, is steadily increasing both in variety and in extent. The departmental motor fleet was adequately maintained, practically the whole of the work of overhauling and repairing being undertaken in the Department's workshops. In addition, other Departments largely availed themselves of the facilities afforded by the Post and Telegraph workshops for attending to motor-vehicles. At Wellington and Auckland a number of motor-bodies of the commercial type have been built, including four thirty-seat-bus bodies on account of the Education Department for the conveyance of school-children at Ruawai, North Auckland.

F.—l

15

Manufacturing is restricted almost entirely to the Wellington workshops, where the plant is more suitable for this class of work. The principal manufactures during the year consisted of telephone and telegraph equipment, office furnishings, parcel-post boxes, metal rural mail-boxes, wicker parcelpost hampers, and public-telephone cabinets. In addition, rubber stamps were manufactured to meet the requirements of the whole of the Public Service. The returns of the various workshops show that the value of the work performed during the year amounted to a total of £95,025, of which £9,139 represents the value of services rendered to other Departments. STORES BRANCH. The following statement indicates the value of stores received and issued in the Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington Storekeeping Districts during the year ended the 31st March, 1929, and the value of stocks held at that date. For the purposes of comparison the particulars for the previous year are shown also : —

Purchases. The total value of stores purchased during the year was £484,218. Of this amount, £186,286 10s. 7d. represented the cost of stores for supply from within the Dominion, while £297,931 represented the cost of stores for supply from overseas. The total value of stores purchased during the previous year was £464,164 9s. 3d. Particulars of purchases arranged on account of other Departments under the Stores Control Board Regulations are set out hereunder. The figures for the previous year are shown also : —

The purchase was arranged of 145 motor-vehieles for other Departments, and of 124 motorvehicles for the Post and Telegraph Department. The figures for the previous year were 95 and 130 respectively. General Contracts. Full advantage is taken of the contracts let by the Stores Control Board. Orders placed under such contracts for cement, motor-spirit, and lubricating-oils amounted to £34,941. At the instance of the Post and Telegraph Department a contract was arranged through the Stores Control Board for the supply of the combined requirements of motor tires and tubes for various Departments. This contract resulted in economy to Government. Orders for Dominion Products. Full preference, as provided in the Customs tariff, has been given to goods manufactured in the Dominion, notwithstanding that this action has involved a greater expenditure than would have been the case had some of the orders been placed overseas. An amount of £12,748 was spent in the purchase of insulator-cups manufactured in the Dominion, and £10,847 in the purchase of 19,856 silver-pine poles. Rata and other timber of a value of £2,949 was obtained for cutting into telegraph arms.

1928-29. 1927-28. .. . , * . ... Stock in hand, t> • i * t * Stock in hand, Receipts* , Issues.* 3lst March, 1929. Reoel P ts -* Issues * 31st March, 1928. £ £ £ £ £ £ Auckland .. 229,089 254,924 100,882 201,514 209,992 126,716 Christchurch .. 151,933 143,869 83,824 163,338 166,310 75,760 Dunedin .. 82,805 101,751 41,051 108,977 111,294 59,997 Wellington .. 376,324 436,499 276,407 507,394 542,047 336,583 Totals .. 840,151 j 937,043 502,164 981,223 1,029,643 599,056 * Excluding transfers within storekeeping districts.

Value of Items purchased. Year ended Requisitions. I terns. ; Total. On Indent. j Locally. I j £ £ £ 31st March, 1929 .. 3,499 14,097 20,305 81,851 102,156 31st March, 1928 .. 3,301 13,529 22,632 91,587 114,219

F.—l

16

Sale of Obsolete and Unseeviceable Material. Auctions of obsolete and unserviceable material, including worn-out motor-vehicles from va.rious Departments, were held at Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington. The total value of property sold on account of the Post and Telegraph. Department was £10,831. This sum includes the value of scrap lead, copper wire, and other metals sold by tender. Marine Insurance Fund. The value of stores from countries within the Empire and from the United States of America imported under the Marine Insurance Fund was £208,990. Stores Rules. Rules relating to the Stores Branch were printed and issued for the guidance of officers concerned in the ordering, receipt, custody, issue, and disposal of stores. POST OFFICE. ARTICLES DELIVERED. The number of articles delivered in the Dominion, including those received from places overseas, during the year 1928, compared with the number in 1927, was as under : — 1928. 1927. Letters .. .. .. 154,922,174 150,112,575 3-20 Post-cards .. .. .. 5,402,400 4,815,581 12-18 Parcels .. .. .. 3,631,800 3,581,632 1-40 All other articles .. .. 106,376,061 92,504,917 14-99 270,332,435 251,014,705 AVERAGE NUMBER OF LETTERS POSTED PER UNIT OF POPULATION. 1928, 98-66. NUMBER OF POST-OFFICES IN DOMINION. Offices opened during the fifteen months ended the 31st March, 1929, 21; offices closed during the fifteen months ended the 31st March, 1929, 79; offices remaining open on 31st March, 1929, 1,897. UNDELIVERABLE POSTAL PACKETS. The following is a comparison of letters and other articles (including registered) dealt with as undeliverable during the year 1928, compared with those so dealt with during 1927 :—

The proportion of undeliverable letters to the total number of letters delivered was 0-45 per cent. In 1927|the proportion was 049 per cent. MISCELLANEOUS. 1928. 1927. Letters and letter-cards posted without addresses .. .. .. .. 13,888 17,289 Letters imperfectly or insufficiently addressed .. .. .. ..23,972 25,348 Letters intercepted on account of libellous addresses . . .. .. 66 204 Newspapers received without addresses .. .. .. .. .. 8,016 7,613 Other articles received without addresses .. .. . . .. . . 5,099 4,485 Newspapers returned to publishers as undeliverable .. .. .. 42,949 41,447 Articles bearing previously used stamps .. .. . . .. .. 80 65

Returned direct Returned direot Returned to other Eeturned to 0 ther Destroyed V f° to Senders minis ra ions Administrations (Senders unknown Titnl Year. from Chief from Dead . ffl from ,^ ief . , from Dead and Contents of Total " Request "T Letter ° ffiee " Req£t "T Letter 0ffioe - n ° Value) " Letters. 1928.. [ 283,921 280,645 j 64,781 34,000 I 29,692 693,039 1927.. | 306,421 292,897 | 63,173 44,146 | 35,542 742,179 Registered Articles (included in above Totals). 1928.. 11,785 I 9,639 I .. 961 | | 1927.. .. I 9,675 | .. 946 .. j Other Articles. 1928.. 260,106 11,317 115,596 1 3,208 I .. 390,227 1927.. 211,056 8,846 121,599 | 26,571 j .. 368,072

17

F.—l

During 1928 there were dealt with in the Dead Letter Office 5,185 packets (other than parcels) the contents of which gave little or no indication of the senders' names or addresses. In a large number of these cases special effort on the part of the Dead Letter Office was successful in tracing either the senders or the addressees. Four hundred and thirty-four letters from overseas bearing insufficient or wrong addresses were specially dealt with, and in the majority of these cases correct delivery was effected. An auction of unclaimed packets and parcels was held during the year, at which 159 bundles of miscellaneous articles were sold. PROHIBITED POSTAL PACKETS. During the year 644 letters addressed to persons or firms the transmission of correspondence for whom is prohibited under section 32 of the Post and Telegraph Act, 1928, were intercepted and forwarded to the Dead Letter Office. (In 1927 the number was 980.) The letters for the most part were addressed to agents of art unions or lotteries in other countries. Some were addressed to recognized quacks, while others were addressed to persons who deal in obscene books or pictures, or are engaged in fraudulent business. REGISTER OF NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES. Sixteen newspapers were registered for transmission by post, and twenty-seven were removed from the register. Six magazines were registered, and eight were removed from the register. The number of registered newspapers on the 31st March, 1929, was 289, and the number of registered magazines 302. POSTAGE-STAMPS. In February, 1928, a new centre-plate was made for the 3d. denomination of the postage-due series of stamps, and stamps printed from the new plate were first issued in the following May. The same design is now in use for the whole series, which comprises the denominations Jd., Id., 2d., and 3d. Stamp-vending machines continue to render a beneficial service to the public with almost unfailing regularity. During the year four additional machines were installed. CUSTOMS PARCELS. The following table shows the declared value of goods received by parcel-post from places abroad and the Customs duty thereon ; also the declared value of goods despatched by parcel-post to places abroad. The figures for the years 1928 and 1927 are shown in each case : — 1928. 1927. £ s. d. £ a. d. Declared value of received parcels .. 1,523,924 0 0 1,491,441 0 0 Customs duty .. .. .. 351,896 15 4 331,277 8 5 Declared value of forwarded parcels .. 91,651 0 0 88,650 0 0 CUSTOMS EXAMINATION OF POST PARCELS AND PACKETS AT PALMERSTON NORTH. The Customs Department is about to appoint a Customs officer at Palmerston North for the purpose of assessing Customs duty on post parcels and packets. The assessing of Customs duty at Palmerston North will expedite the delivery of overseas post parcels and packets in Palmerston North and the surrounding district, because it will no longer be necessary for the articles to be held at Wellington until the addressees forward documents for the assessment of Customs duty. POSTAL NOTES. The method of remitting small sums to places within the Dominion by means of postal notes continues to be popular, and, although the number of postal notes issued during the year ended the 31st March, 1929, was 38,233 less than in the case of the previous year, the value increased by £42,411. The sales for the year were 3,575,984 postal notes, of a total value of £1,057,624, as against 3,614,217, of a total value of £1,015,213, sold during the previous year. The commission totalled £24,298 3s. Id., an increase of £453 12s. Id. on that for the previous year. BRITISH POSTAL ORDERS. British postal-order business shows a slight increase : 155,680 orders, of a value of £87,046 9s. lid., were sold during the year, as against 153,286 orders, of a value of £86,955 10s. 3d., sold during the previous year. The number of orders paid was 33,652, of a value of £19,904, as against 33,360, of a value of £19,927, paid during the previous year. HOME SAVINGS-BANK BOXES. A reduction in manufacturing charges enabled the price of home savings-bank boxes to be reduced from the Ist March, 1929, from 4s. to 2s. 6d. each. The boxes are sold slightly below landed cost, but, having regard to the value of the boxes in the inculcation of the habit of thrift, the slight loss incurred is considered to be justified. Once in a home savings-bank box, money is as good as banked, because the only person who can open the box is an officer of the Post Office Savings-bank.

3—F. 1.

F.—l

18

TELEGRAPH AND TOLL SERVICES. INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPH CONVENTION, BRUSSELS, 1928 : CODE LANGUAGE. At the International Telegraph Conference held in Paris in 1925 it was decided that the next Conference should be held at Brussels in 1930. At the Paris Conference a special committee was set up for the study of the conditions of admission in international telegraph correspondence of code language. The Conference was impelled to such action because the rule regarding pronounceability of code language had become a dead-letter, and a practical solution of the problem was urgently desired. In reporting the result of its deliberations the Committee stated that, notwithstanding a spirit of conciliation and mutual concessions, agreement could not be reached on the matter. Under Article 88 of the regulations annexed to the International Telegraph Convention, which provided that the date selected for an International Telegraph Conference might be advanced upon demand by at least ten of the contracting administrations, initiative was taken by the French Administration, resulting in the holding of the Conference in September, 1928, instead of in 1930. The scope of the Conference was limited to consideration of the question of code language. New Zealand was represented by Mr. F. Strong, of the British Post Office. At the Conference there were two opposing points of view—one that the existing regulations should be maintained, and the other that code language should be reduced from ten to five letters, without regard to pronounceability. By way of compromise it was decided to maintain the ten-letter code system with the exceptions that (a) the rule requiring code words to be pronounceable is abandoned ; (b) a new rule is made requiring code words of six, seven, or eight letters to embody at least two vowels, and code words containing nine or ten letters to contain three vowels. A five-letter code system is to be instituted at reduced rates without conditions as to vowels or pronounceability. The date fixed for the coming into operation of the new order is the Ist October, 1929. It is considered that the new provisions represent a satisfactory compromise on the subject of code language, and will solve what has been an exceedingly difficult problem in connection with international telegraph correspondence. GENERAL ELECTION, 1928. The general election held on the 14th November, 1928, caused as usual a great amount of extra work for the Department. Arrangements were made throughout the Dominion for the speedy handling of election returns and of the multitude of other telegrams incidental to the occasion. It is gratifying to record that the work was handled with accuracy and promptitude. The staff responded cheerfully despite the long hours of duty and the arduous conditions which are inevitable upon such occasions. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY FOOTBALL TEAM : TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA. During the tour of South Africa by the New Zealand Rugby football team arrangements were made for the results of the matches to be communicated to all telegraph and telephone offices and telephone exchanges in the Dominion. Result notices were exhibited at all offices immediately upon receipt of the news, and the information was also made available to telephone-exchange subscribers upon request. Result news received on Sundays was disseminated by telephone exchanges, while result news received on week-days was circulated by telegraph. Evidence of public appreciation of the Department's action in thus keeping the public apprised of the results was not lacking. The Department is indebted to the United Press Association, Ltd., for permission to utilize messages from the Association's correspondent with the team. TELEGRAPH ARRANGEMENTS AT PLACES AT WHICH RACE MEETINGS ARE IN PROGRESS ON SATURDAYS. At places at which race meetings are held on Saturday afternoons, and at which the telegraphoffices normally close at 5 p.m., it has been arranged for the telegraph-offices to remain open until the result of the last race is reported by the agent of the Press Association. This course was adopted to meet the wishes of the Press Association. PRESS TELEGRAPH ATTENDANCE AT FOUR CHIEF CENTRES ON DEPARTMENTAL HOLIDAYS. Attendance from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for press purposes is now observed on departmental holidays at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The cost of the additional attendance is made a charge against the Press Association. TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE OFFICES OPEN FOR BUSINESS. During the year eighteen offices were opened and forty-seven closed. The number of offices remaining open at the 31st March, 1929, was 2,139, classified as follows :— Telephone-offices and toll stations combined . . .. .. .. 1,760 Morse telegraph-offices and toll stations combined . . . . .. 350* Telephone-offices (no toll station) .. .. .. .. .. 7 Morse telegraph-offices (no toll station) .. .. .. .. 4f Toll-station (no telephone-office) .. .. .. .. .. 9 Radio-telegraph stations (including coast stations, Auckland, Awanui, Awarua, Chatham Islands, and Wellington) .. .. . . 9 . _

* Six converted from telephone to morse, and two from morse to telephone, f Mangahao-Hydro closed,

F.—i

19

TELEGRAPH AND TOLL TRAFFIC. The figures which follow show the position in regard to telegraph and telephone traffic; Fuller information is contained in Table 10.

Total of all Classes of Messages and Value thereof.

Schedule of Paid Telegrams, Cable Messages, and Toll Communications. Number. Value. Ordinary .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,646,947 484,386 Urgent .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 234,102 22,722 Press .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 577,327 77,590 Letter .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 402,517 17,895 Toll communications .. .. .. .. .. .. 10,655,450 442,896 17,516,343 1,045,489 Less net amount paid to other Administrations on cable and radio messages .. J 98,028 Net total for paid messages of all codes, 1928-29 .. .. .. 17,516,343 847,461 Net total for paid messages of all codes, 1927-28 .. .. .. 16,523,001 801,946 UNIVERSAL-BATTERY SYSTEM AT PALMERSTON NORTH. The universal-battery system of telegraph operation was installed at Palmerston North on the 2nd May, 1928, some ] ,500 primary cells being replaced by 160 secondary cells. In consequence a considerable reduction in maintenance costs has been effected and a better and more efficient service obtained. In connection with the above-mentioned installation, a system was introduced whereby small neighbouring towns having a community of interest are given direct telegraph communication with each other, thus obviating re-transmission by Palmerston North. MACHINE-PRINTING TELEGRAPHS. Machine-printing telegraph circuits continue to function satisfactorily. Several local modifications and improvements have been made which have increased still further the efficiency and reliability of the system. TOLL COMMUNICATIONS: REDUCTION OF RATE FOR URGENT CALLS BETWEEN 8 P.M. AND 8 A.M. The rates for urgent toll communications between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. were reduced from the 24th September, 1928, to one-half the urgent rates ruling between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., except that the minimum charge for an urgent call is fixed at Bd. The effect of the change is to make the urgent rate at all times double the rate applicable at the time the call is made. LISTS OF TOLL STATIONS IN TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES. In addition to the list of exchanges with which communication may be obtained, each telephone directory will in future contain a list of toll stations in the postal district in which the directory is distributed. TOLL SERVICE : IMPROVED METHODS OF OPERATION. The speeding-up the time of completion of toll calls and reducing to a minimum the number of uncompleted calls were given attention during the year. The system of direct dialling between exchanges, to which reference was made in last year's report, was extended, and resulted in a much speedier toll service being provided between the various exchanges concerned without involving any increase in the toll operating staff.

1928-29. 1 1927-28. ! Increase. j I nc » asE > per Cent. I Number.. .. .. 17,560,372 16,567,514 992,858 5'65 Value .. .. .. £851,159* £805,560 i £45,599 5'35 * Includes £3,698 representing the value of franked Government telegrams and urgent marine telegrams.

p.—l

20

The provision of facilities for direct dialling enables the toll operator at a calling station to dial the wanted subscriber at a distant automatic exchange without invoking the assistance of the operator at the distant exchange. Thus in the case of a toll communication from Wellington to Blenheim the toll operatcr at Wellington is able to dial the wanted subscriber at Blenheim direct, while in the case of a Blenheim subscriber wanting a toll conversation with Wellington the Blenheim toll operator is able to dial the number of the subscriber required at Wellington. Direct dialling between exchanges is now in operation between Lower Hutt and Wellington (six circuits) ; between Paekakariki and Wellington ; between Wellington and Blenheim (two circuits), both ways ; between Wellington and Masterton, both ways ; between Napier and all exchanges which have direct access to Napier, including Gisborne, Wairoa, and Hastings ; between Dannevirke and Napier, both ways : and between Palmerston North and Dannevirke, both ways. Further extensions are being arranged, and ultimately all exchanges which can communicate direct with automatic exchanges will be able to dial the subscribers at such exchanges direct. Another and an even more marked improvement in the speed of toll service was effected by the introduction between Napier and Hastings, and between Lower Hutt and Wellington, of the combined line and recording method of operating (commonly known as the C.L.R. method), the aim of which is to complete as many toll calls as possible while the calling party remains at the telephone. The adoption of this method of operating has resulted in a greatly improved and faster service. In ordinary toll practice at the larger exchanges particulars of toll calls required by subscribers are recorded by one operator, and the actual line work (i.e., the establishing of the connections) is done by another operator. This practice entails the dismissal of the subscriber after particulars of the call have been recorded, and the recalling of the subscriber when the attention of the station required is secured. Under the C.L.R. method of operating the special recording operator is eliminated, and the recording and line work is done by the line operator. This enables a toll call to be completed at the time of application. The C.L.R. method saves toll-line and operating time. The subscriber also benefits in that he either obtains his toll connection or receives a definite report in connection therewith before hanging up his receiver. In countries where the C.L.R. method of operation has been extensively applied a very large majority of the toll calls are completed while the calling subscriber remains at the telephone. Owing to toll-line limitations, such extensive application of the system is not practicable in New Zealand. It is the intention, however, to install the system between a number of places which have a large community of interest. In order that the maximum efficiency under these two new methods of operation may be obtained, it is essential that the calling subscriber should furnish the toll operator with the telephonenumber as well as the name of the wanted subscriber. The Department has intimated to frequent users of the toll lines that if they will furnish the names of the persons with whom they often communicate by toll the Department will supply lists showing the telephone-numbers of such subscribers. Already a number of toll users have availed themselves of the opportunity of obtaining such numbered lists. Toll operators are being required, at the time a call is being established, to furnish the called telephone-number to the calling party, in order that the calling party may note the number for future use. By the introduction of these and other improvements in the methods of operating, all of which have been effected with due regard to economy, the average length of time involved in completing toll calls has been substantially reduced and the toll service still farther popularized. RETURN OF TOLL-CALL DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS. With the development of the telephone service and the growing tendency to resort to the telephone for long-distance communication, it is necessary that requests for toll communications should be satisfied with the least possible delay. It is satisfactory to record that the efforts made to obtain the highest possible efficiency in this direction are meeting with good results. The following return taken over a short period illustrates the number and percentage of calls satisfied within certain times after the receipt of the applications. It indicates also the percentage of calls cancelled, and the reasons for the cancellations.

Calls.

I ■ 1 Full Rate. Half Rate. Number. PerCent. Number. Per Cent. Calls connected with less than 5 minutes' delay.. 238,529 77 ; 9 30,635 57-2 10 „ 39,465 12-9 8,068 15-1 15 „ .. 14,085 4-6 4,372 8-2 Calls connected with more than 15 minutes'delay 14,038 4-6 10,418 19-5 Totals .. .. .. 306,117 100-0 53,493 100-0 Total number of calls during the period, 359,610.

21

H—l

Cancellations. Number. Per Cent. Line out of order .. .. .. .. .. 1,044 0-29 Unable to wait .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,444 0-4 Crossed call .. .. .. .. .. .. 564 0-16 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. . . .. 753 021 Totals .. .. .. .. 3,805 1-06 RELAY LINES FOR RADIO BROADCASTING PURPOSES. With the increasing use by the Radio Broadcasting Co. of New Zealand, Ltd., of programmes received over land lines from distant sources, the provision of suitable lines for temporary use in this connection has become a matter of some importance. The faithful transmission of music, with its comparatively wide frequency-spectrum, requires lines of much greater transmission efficiency than are necessary for ordinary speech. It is gratifying to report that whenever called upon the Department's telephone-lines have given excellent service under such exacting requirements. EXTENSION OP TOLL AND TELEGRAPH FACILITIES. Not the least important of the Department's engineering operations during the year was the extension of the network of toll and telegraph lines, and the replacement of plant which had become worn out or inadequate for present-day traffic requirements. In almost every part of the country some additional facility was provided for the purpose of relieving congestion of traffic or for giving service to some backblocfe settlement that had not previously enjoyed the privileges or conveniences of the telephone. In addition, the speech efficiency of toll circuits and the physical condition of the lines were considerably improved by a large amount of reconstruction work, which comprised the re-erection of pole-lines, the replacing or respacing of poles, the strengthening of existing poles, the regulation of wires, the rearranging of transpositions, the substitution of copper for iron wires, and the re-erection of circuits on the twist system. The cost of the year's operations in effecting improvements and in making extensions to the toll and telegraph facilities throughout the Dominion amounted to £88,998. In addition, an expenditure of £17,586 was involved in renewing or replacing plant and equipment which had become worn out, inadequate, or obsolete. As indicated elsewhere in this report, traffic-congestion between certain places where there is a large volume of toll traffic was relieved by the superposing of the " carrier current " system over existing circuits without entailing the erection of any additional wire. Between other places, however, for economical and other reasons, this method of relieving traffic-congestion was either impracticable or unwarranted. In such cases rearrangements were made to existing circuits or additional circuits erected. The various rearrangements of the toll and telegraph lines, and the new circuits erected during the year, are detailed hereunder : — Traffic-congestion between Maungakaramea on the one hand and Whangarei and Waipu on the other was relieved by the erection of a metallic circuit between Maungakaramea and the direct line connecting Whangarei and Waipu. By a rearrangement of circuits and the utilization of a spare pair of wires between Auckland and Waiwera, Matakana was given a direct line to Auckland. The effect of this rearrangement was to relieve congestion at Warkworth and at the same time to give Matakana speedier communication with Auckland. By dividing at Wellsford the two Helensville-Dargaville metallic circuits, Wellsford was given direct communication with both Helensville and Dargaville. The over-all efficiency of the two metallic circuits referred to was also improved by establishing Wellsford as a switching-station. The toll facilities from Kaeo to Mangonui, Ohaeawai, and Kaikohe were considerably improved by dividing at Kaeo an existing circuit connecting Mangonui and Ohaeawai. The Hokianga Heads line, which serves several stations, was appreciably relieved of congestion by converting from earth-working to metallic the section of line between Opononi and a point four miles from Rawene. The toll facilities at Towai were improved by placing that station across a trunk circuit connecting Whangarei and Kawakawa. The stations on Waiheke Island were provided with an additional circuit to Auckland. This involved the laying of a new submarine cable (3-766 nautical miles in length) between Maraetai and Awaroa. Traffic-congestion between Te Aroha and Hamilton was considerably relieved by the erection between those places of a new metallic circuit. As a result of the reconstruction of the Cambridge-Napier line (to which reference was made in last year's report) a new direct telephone circuit was obtained between Hamilton and Taupo. The extension of the Wairakei circuit to Oruanui also enabled all the small toll stations to be removed from

t\—i

22

the Rotorua-Taupo circuit. This rearrangement, together with the erection of a new circuit betweeh Rotorua and Atiamuri, resulted in a clear trunk circuit being obtained between Rotorua and Taupo. Toll and telegraphic facilities between Gisborne and Wairoa were improved by the erection of a new metallic circuit between Gisborne and Morere. The new circuit, together with those previouslyexisting between Morere and Wairoa, enabled a redistribution of lines to be made which greatly assists the handling of toll communications in the area Gisborne -Morere-N'uhaka -Wairoa. The rearrangement of circuits also provided an additional telegraph-channel between Gisborne and Wairoa. The telegraph circuits extending northwards from Gisborne were improved by the substitution of intermittent for constant current working, and by transferring one of the circuits to the more accessible inland route between Ruatoria and Tokoma.ru Bay. Both the toll and telegraph circuits were made more secure from damage by flood at Tikitiki by the provision of a more substantial means of supporting the wires where they cross the Waiapu River. A reconstruction of the main line between Eskdale and Rangitaiki was carried out, copper wires being erected throughout the section and the toll circuits re-erected on the twist system. As a result, speech-transmission between the Napier district and Taupo, Rotorua, and Hamilton was considerably improved. A direct circuit was obtained between New Plymouth and Ingle wood by the removal of the Tarurutangi, Lepperton, and Centre Hill toll stations to the Inglewood-Waitara circuit. A direct circuit was obtained also between New Plymouth and Eltham by a rearrangement of the existing wires. A new metallic circuit was erected between Palmerston North and Wanganui, and a number of the existing wires rearranged. As a result, one additional toll circuit was obtained between Palmerston North and Wanganui, one additional circuit between Marton and Wanganui, and another between Bulls and Marton. The toll facilities between Marton and Palmerston North were also improved, and the delay on toll traffic from the Taihape and Hunterville districts to the Wanganui and Taranaki districts was considerably reduced. The Wellington-Auckland metallic circuit was diverted into Palmerston North by running two pairs of wires between Sanson and Palmerston North. This work was carried out as a preliminary to the installation of the three-channel carrier system between Palmerston North and Hamilton, over which the Wellington-Auckland toll traffic is to be handled. The toll switching facilities at the Palmerston North Exchange were improved by the installation of a new record position on the switchboard, the original record position being utilized to provide an additional toll position. Improved telephone facilities were provided between Carterton and Greytown, and between Carterton and Featherston; in the former case by the erection of a new metallic circuit, and in the latter case by a rearrangement of the existing wires to form a phantom circuit. An additional toll outlet was provided between Dannevirke and Woodville by joining together at Maharahara two circuits which were no longer required by that office for communication with Dannevirke and Woodville respectively. The number of telephone circuits between Blenheim and Seddon was increased from four to five by the conversion of two existing telegraph circuits to a metallic circuit. A new telephone-line was erected from Te Namu to Wangapeka Valley in order to provide outlying settlers with telephone facilities. The congestion on the toll lines between Garfield and Coalgate, Christchurch and Leeston, and Rangiora and Oxford was eliminated by the erection of new metallic circuits. The facilities for toll communication between Tokarahi and Duntroon were greatly improved by the erection between those places of a new metallic circuit. The efficiency of the Duntroon - Maerewhenua, Lawrence - Clydevale, Kurow - Omarama, and Kurow-Wharua toll circuits was improved and their traffic-carrying capacity increased by their conversion from earth to metallic-circuit working. The toll-line system was extended to Motumote and Waitaki Hydro, and new toll stations were established at those places. Other improvements to the plant and equipment used in connection with the toll and telegraph services included the following : — An extension of the toll switchboard at Auckland by the installation of two additional operator's positions. The re-erection on the twist system of the Greatford - Marton, Levin - Foxton, and Wellington-Porirua sections of the Wellington-Auckland main-trunk telephone circuit. The rearrangement of the telegraph and toll leading-in cables, &c., at a number of offices, and the rewiring of several telegraph operating-rooms. The installation of lamp - signalling circuits between Wellington and Christchurch, and between Seddon and Christchurch, for the purpose of improving the facilities for handling inter-Island toll traffic. The substitution of electric motors for petrol-engines at Blenheim and Seddon for driving the battery-charging plant.

F.—l.

Reconstruction of Lines. The following table shows the sections of line reconstructed or partly reconstructed during the year : — o ~ Miles of Pole-line Miles of Wire Section. , , . , reconstructed. replaced. Auckland Engineering District— Thames-Turua .. .. .. .. 8J 6£ Turua - Netherton - Ngatea Junction .. .. ll| Ngatea-Waitakaruru .. .. .. 8J Hikutaia-Kopu .. .. .. .. .. 9| J Paeroa-Netherton .. .. .. s|-Rotorua-Atiamuri .. .. .. .. 28 84 Otahuhu-Mercer .. .. .. .. 30 270 Miranda -Kaiau .. .. .. .. 5 Miranda-Pokeno .. .. . . .. 21fMakarau branch line .. .. .. 2 4 Rawene-Opononi .. .. .. .. .. lOf 14£-Warkworth-Wayby .. .. .. ..4 12 Waipu-Ruakaka .. .. .. . . 12 Taupo - Atiamuri Junction . . .. .. 251 191 Taupo-Rangitaiki .. ... .. ..30 157^ Taumarunui-Houseboat .. .. .. .. 9| 9J Otorohanga-Otewa-Maihiihi .. .. .. 17i Mercer-Rangiriri .. .. .. .. 1J 35 Taupiri-Rangiriri .. .. . . 12 322 Raglan -Te Akau - Ngaruawahia .. .. .. 25J 37i Te Awamutu-Kawhia .. .. .. 1 4 Te Hoe - Hapuakohe toll line .. .. .. 14£ 29| Hamilton-Eureka .. .. .. .... 14| Ongarue-Matiere-Tapuiwahine .... 7 14 Wellington Engineering District— Napier-Rangitaiki .. .. . ..29 112 Raetihi-Kakatahi .. .. .. 20 40 Levin - Foxton Junction .. . . .. .... 11 Palmerston North - Sanson .. .. .. 14f Marton-Turakina .. .. .. .... 16 Waverley-Moeawatea .. .. .. 2 Douglas Ilniroa .. .. .. .. 2 Waitara-Urenui .. .. . . .. 2 2 Dannevirke-Norsewood .. .. .. 1 1 Wellington-Porirua .. .. .. 13 29 Wellington-Oteronga Bay .. .. .. 3 9 Lower Hutt - Wainuiomata .. .. 3J 3J Takaka - Upper Takaka .. .. . . . . 13i 40i Waka-Hira .. .. .. . . .. 2~ 16" Picton-Onauku .. .. .. .. 6 6 Canterbury Engineering District— Christchurch - Tai Tapu .. .. .. 9 92 Sockburn-Leeston .. .. .. .. 22 153 Sockburn-Hornby .. .. .. 3 66 Mendip Hills Junction - Oaro .. .. .. 15J 30i Darfield-Hororata .. . . .. 12 40 Rangiora-Oxford .. ... . . .. 21 108 Kaiapoi-Rangiora .. .. .. 7 84 Rakaia-Ashburton . . .. .. 1 125 Otago Engineering District— Riverton - Gummie's Bush .. .. 2| Lawrence-Clydevale .. .. .. .. 12| Kurow-Duntroon .. . . .. 14 44 Dunedin-Portobello .. .. .. i Kurow-Omarama .. .. .. .... 4 Tokarahi-Duntroon .. .. .. 2 Winton - Centre Bush .. .. .. 7 Tuatapere-Pukemaori .. .. .. 6f ' Kurow-Wharua .. .. .. .. .... 5| Pembroke-Cromwell .. .. .. 2| 8| Heriot-Dunrobin .. ~ .. .. 1

23

F.—l

24

MAINTENANCE OF LINES. Although there were no severe snowstorms during the year, gales of exceptional severity, accompanied by heavy rain, were frequent, and the stability of the lines in almost every part of the country was tested to the utmost. As a result the number of minor dislocations of traffic owing to trees being blown down and to wires contacting was much greater than usual. In only one or two cases, however, were the interruptions of more than twenty-four hours' duration, and these were due not so much to the extent of the damage as to the flooded state of the country severely hampering the operations of the line-repair parties. The fact that there was a complete absence of major breakdowns, notwithstanding the frequency and severity of the gales experienced, testified to the stability of the lines, and fully justified the Department's past policy of carrying out regular and systematic overhauls of its lines and of using only those classes of poles which had been proved equal to withstanding the severity of the elements. It also proved that although the initial cost of a line having a factor of safety adequate to meet local conditions may be high compared with that of one having an insufficient factor of safety, the extra initial outlay is more than recouped over a period of years by the saving in maintenance charges and by the reduction to a minimum of service interruptions. In connection with the construction and maintenance of its lines of communication, the Department has always to keep in mind the important fact that telegraph and telephone facilities are most needed in times of emergency, when it frequently happens that its communication system is called upon to stand the severest stresses of the elements. Owing to the presence of cobwebs and to the adhesion to the insulators of salt spray, much difficulty has been experienced in the past in maintaining satisfactory insulation on some of the highly exposed coastal routes. During the year this trouble was alleviated on the Napier-Hastings section by the adoption of a method of periodically cleaning the insulators by means of high-pressure steam generated by a portable boiler. As it is recognized that the periodical cleaning of insulators is a palliative only, exhaustive tests are being carried out with a view to determining the type of insulator least affected by salt spray. POLES AND WIRE. During the year 103 miles of pole-line and 938 miles of wire were erected for telegraph and telephone (toll) purposes, while 146 miles of pole-line and 548 miles of wire were dismantled, or, in localities where no longer required by the Department, sold to settlers for use as private telephonelines. The lengths of pole-line and wire in use for telegraph and telephone toll purposes on the 31st March, 1928 and 1929, respectively, were as follow : —

The telegraph and telephone wire in use on the 31st March, 1929 — viz., 62,992 miles —is classified as under :— Miles. Used exclusively for telephone toll traffic .. .. .. .. 4,509 Used exclusively for telegraph traffic . . .. . . . . 9,567 Used simultaneously and (or) conjointly for telegraph and telephone toll traffic .. .. .. .. .. .. .. '48,916 The total length of wire that may be used for telephone toll traffic is 53,425 miles ; the total length that may be used for the transmission of telegrams, 58,483 miles ; and the length of telephone toll-lines over which telegrams may be transmitted by telephone, 23,088 miles. The total length of Morse circuit derived from the superimposing of telephone circuits is 13,615 miles, and the total length of additional telephone toll circuit improvised from the existing wire circuits by the use of subsidiary apparatus associated therewith (so-called phantom working) is 6,755 miles. TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENTS AND BATTERIES. The following table shows the class and number of telegraph instruments and batteries in use at telegraph-offices for the year ended 31st March, 1929 : —-

•D«i* j w Year ended Year ended Pole-hne and Wire. 31st Marchj 1928 31et March) 1929 _ Miles of pole-line .. .. .. .. .. .. 12,771* 12,728 Miles of wire .. .. .. .. .. 62,602* 62,992 ! : I * Revised figures.

4—F. 1

p.—l

Return of Telegraph Instrument Sets and Batteries as at the 31st March, 1929.

25

•' I _ . . T i Primary Batteries. lelegraph Instrument bets. Storage Batteries other than M Univer- Number of Cells. Engineering District. Simplex. „ ... MuTZ C ™ tratora ' 131 ' 1 ~~ 1 Q«- d - Q-d- 'Itwf Q° r a d d i Sy8t6mS - W ° rMng ' Leclanche. g Con- I Inter- I Central ,, ruplex. ruplex j, T , , n e , I jg . .jtefojg c j| stant | mittent 1 Battery Current Lirrent Repeater * e ' ru P ex " " Number. Capacity. Number |g •§ Current j Current. Omnibus _ „ „ No. 1. No. 0. No. 2. o 3 <s I | Duplex) of Cells. 23 pq p Auckland .. 39 j 35 41 16 7 18 1 4 11 4 2 20 1 135 5,010 1,786 2,339 Wellington .. 62 148 22 6 23 14 6 4 10 10 2 20 2 350 8,749 229 5,249 205 78 Canterbury .. .. 36 85.. 6 8 6 4 1 3 2 20 1 6 3,197 404 1,642 127 Otago .. .. ..41 80 1 3 5 1 1 1 1 10 47 4,087 412 1,043 Totals.. .. 178 398 63 29 41 43 12 10 21 18 7 70 4 538 21,043 2,831 10,273 332 78

F.—l

26

NEW ZEALAND SUBMARINE CABLES. Cook Strait Cables. For many years there had been a perceptible weakness in one of the Cook Strait telegraph-cables (No. 3 Oteronga Bay), but it wks'so slight that it did not seriously affect the traffic-carrying capacity of the cable. Towards the end of 1927. however, the fault developed to such an extent that it was deemed advisable to take preliminary ■action with a view to. effecting repairs. Electrical tests from the shore located the fault at a poiit approximately two and. .a quarter nautical miles from the White Bay cable-hut (White Bay is the landing-point on the South Island for five of the Cook Strait telegraphcables). The work of repairing this cable presented unusual difficulties. It was not practicable to grapple in the locality of the fault, owing to the proximity of the four other cables entering the bay ; nor was it possible to underran the cable from the beach, owing to the fact that other cables crossed over the faulty one at several points between the fault and the beach, and it was known that ail cables were buried deeply in sand for some distance from the shore. In November-December, 1926, when the Pacific Cable Board's sjeamer " Iris " spent a considerable amount of time searching for a faulty cable in the locality situated about eight nautical miles from White Bay, it was found that the cables were so deeply buried that thpy were beyond the reach of any grapnel. The only alternative, therefore, to prolonged grappling;iii the hope of hooking the cable at a spot where it might chance to be within reach of the grapnels (which might have proved a very costly undertaking) was to hook the cable at a point twelve to fourteen nautical miles out to sea, to pick up as much of it as practicable, and to relay it after cutting ;out the faulty section. This procedure, however, appeared to involve serious risk of damage to other working-cables, because it was known to the Department that one cable at least was incorrectly charted for a distance of some ten nautical .miles from. White Bay, and it was feared that some of the! others also might have been incorrectly plotted. In the circumstances, it was essential that a means, be devised- of tracing out. the routes followed by the respective cables in the Cloudy Bay area, so that they could be correctly charted before an attempt to repair the faulty cable was made. It wa,s considered that the " trailing electrode " method would prove effective for this purpose, and in April, 1928, it was decided to charter the Government steamer " Janie Seddon " to undertake the work and to endeavour to effect repairs to the faulty cable. The. vessel, suitably fitted up for .cable-repair work and provided with the. rtecessary electrical equipment, left Wellington for Port Underwood on the Ilth April, with Captain Whiteford, of the Marine Department, in. command. In tracing the cables by means of the " trailing electrode " gear excellent results were obtained. The positions of all working-cables were definitely located to about twelve miles out from the White Bay beach, thus permitting the Department to place absolute reliance on the accuracy of its records covering the routes followed by'the cables on the southern side of Cook Strait. The survey disclosed that. No. 1 0.8. cable was from one and a half to two and a half miles to the south of its charted position over a distance of nine miles ; that No. 3 0.8. cable was over a mile out of position in the same direction over a distance of six miles ; and that cables Nos. 2 0.8., 4 L.8., and 5 L.B. were appreciably out of position over distances, varying up to three and a half miles, but not to the same extent as were Nos. 1 0.8. and 3 0.8. A few days were spent in; grappling for No. .3, 0.8.' cable where the survey showed it to be lying clear of the other cables, but all attempts to hook the faulty cable proved unsuccessful, showing that the cables were deeply buried in silt in localities which had not previously been explored. The modus operandi in tracing the-cable by the "trailing electrode" may be stated in the following few words : An alternating current of audible frequency was passed through the cable which was -to be traced, A twisted, pair of insulated wires, suitably weighted, with each wire terminated in a suitable electrode so as ;to make good electrical contact with the water, and with one of the conductors cut about 30 ft. shorter than the other, was dropped over the stern of the ship and towed, obliquely across the cable. ,The electrode system trailing across the cable was acted upon by the alternating cable field. The signals sent into the cable were thus detected on the ship, the trailer wires being connected through a suitable transformer to a -three-valve amplifier so that the signals might be recorded with suitable volume. By towing the electrodes obliquely across the track of the cable and changing course each time the signals reached maximum intensity, the ship could tack along the cable and record its location as it proceeded. In February, 1929, the Pacific Cable Board's cable-steamer'" Iris" was chartered for the purpose of repairing No. 3 Oteronga Bay - White Bay cable and No. 4 Lyall Bay - White Bay cable. The survey work undertaken by the " Janie Seddon " had shown that if No. 3 cable were hooked at a point about twelve nautical miles from. White Bay no risk of damage to other cables would be incurred in attempting to pick up No. 3 cable to a point about four miles from the beach, where it crossed underneath another' working-cable. It was, therefore, hooked at the twelve-mile point, and the ship heaved in towards shore until seven and a quarter nautical miles had been recovered. The lifting proved to be; a very, difficult undertaking. The strain on the cable while it was being picked up proved conclusively that it was buried several feet in the silt, and demonstrated finally that in Cloudy Bay, within about ten miles of the White Bay beach, it was not practicable to pick up with the grapnels any cables which had been lying undisturbed over a long period of years. It is worthy of note that the cable picked tup, although laid thirty-one years ago, was in such excellent condition that it was relaid on the following day about two miles to the northward of the original track. The relaying of this-section of cable and the laying of a new shore end into White Bay completed the repairs to No 3 cable. This cable has for many years past been the weakest of all the Cook Strait telegraph-cables, but since the recent repairs its insulation resistance has increased considerably above that of any of the other cables.

27

F.—l

The interruption to No. 4 L.B. cable was first reported on the 30th April, 1927. At that time it existed as an " earth fault/' but a few weeks later the cable parted, the break being located at a point about two and a quarter nautical miles from Lyall Bay. Later in the year it was found that a second break had developed in the cable, and this one was located at a point 11-4 nautical miles from Lyall Bay. While the ship was engaged on repair work this cable was found to.be in very bad condition throughout its whole length from Lyall Bay to the outer break, and it was necessary, therefore, to lay 11-848 nautical miles of new cable. This total includes a length of 2-544 nautical miles of heavy shore-end cable, which was laid from the auxiliary scow " Wanderer" with the assistance of the " Janie Seddon." For the repairs to Nos. 3 and 4 L.B. cables, the " Iris" was under charter by the Department for a period of twenty-four days. The vessel sailed from Auckland on the 23rd February, 1929, and returned to that port on the 19th March, 1929. Miscellaneous. A single-core cable 3-766 nautical miles in length was laid between Maraetai (mainland) and Awaroa (Waiheke Island) in November, 1928. The cable will be utilized as an additional telephone circuit between Waiheke Island and the mainland. A break in the Motuihi Island - Waiheke Island cable was reported and repaired in October, 1928. CABLE SERVICES. IMPERIAL WIRELESS AND CABLES CONFERENCE. The Conference of representatives of the British Government, the British Dominions, colonies, and protectorates, which was set up to examine the situation that has arisen as the result of the competition of beam wireless with cable services, formulated certain recommendations for the consideration of the Governments concerned. These recommendations were briefly as under : — (1) That a merger company be formed to acquire all the ordinary shares of the Eastern Extension and Western Telegraph Companies, and all the ordinary and preference shares and debentures of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company. (2) That a Communications Company be formed to which the cable and Marconi companies would sell their assets in exchange for shares. (3) The Communications Company to take over the Pacific Cable Board's cables, the West Indian cable and wireless system worked by the Pacific Cable Board, the Imperial Atlantic cables, and the lease of the British Post Office beam services. (4) The Communications Company to meet the annual service of the outstanding debt on the Pacific Cable Board, and to pay in addition a capital sum of £517,000 for the Pacific cable, £300,000 for the West Indian cable, and £450,000 for the Imperial cables. (5) A standard net revenue of £1,865,000 to be allowed to the Communications Company, and any excess over that revenue to be allotted, 50 per cent, to the company and 50 per cent, to the disposal of an advisory committee comprising representatives of the Governments concerned. (6) This committee to consist of representatives of the Governments concerned, and to be consulted by the Communications Company upon matters of policy and rates. . (7) British control of all companies to be guaranteed, and Governments to assume control of cable and wireless systems in war-time or national emergency. The recommendations of the Conference have since received the approvaljoLthe British Government and other Governments concerned. With the consummation of these highly important proposals the purely proprietary interest of New Zealand in the Pacific cable will come to an end. Briefly, the Pacific cable had its genesis in the vision and imagination of Sir Sandford Fleming, of Canada, who first conceived the Imperial importance of a cable system connecting Great Britain and His Majesty's Dominions in the Pacific without touching foreign soil. The idea developed in the minds of statesmen in Great Britain and the dominions concerned, and in the year 1902 the cable was laid. The share of New Zealand in the undertaking was one-ninth. The other countries concerned were Great Britain, Canada, and Australia. The capital cost of the cable was borrowed from the Government of Great Britain, the amount being repayable by annuities spread over fifty years. Up to the year 1915 there was a deficiency on the working of the cable, but since that date there has been a surplus upon the operation. Since the opening of the beam wireless system between Great Britain, Canada, and Australia competition for traffic has become a serious matter. In view of the great success of the beam system it is not unreasonable to conclude that serious inroads will continue to be made into the revenue of cable administrations. As a partner in the Pacific cable, New Zealand is obliged to give serious consideration to any scheme which offers a solution of the problem attached to the future of the cable services. The recommendations as outlined are considered to meet the position, and their adoption will ensure the continuance of cable services enjoyed by this country and will prevent foreign interests gaining a control of the communication systems with which this country is concerned. " ■ INTERNATIONAL MONEY-ORDER TELEGRAMS : SUPPLEMENTARY TELEGRAPH FEE. From the Ist May, 1928, a supplementary telegraph fee of Is. is charged on all international money-order telegrams. This charge was instituted to meet the cost of the work at' Auckland in transferring such messages to the cable administration.

F.—l

28

DAILY LETTER-TELEGRAM SERVICE. Austria. A daily letter-telegram service has been made available from the Ist March, 1929, between New Zealand and Austria, via Eastern, London, and Marconi, at the rate of 9d. per word, with a minimum of 15s. Germany. A daily letter-telegram service between New Zealand and Germany was introduced on the Ist April, 1928. The rate is 9d. per word, with a minimum charge of 15s. Luxemburg. A daily letter-telegram service was inaugurated between New Zealand and Luxemburg on the Ist September, 1928. The rate is 9d. per word, with a minimum charge of 15s. for twenty words. Morocco. A daily letter-telegram service was made available from the 6th March, 1929, between New Zealand and Tangier, Morocco (via Eastern), at the following rate : 9d. per word, with a minimum of 15s. for twenty words. WEEK-END LETTER-TELEGRAM SERVICE. Holland. Week-end letter-telegrams for Holland are now accepted for transmission by ordinary cable to the Dutch Indies and thence by radio to Holland. Such messages require to be specially inscribed by the senders " via Eastern Java radio." The service was inaugurated on the 25th May, 1928. Germany. A week-end letter-telegram service is now in operation between New Zealand and Germany. The rate is per word, with a minimum charge of 12s. 6d. France, Algeria, and Tunis. A week-end letter-telegram service has been established between New Zealand and France, Algeria, and Tunis. The rates are as follow : (a) To France, Bd. per word, with a minimum charge of 13s. 4d. ; (b) to Algeria and Tunis, 9d. per word, with a minimum charge of 15s. DAILY LETTER-TELEGRAM AND WEEK-END TELEGRAM SERVICE. Sweden. From the Ist October, 1928, a daily letter-telegram and week-end telegram service was instituted between New Zealand and Sweden. The rates are 9d. and 7§d. per word respectively, with a minimum charge for letter-telegrams of 15s. and for week-end telegrams of 12s. 6d. Denmark. A daily letter-telegram and week-end telegram service was inaugurated between New Zealand and Denmark from the Ist December, 1928. The rate for daily letter-telegrams is 9d. per word, with a minimum of 155., and for week-end letter-telegrams 7Jd. per word, with a minimum of 12s. 6d. DAILY LETTER-TELEGRAMS AND WEEK-END TELEGRAMS FOR CONTINENT OF EUROPE : POSTING FROM LONDON. Daily letter-telegrams and week-end telegrams for places on the Continent of Europe not admitting such services are now accepted for transmission to London by telegraph and thence to destination by ordinary post. The alteration took effect from the Ist May, 1928. In addition to the ordinary charges, such messages are subject to 1 a postage fee of 4d., and they must contain in the address the words " post London," which are charged at the ordinary rate. CABLE RATES. New Zealand - Union of South Africa, etc. The ordinary cable rates between New Zealand and the Union of South Africa, South-west Africa, Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, and British Central Africa (Nyassaland), were reduced from the Ist June, 1928, by 7d. per word for ordinary traffic, 3fd. per word for deferred traffic, and 4§d, per word for British Government messages. From the same date the daily letter-telegram rate was reduced by Is. Bd. for twenty words or less, and by Id. per word on additional words.

29

F.—l

New Zealand - Egypt, Cypbus, Palestine, etc. The ordinary cable rates between New Zealand and Egypt, Cyprus, Palestine, Abyssinia, Italian Somaliland, Erythrea, Syria, Transjordania, and the Hedjaz were reduced from the Ist May, 1928, by amounts varying from 9d. to lid. per word. To those of the places named which admit the deferred service the relative rate became automatically applicable. From the Ist May, 1928, the daily letter-telegram service from New Zealand was extended to include Egypt and Palestine, the rate being fixed at approximately a quarter of the ordinary rate. CABLE TRAFFIC. The number of cable messages, excluding Press, sent from New Zealand to international offices shows an increase of 5-02 per cent, on the number sent during 1927-28, and the number sent to Australian offices shows a decrease of 0-72 per cent. Messages received from international offices increased by 5-96 per cent., and messages from Australia decreased by 0-21 per cent. The proportion of cable messages sent " via Pacific " was greater than that sent by the same route during the previous year, the percentages being 66-5 and 66-07 respectively. The following table shows the total number of cable messages, excluding press, forwarded by each route during each of the past five years ; also the percentage of such traffic falling to each.

Press messages numbering 5,102 were sent via Pacific and 2,381 via Eastern, compared with 4,925 and 2,929 respectively during 1927-28. The number received via Pacific was 9,003 and via Eastern 3,708, compared with 7,731 and 3,266 respectively during the previous year. The following table shows the total number of each class of message, excluding press, dealt with during 1928-29, as compared with the number dealt with during 1927-28 :■ —

WIRELESS SERVICES. INTERNATIONAL RADIO-TELEGRAPH CONVENTION, 1927. An instrument of ratification of the International Radio-telegraph Convention held at Washington, U.S.A., in October, 1927, was signed by His Excellency the Governor-General 011 the 3rd September, 1928. The Convention came into operation on the Ist January, 1929, the necessary alterations in operating frequencies and procedure at the various radio-stations, both ashore and afloat, being effected without inconvenience. The New Zealand regulations for the different classes of radio services are at present under revision, in order to give full effect to the International Convention Regulations. In consequence of the requirements of the Convention in the matter of minimizing radio transmissions on the frequency of 500 kilocycles (600 metres), which is now reserved for calling and for distress and other urgent signals, the frequency of 375 kilocycles (800 metres) has been assigned to the general traffic service between ships and the coast stations of New Zealand. As an alternative wave, the frequency of 425 kilocycles (705 metres) also is permitted.

Pacific. Eastern. Y„, ' ij-r Ye., Messages. j *£»£> ' I 1924-25 185,680 65-3 1924-25 98,571 34-7 1925-26 204,586 65 1925-26 110,146 35 1926-27 204,051 64-29 1926-27 113,355 35-71 1927-28 210,662 66-07 1927-28 108,167 33-93 1928-29 217,033 66-5 1928-29 109,308 33-5

1928-29. 1927-28. Forwarded. Received. Forwarded. Received. Full-rate international cable messages .. .. 90,114 83,701 85,911 81,215 Deferred international cable messages .. .. 24,461 26,186 23,378 24,761 Daily letter-telegrams .. .. .. .. 35,215 27,353 33,921 24,622 Week-end telegrams .. .. .. .. 29,609 18,875 27,608 16,727 Australian cable messages .. .. .. 81,926 78,398 84,504 81,908 Australian night-letter telegrams .. .. 65,016 62,199 63,507 58,991 Totals .. .. .. .. 326,341 296,712 318,829 ; 288,224 (For further statement of cable business see page 44.)

F.—l

30

The frequencies allotted under the Convention Regulations for the use of amateur experimentalists in New Zealand are as follow : 1,750-2,000 kilocycles (150-172 metres), and 3,500-4,000 kilocycles (75-85 metres). In addition, the use of the following bands is approved in special cases: 7,000-7,300 kilocycles (41-42-8 metres), 14,000-14,400 kilocycles (20-8-21-4 metres), 28,000-30,000 kilocycles (10-10-7 metres), and 56,000-60,000 kilocycles (5-5-35 metres). Since the Ist January, candidates for mobile-station operator's certificates have been examined as prescribed by the Convention, the requirements of which necessitated the preparation of a new examination syllabus. By passing before the 31st December, 1931, an oral examination in the additional subjects, operators holding certificates issued under the provisions of the 1912 Convention may exchange them for the new certificates. PATENT RIGHTS IN RESPECT OF RADIO APPARATUS. The question has arisen from time to time during recent years whether the use of the apparatus installed for radio purposes in New Zealand has constituted an infringement of the patent rights registered in the Dominion in favour of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd. Although claims were made by Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd., in respect of patents connected with wireless apparatus, the claims were not recognized until it appeared that they were actually valid in law. An agreement reached between the Commonwealth Government and the company established a precedent which could be regarded as setting a standard. Following protracted negotiations between the company and the New Zealand Government, an agreement was signed on the 30th October, 1928. The agreement provides for payment to the company of a percentage of the revenue accruing from a portion of the commercial traffic handled by New Zealand radio-stations. In return the company will make all its New Zealand patent rights available for wireless services owned and operated exclusively by the Government of New Zealand. The company has also been paid the sum of £10,852 in satisfaction of all past claims in respect of patent rights. Provision is made in the agreement for the use of the company's patent rights in broadcasting-apparatus in return for a payment of 3s. in respect of each radio receiving license. The agreement concluded is practically on the same basis as that made between the company and the Commonwealth Government. NEW ZEALAND RADIO STATIONS : EQUIPMENT, OPERATION, ETC. Awanui Radio. Operation. —Owing to the displacement of long-wave high-power radio-working by the more economical high-frequency (short-wave) working on low power, this station, with its comparatively high-power plant, is now maintained solely for emergency purposes, no regular service being conducted. The staff has been correspondingly reduced, and the attendance curtailed to the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Sundays and holidays. Auckland Radio. Operation. —In consequence of the curtailment of the services at Awanui Radio, Auckland Radio is now the sole station handling medium-wave ship traffic in northern New Zealand waters. Requests from ships for the operation of the radio beacon station at Cape Maria Van Diemen are now handled by Auckland Radio. Masts. —Owing to deterioration, it has been necessary to replace the aerial masts at this station Remote Receiving-station. —The remote receiving system referred to in last year's report has been improved by the addition of a tuning-control. This apparatus is now established as part of the permanent plant of Auckland Radio and is in daily use. Wellington Radio. Erection of Separate Receiving-station.—The erection of a separate building to house the receiving equipment has been completed. It is the intention to operate the transmitting plant from the receiving-station by remote-control methods. Awarua Radio. Operation.—The service at this station has been characterized by smooth running throughout the year. The plant has given good service, and no stoppage or breakdown of any consequence has occurred. Communication with the Antarctic.—As in the previous year, all traffic to and from the whalingships in the Antarctic was handled on frequencies between 8,500 and 10,000 kilocycles (wave-lengths between 30 and 35 metres). The amount of traffic exchanged with these ships during the year fell considerably owing to the vessels concerned having more modern radio apparatus which during certain hours of the day is capable of effecting two-way communication with the Norwegian headquarters. The traffic handled by Awarua Radio was confined almost exclusively to private messages from New Zealand members of the various crews, and to messages to and from the ships while at their base at Stewart Island. In addition to the whaling-ships, the presence in the Antarctic of the Byrd Expedition caused a heavy increase in the traffic handled by this station. High-power Plant. —In consequence of the advances in short-wave signalling, the high-power spark transmitter at Awarua Radio now serves only as an emergency unit, and will shortly become obsolescent. Traffic. —Notwithstanding the fact that last year's operations created a record for the station, the number of messages handled during the year just closed greatly exceeded previous annual figures. The number of words handled was more than 50,000 in excess of the previous record.

F.—l

31

Apia Radio. This station is controlled by the External Affairs Department, for which the Post and Telegraph Department acts in a consultative capacity. Removal of Station. —It is proposed in the near future to move the Apia radio-station into the township of Apia, where power from the hydro-electric system will shortly be available. The change of location will also enable other economies to be effected. Short-wave Working. —Consideration is now being given to the installation of a short-wave transmitter of higher power than that at present used, with a view to improving the already highgrade service between Samoa and New Zealand. Rarotonga Radio. This station is under the control of the Cook Islands Department, for which the Post and Telegraph Department acts in a consultative capacity. Mast and Aerials. —The stability of the aerial system has been increased by the erection of -supporting-stays. Battery.—The battery has been fitted throughout with new plates, and is now in first-class order. Low-power Stations. The radio-station at. Salailua, Samoa, was closed on the 4th. October, 1928, owing to staff difficulties. In view of the small amount of traffic handled, it is probable that the station will not be reopened in the near future. Owing to the death of the Native operator, the Fakaofo Station, in the Tokelau Islands, has been closed since the 9th September, 1928. Another Native has now been trained, and the station will be re-opened shortly. With the foregoing exceptions, the low-power stations engaged in fixed point-to-point working have given almost uninterrupted service throughout the year. Although these stations are operated by comparatively inexperienced personnel, particularly in the outer Pacific islands where they are manned by Natives, a very satisfactory service has been maintained. BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS NEWS. The British official press news transmitted from the radio-station at Rugby, England, continues to be received daily in New Zealand. The news is transmitted simultaneously on short and long waves, thus affording distant stations an opportunity of receiving on one wave signals which through atmospheric or other causes might be lost on the other. By this means almost the whole of the news transmitted has been successfully received. A noticeable improvement in reception was occasioned by the adoption during the last three months of the frequency of 16,840 kilocycles (wave-length of 17-81 metres), in place of 13,465 kilocycles (22-28 metres) previously used for the short-wave transmission at 11.30 p.m. New Zealand standard time. The total number of words received direct from Rugby during the year reached over 270,000. RADIO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND AND PACIFIC ISLANDS. For a number of years past the only method of telegraphic communication between New Zealand, Samoa, and the Cook Islands has been by means of long-wave radio transmission via Apia and Rarotonga. The technical developments that have taken place in recent years in radio communication have enabled arrangements to be made to replace the costly long-wave system by modern short-wave apparatus. During the past year the whole of the traffic between New Zealand and Samoa has been handled on short-waves direct from Wellington to Apia by the use of experimental apparatus. As a result the heavy maintenance expenditure on the high-power spark stations has been very considerably reduced. Now that the technical features of the short-wave service have been fully investigated, commercial short-wave apparatus of standard and improved design and having a suitable reliability factor will be permanently installed at Wellington. The new transmitter will have an output of 1,000 watts, and this increased power will be of value in overcoming atmospheric and inductive interference, which under the existing low-power conditions occasionally results in periods of unreliable service. Certain Pacific island Administrations are giving consideration to the question of installing similar apparatus, and when the stations concerned are so equipped they will have reliable and direct communication with Wellington at any hour of the day or night. EXPERIMENTS IN RADIO TELEPHONY FROM ORDINARY TELEPHONE-STATIONS. The possibility of establishing a telephone service by radio between the mainland of New Zealand and adjacent islands which cannot be economically served by submarine cable has been the subject of investigation during the year. By means of an experimental radio-telephone plant connected with a city automatic-telephone-exchange system it was demonstrated that good-quality radio-telephone communication, involving simultaneous transmission and reception, was possible between any local telephone subscriber's station and a radio-station established on one of the islands. The experiments also illustrated that the necessary apparatus can be made automatic in its operation.

F.—l

32

INSTALLATION ON SHIPS OF AUTOMATIC ALARM APPARATUS. During the year automatic alarm apparatus for the detection of distress-signals was installed on the trans-Pacific cargo-steamers " Hauraki," " Waiotapu," and " Wairuna," and also on the Nelson ferry-steamers " Arahura " and " Ngaio." SHIPS OPERATED BY WIRELESS SIGNALLERS: RESTRICTIONS UPON CLASSES OF MESSAGE HANDLED. In view of the number of small vessels which are engaged entirely in the New Zealand coastal trade, and which in consequence never proceed far from land, the New Zealand Administration was, by special resolution of the International Radio-Telegraph Convention, 1927, conceded the right to issue to operators employed on such ships a special certificate (known as a wireless signaller's certificate) of a standard somewhat lower than that required for general international working. The condition attaching to such special concession is that ships manned by operators possessing this certificate participate only to a limited extent in the international service of public correspondence. With a view to enforcing this condition, the classes of message permitted to be handled by such ships have been restricted to the following:' (1) matters of maritime urgency; (2) time of arrival of vessel; (3) berthing arrangements ; (4) working of cargo ; (5) notification of transfer of officers of ships' companies. WEATHER REPORT AND FORECAST : ADOPTION OF NEW FORM. A new form of weather forecast and report for broadcasting from the Wellington radio-station to ships at sea was brought into use on the Ist November, 1928. The new form of message, which gives more complete information regarding weather conditions throughout the Dominion, is also sent to the Radio Broadcasting Co. of New Zealand, Ltd., for dissemination from the Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington broadcasting-stations. The broadcasting of such messages from the Auckland Radio-station has ceased, the service from the Wellington Radio-station and that from the stations of the Radio Broadcasting Co. being considered sufficient for ordinary purposes. The special weather-report messages forwarded to the radio-stations at Auckland and Wellington for the purpose of answering inquiries by ship stations were discontinued from the same date, the new form of message being sufficient to meet such inquiries. The charge for the new service is at the rate of £663 17s. 6d. per annum. The charge for the previous service was £66 13s. 4d. per annum. The increased charge is the result of a more comprehensive arrangement, and is a closer approximation to the actual cost of rendering the service. The discontinuance of the special weather reports to Radio-Wellington and Radio-Auckland for the purpose of answering inquiries of ships at sea has resulted in the abolition of the charge of £22 10s. per annum previously paid for the service. BROADCASTING OF PRESS MESSAGES TO SHIPS AT SEA. Press messages from the Wellington Radio-station to ships at sea previously broadcast at 10-15 p.m. daily are now broadcast at 10-30 p.m. The change was made in order to avoid clashing with other services. POST-RADIOGRAM SERVICE FROM SHIPS AT SEA TO NEW ZEALAND COAST STATIONS. A post-radiogram service was inaugurated on the Ist December, 1928, for the transmission. of messages from ships at sea to New Zealand coast stations. The rate of 3d. per word is made up as follows : Ship-station charge, Id. ; coast-station charge, including postage, 2d. The minimum charge is 2s. 6d., equal to the cost of a message of ten words. Messages are posted to addressees immediately upon receipt at coast stations. BROADCASTING. On the 31st March, 1929, there was a total of 44,609 receiving licenses throughout the Dominion. Of this total, 18,016 licenses were held in the Wellington District, 15,008 in the Auckland District, 8,478 in Canterbury, and 3,107 in Otago. The increase in the number of licenses has enabled the Broadcasting Co. to extend in several directions the service given. It is understood that the company is contemplating further proposals for extending the scope of its stations, particularly in regard to the development of the relay system of broadcasting. At the Wellington station, in addition to the usual afternoon, children's, and evening sessions, a programme of dinner music is provided between the hours of 6 and 7 p.m. At the Christchurch station, a Sunday afternoon session from 3to 4.30 o'clock has been instituted. At the Dunedin station the silent nights were altered from Mondays and Thursdays to Mondays and Wednesdays. It is understood that the Radio Broadcasting Co. is considering the abolition of the silent night on Mondays at this station, thus bringing it into line with other centres. Two low-power private broadcasting-stations were opened during the year. Station 2ZK was opened at Wanganui on the 20th June, 1928, and station 4ZO was opened at Dunedin on the 19th October, 1928. Following a period of inactivity, private broadcasting-station 2ZM has been reopened at Gisborne. While there is no reason to believe that much surreptitious use is made of radio receiving without payment of the prescribed license fees, the Department has been actively engaged throughout the year in detecting illicit sets and bringing offenders to book. The prosecutions for the year totalled 228, and the fines inflicted amounted in all to £191 4s. 6d. The Department, in pursuance of its policy of ensuring to listeners the best service possible, continues to undertake an active campaign against the operation of sets which cause interference with reception by other licensees.

F.-l

33

BROADCASTING AND COPYRIGHT. The New Zealand legislation on the subject of copyright is mainly embodied in the New Zealand Copyright Act, 1913. Under this Act the holder of copyright has the sole right of communicating his work for publication. Before the advent of broadcasting, copyright legislation was principally concerned with the protection against piracy of literary and artistic work as expressed in print, musical sheets, engravings, photographs, &c., and public performances of musical, dramatic, and similar classes of works by performers in the actual presence of their audiences. The service of broadcasting had not long been in vogue, however, before broadcasting bodies found themselves in conflict with the Performing Right Association, which claimed to control the public performance of practically all copyright matter suitable for that purpose. A provisional settlement upon a percentage basis of the revenue received from receiving licenses was made in 1926 between the Radio Broadcasting Co. of New Zealand, Ltd., and the Performing Right Association. It has, however, become increasingly obvious that broadcasting is reaching the point of being regarded as a public utility, and should be as free as possible from harassing restrictions upon the matter broadcast. It may safely be said that the service is merely on the threshold of its full development, and the enjoyment by any one of absolute rights without regulation over the matter transmitted is fraught with the possibility of abuse, with a consequent hindrance to the full and useful operation of the service of broadcasting. Uniformity of copyright laws as between nations is largely assured by an International Convention. Prior to 1928 New Zealand was not a member of the International Copyright Union, but in view of the peculiar problems which have arisen in recent years it was deemed advisable that New Zealand should be represented at the International Copyright Conference held at Rome in 1928 and be associated with any decisions reached. At the Rome Conference the following article, having special relation to broadcasting, was adopted as part of the Convention : — " (1) Authors of literary and artistic works shall enjoy the exclusive right to authorize the communication of their works to the public by radio communication. " (2) The national legislation of the countries of the Union may regulate the conditions under which the right mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be exercised, but the effect of those conditions will be strictly limited to the countries which have put them in force. Such conditions shall not in any case prejudice the moral rights (droit moral) of the author, nor the right which belongs to the author to obtain an equitable remuneration, which shall be fixed, failing agreement, by the competent authority." Pursuant to this international agreement, the position in New Zealand has been met by the enactment of the Copyright (Temporary) Amendment Act, 1928. This measure empowers the Minister of Telegraphs to fix by agreement the proportion of listeners' fees (not, however, to exceed 74 per cent.) to be paid to any authenticated association or body of persons representing the holders of copyright, or, if such agreement cannot be reached, or if the Minister is unable to satisfy himself regarding the existence of any representative body, then such percentage (not, however, exceeding per cent.) as is deemed to be just. There is no desire to abrogate the sacred rights of property, but it is necessary to guard against the new utility of broadcasting being made the target of unreasonable demands by bodies or associations purporting to control copyright. RADIO-DEALERS' LICENSES : AMENDED FEES. Following upon the legal establishment of the claim of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd., in respect of patent rights in radio broadcasting-apparatus in New Zealand, and the consequent payment to the company of 3s. in respect of each radio receiving license, it has become necessary to amend the fees for radio-dealers' licenses, for the purpose of recouping the Department in some degree for the payments to be made to the holders of patent rights. The amended fees, which take effect from the Ist April, 1929, are as follows:— For a Class I license, being— £ s . d. (a) Licenses of dealers carrying on business in any of the four main cities— viz., Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington — and within ten miles by the nearest practicable route of the chief post-office at those cities .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 15 0 0 (b) (Portable) licenses of dealers without any fixed place of business who are not representatives of Class I (a) or Class II licensees .. .. 15 0 0 For a Class II license, being the licenses of dealers carrying on business in all other areas .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 7 10 0 For a. Class 111 license, being (portable) licenses of dealers without any fixed place of business who are the representatives of Class I (a) or Class II licensees .. 2 0 0 AMATEUR RADIO RECEIVING-STATION LICENSE: SPECIAL LICENSE FEE FOR SETS INSTALLED IN PUBLIC PLACES. The Radio Regulations have been amended to provide that the special receiving license fee of £5 shall apply only in cases in which a radio receiver is installed in a hall or other place which is licensed to charge for admission.

5—F. 1.

F.—l

34

WIRELESS RECEIVING - STATION LICENSE: INSTALLATIONS IN HOSPITALS AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS. It has been arranged to permit one license fee to cover all radio receiving-sets in any hospital, home, and similar institution which are installed for the benefit of patients or inmates. AMATEUR RADIO RECEIVING - STATION LICENSES : FORM OF APPLICATION. Applicants for amateur radio receiving-station licenses are no longer required to furnish information regarding the date and place of birth. TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SERVICES. PUBLICATION OF LISTS OF SUBSCRIBERS TO TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. By Order in Council dated the 6th August, 1928, an addition was made to the Telephone Regulations providing that, except with the authority of the Minister of Telegraphs, no person shall—(a) Publish any list of subscribers to the telephone with the appropriate telephone numbers ; or (b) supply or use any cover or other device which has the effect of obscuring any advertisement in or on any official telephone directory or other official publication of the Department. Any person committing a breach of this regulation is liable to a fine not exceeding £50. COMMERCE TRAIN : TELEPHONE FACILITIES. Telephone facilities were provided on the " commerce train " which traversed part of the North Island in October, 1928. A telephone-office was opened for business on the train, and this was connected with the departmental system at the various stopping-places. The Railway Department, at whose request the facilities were given, bore the cost of establishing the service. It also provided suitable accommodation and an officer to conduct the business. "WEATHER FORECASTS : FURNISHING OF INFORMATION FREE OF CHARGE. Offices which receive the daily weather-forecast telegram are now permitted to furnish meteorological information free of charge to telephone-exchange subscribers or private-telephone-line owners making occasional inquiries on the subject. The regulation charge now applies only in those cases in which information regarding weather conditions is furnished regularly. INSTALLATION OF MISCELLANEOUS TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT. In regard to the installation charge and annual rate set out in the Telephone Regulations in respect of battery-gong, annunciator-drop, and battery, it was represented to the Department that gongs are unsuitable for some establishments, and that subscribers have recourse to the use of sirens, horns, &c. As the Department is not in a position to supply the various devices required to meet special conditions, it has been decided to provide for the supply and maintenance of an annunciatordrop only and to permit subscribers to make their own arrangements, subject to departmental approval, for the supply and maintenance of the particular device and power required. DEVELOPMENT OF TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SYSTEMS. The steady expansion and growth of the local-exchange systems which characterized telephone development in New Zealand during recent years has been continued, the number of new connections (main stations) being 12,119, compared with an average of 12,112 per year during the preceding five years. Taking into consideration telephones of all kinds relinquished as well as new telephone stations connected, 8,196 additional telephones were put into service, making the total number at the end of the year 147,936. If to this number are added the telephones (4,605) connected with toll stations and non-departmental exchanges, the number of telephones in service on the 31st March, 1929, was 152,541, which represents 10-3 telephones for every 100 of the population, a telephone density exceeded only by the United States of America and Canada. One of the factors contributing to the steady progress of the local-exchange systems during the year was the development which took place in intercommunicating systeifis in business houses, the increase for the year in that and other classes of extension stations being 7-7 per cent., as compared with an increase of 4-9 per cent, in subscribers' main stations. The local intercommunicating system in most popular demand during the year was the key-box interphone type, large numbers of which were installed in business establishments where the requirements in intercommunicating facilities did not exceed twenty positions. Next in order of demand were private branch exchanges of the full automatic type with capacities varying from twenty intercommunicating stations upwards. Local intercommunicating systems are likely to become an integral part of the telephone facilities of all modern business establishments in future, and the intensive development that will probably take place in that respect during the next few years will more than offset any slackening in the rate of expansion in main stations or trunk lines. The cost of the year's operations in extending telephone - exchange systems throughout the Dominion for the purpose of connecting new subscribers and making provision for future growth amounted to £689,073. The year's operations in this respect included the opening of new exchanges at Wellsford, Towai, Waimamaku, Mangapai, Kirikopuni, and Tokanui; the installation at thirty-seven exchanges of additional switching equipment for 3,940 exclusive lines and 200 party lines ; the establishment of sixty-six new public call offices (coin-in-the-slot telephones); the laying of 2,772 chains

F.—l

35

of underground ducts and 10,160 chains of underground cable containing 39,381 miles of wire ; the erection of 5,260 chains of overhead cable containing 5,918 miles of wire ; and the erection of 747 miles of pole-line and 7,333 miles of open wire. In addition, £51,568 was expended in renewing or replacing plant and equipment which had become worn out, inadequate, or obsolete.

EXTENSIONS TO CABLING AND SWITCHING SYSTEMS. The table below shows the exchanges at which extensions to the cabling and switching systems were completed during the year, as well as particulars of the extensions made.

Additions to Cabling Plant. Additions to Switching Equipment. Name of Exchange. Underground Underground Overhead Miles of Exclusive Party-line Equipment. Ducts Cable Cable Cable Wire Line added. added. added. involved. Equipment. Tw0 . party . I Four-party. Auckland Engineering District— Chains. Chains. Chains. Units. Units. 1 Units. Aria .. .. .. .. 60 .. 37 .. .. , Auckland .. .. .. 461J 1,654 302J 8,751 Avondale .. .. .. .. 14 .. 35 .. Cambridge .. .. .. .. \ .. J .. .... Clevedon .. .. .. .. 4 .. 3 .. .. Devonport .. .. .. .. .. .. .. i 40 100 Hamilton .. .. .. .. 308 128 295 100 100 Helensville .. .. .. .. 54 .. 92 .. .. I .. Henderson .. .. .. .. 107J 237 449 .. .. j Herekino .. .. .. .. 5f .. 7 Hikurangi .. .. .. .. 56 .. 83 Howick .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 Manurewa .. .. .. .. 12 .. 6 Matamata .. .. .. .. .. 2 15 .. ! Ngaruawahia.. .. .. .. 10 .. 6 .. .. .. Ngatea .. .. .. .. 11£ .. 16 .. j Ohaupo .. .. .. .. 216 .. 230 Ohura .. .. .. .. 42J .. 28 .. j Ongarue .. .. .. .. 5 .. 3 .. .... Otahuhu .. .. .. .. .. 2 £ .. Otorohanga .. .. .. .. 274J .. 313 .. .. ! Paeroa .. .. .. .. .. 5 3 .. j Papakura .. .. .. .. 4 .. 11 Papatoetoe .. .. .. .. 41f .. 28 100 Piopio .. .. .. .. 114 .. 71 Putaruru .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 75 Tauranga .. .. .. ... .. .. .. 100 Xe Akau .. .. .. ., 2 .. 1 TeKuiti .. .. .. .. .. 179 111 TePuke .. .. .. .. 2 .. 2 100 Towai .. .. .. .. i .. £ Turua .. .. .. .. 3 j .. 2 Waipu .. .. .. .. 3 .. 1 Waitakaruru ... .. .. .. 50£ 1 Waiuku .. .. .. .. 29 2 34 90 Wellsford .. .. .. .. 11J .. 12 Whakatane .. .. .. .. 470 .. 1,040 Whangarei .. .. .. .. 2J .. 2 50 Wellington Engineering District — Blenheim .. .. .. .. 47£ 321£ 748 100 Collingwood .. .. .. .. 13£ .. 25 Feilding .. .. .. .. 3 .. 3 140 Poxton .. .. .. .. .. 1| 1 Gisborne. .. .. .. .. 202 233 2,154 40 Hastings .. .. .. ■. 10£ 32 24 90 .... Hawera .. .. .. 160 67£ 72 525 .. .. Kaponga .. .. .. .. 1| .. 5 100 • • » Kelburn .. .. .. >. .. .. • • 400 Lower Hutt .. .. .. 37 72 58 200 200 Marton .. .. .. .. 79 61 620 .. Masterton .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 200 Miramar .. .. .. .. .. .. . ■ 200 Napier .. .. .. .. . • 59J 62 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. • • ■ • 450 New Plymouth .. .. .. .. 70J 103 Nuhaka .. .. .. .. 4J 92 86 Okato.. .. .. .. .. . ■ •• •• 10 Otane .. .. .. .. 58 .. 72 Palmerston North .. .. .. 17J 162 705 200 Plimmerton .. .. .. .. .. .. •. 20 Rai Valley .. .. .. .. .. ■ • • • 10 Richmond .. .. .. .. .. •. • • 50 .. Taradale .. .. .. .. 5| 58 55 Tolaga Bay .. .. .. .. 109J .. 130 .. .. Waipukurau .. .. .. .. 1 .. 7 Wanganui .. .. .. 8 110 149 Waverley .. .. .. .. 5f .. 20 Wellington .. .. .. 101£ 8,550 Wellington South .. .. .. .. .. • • 100

F.—l

36

Extensions to Cabling and Switching Systems—continued.

EXTENSIONS NOT COMPLETED DURING YEAR. 11l addition to the extensions enumerated in the foregoing table, a number of extensions to the switching and cabling portions of local telephone-exchange systems were commenced but not completed during the year. These are as follow : — Auckland Central Exchange : Extension of switching equipment by 3,100 lines ; additions to inter-office trunking equipment. Mount Eden : Extension of switching equipment by 900 lines. Remuera : Extension of switching equipment by 900 lines. Onehunga : Extension of switching equipment by 200 lines. Ponsonby : Extension of switching equipment by 600 exclusive lines and 100 two-party lines. Fawera : Extension of switching equipment by 100 exclusive lines and the installation of an underground-cable system. Courtenay Place : Extension of switching equipment by 1,200 exclusive lines, 100 two-party lines, and 200 P.B.X. lines. Timaru : Extensions to cabling system. Waimate : Extensions to cabling system. Oamaru : Extension of switching equipment by 100 exclusive and 10 rural lines. South Dunedin : Extension of switching equipment by 400 lines. Invercargill: Installation of underground-cable system. Kaiapoi : Extensions to cabling system OPEN-WIRE SYSTEMS RECONSTRUCTED. In consequence of cabling operations, and in order to improve the system of overhead distribution, reconstructions of the open-wire systems were carried out at the undermentioned exchanges ; — Auckland Engineering District : Aria, Hamilton, Henderson, Huntly, Kumeu, Piopio, Taumarunui. Wellington Engineering District: Hastings, Hawera, Marton, Picton, Taihape, Tikitiki. Canterbury Engineering District: Kaiapoi. Otago Engineering District: Dunedin, Gore, Port Chalmers, Invercargill, Mosgiel, Riverton.

Additions to Cabling Plant. Additions to Switching Equipment. Name ot Exchange. Underground Underground Overhead Miles of Exclusive Party-line Equipment. Ducts Cable Cable Cable Wire Line added. added. added. involved. Equipment. Two-party. Four-party. Canterbury Engineering District — Chains. Chains. Chains. Units. Units. Units. Amberley .. .. .. .. 20* .. 25 Ashburton .. .. .. . • 17 .. 10 Cheviot .. .. .. .. 7 .. 4 Christchurch.. .. .. 606 1,725* 1,928* 10,032 80 Culverden .. .. .. .. ■ . • • • • 20 Cust .. .. .. .. .. • • • • ■ • 50 Dunsandel .. .. .. .. .. .. . • 20 Greymoutli .. .. .. .. 124* 237 508 Hinds.... .. ■. .. 1* ■ • 1 Kaiapoi .. ■■ .. 112 23* 173 Leeston .. .. .. .. 104 141 295 Little River .. .. .. .. 3* .. 2 Mayfield .. .. .. .. 77* .. 48 Methven .. .. .. .. 271 .. 176 Temuka .. .. .. .. 514 48 288 Timaru .. .. .. .. 216 298 2,375 Springburn .. .. .. .. •. .. ■ • 20 Waimate .. .. .. 97 10 184 221 Otago Engineering District— Balclutha .. .. .. .. . . .. ■ ■ 100 Bluff .... .. .. .. 41 .. 25 Dunedin .. .. .. 214 190* 20 625 Dunedin South .. .. .. ■. .. • ■ 400 Invercargill .. .. .. 917 1,113 40 4,340 40 Kurow .. .. .. .. 22 .. 25 50 Mosgiel .. .. .. .. 39 .. 24 Oamaru .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 Pembroke .. .. .. .. 13* .. 8 20 Port Chalmers .. .. .. 2* .. 1 Queenstown .. .. .. .. 10 .. 6 Riversdale .. .. .. .. 11 .. 6 Thornbury .. .. .. .. 11* .. 7 20 Tokanui .. .. .. .. 23* .. 15 Waikaia .. .. .. .. 2 .. 2 Winton .. .. .. .. 69* .. 86 Woodlands .. .. .. .. 1 .. * Adjustments— Fractions of miles of wire not .. .. .. 38* accounted for : Totals .. .. 2,772 10,160 5,260 45,300 3,940 200

F.—1

37

MISCELLANEOUS IMPROVEMENTS. Other improvements to the telephone-exchange equipment during the year included the following : — The installation of new secondary batteries at the Remuera and Ponson'by Automatic Exchanges. The installation of main distributing-frame equipment at Ohaupo, Te Kauwhata, and Piopio. The replacement in the Auckland and Gisborne Districts of a large number of privatelyowned earth-working lines by departmentally-owned metallic circuits. The installation of additional trunking equipment at the Napier Ajitomatic Exchange. A thorough overhaul of the switching equipment at Feilding, and the provision of additional facilities for the handling of toll traffic. The installation of answering-jacks on the New Plymouth branching multiple switchboard for the purpose of facilitating the work of the operators. The replacement of the switching equipment at Patea by switchboards of a more modern type. The installation of a pole-changer at Greytown Exchange for the purpose of improving the ringing facilities at that place. The installation at Lower Hutt of a 900-line branching multiple switchboard as a temporary measure pending the conversion of that exchange to automatic operation. The installation at Wellington Central Exchange of special final-switch equipment to provide for direct incalling to some of the larger private automatic exchanges ; also the installation of additional equipment for relieving congestion on the regular privatebranch section of the exchange switching equipment. The overhaul of the switching equipment at the Blenheim Automatic Exchange, the rearrangement of the jack and lamp field, and the installation of a third toll position. The installation of a frequency-converter ringing-set at Blenheim, and a motor-driven ringing-set at Picton. The installation at Timaru and Waimate of new distributing-frames. The extension of the main distributing-frames at Greymouth and Temuka. The installation at the Dunedin Central Automatic Exchange of an automatically operated crude-oil burner for heating purposes in connection with the air-conditioning plant. EXTENSION STATIONS PER 100 MAIN STATIONS. Appended hereunder are two interesting tables showing the number of extension telephones per 100 main stations (business and residential respectively) at some of the principal exchanges, as well as the average figures at all exchanges, on the 30th September, 1928. Extension-telephone service in business premises is most highly developed at Wellington, Christchurch, and Napier, the smallest development being at Whangarei, Masterton, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Nelson, New Plymouth, Timaru, and Hastings, at all of which places the figures are below the average for the Dominion. Extension-telephone development in residential premises is comparatively low generally, the average figures for the Dominion being only three extensions per 100 main stations, the highest development being at Hastings, Christchurch, Masterton, Timaru, Auckland, Gisborne, Napier, and Wellington. The fact that only one out of every thirty-three residential subscribers has an extension telephone seems to indicate that subscribers generally, and more particularly those who occupy twostoried houses or houses with a comparatively large number of rooms, do not appreciate the fact that an additional telephone can be obtained for £1 10s. per annum.

Tables showing the Number of Extension Telephones per 100 Business and Residential Stations respectively.

Number of Extension Telephones per 100 Number of Extension Telephones per 100 (Main) Business Stations. (Main) Residential Stations. Exchange. Number of Number of Exchange. | Number of j Number of Extension Extension Number of Extension L Business Telephones in Telephones per Residential Telephones in i noilPRi Stations. Business ' 100 Business Stations. | I\ evidential | Premises. Stations. j Premises, j stations Wellington .. 4,953 4,685 94 Hastings .. 1,592 117 7 Christchurch .. 3,215 2,628 82 Christchurch .. 5,234 311 6 Napier .. .. 736 601 82 Masterton .. 1,227 77 6 Dunedin .. 2,172 1,597 74 Timaru .. .. 1,010 61 6 Auckland . . 5,955 I 4,026 68 Auckland . . 7,731 381 5 Invercargill .. 835 | 569 68 Gisborne .. 1,626 80 5 Hamilton .. 731 394 54 Napier .. .. 1,239 56 5 Wanganui .. 1,000 542 54 Wellington .. 7,885 359 5 Hastings .. 546 260 48 Dunedin .. 3,963 170 4 Timaru.. .. 636 301 47 Palmerston North 1,569 56 4 New Plymouth .. 573 260 45 Wanganui .. 2,050 78 4 Nelson .. .. 438 190 43 Hamilton .. 1,644 43 3 Palmerston North 951 406 43 ' Invercargill .. 1,211 39 3 Gisborne .. 668 273 41 Nelson .. .. 877 26 j 3 Masterton .. 445 179 40 New Plymouth .. 1,043 16 2 Whangarei .. 368 127 35 Whangarei . . 847 5 1 Other exchanges .. 13,440 2,884 21 Other exchanges .. 40,296 424 1 Dominion figures .. 37,662 19,872 53 Dominion figures.. 81,044 2,299 3

F.—l

38

TELEPHONE STATISTICS. The steady growth of the telephone system is exemplified in the following table, which shows annually since 1920 the number of exchanges, the total wire-mileage, the revenue, and the total number of telephone-stations, together with the number of telephones for each 1,000 of population of the Dominion :—

The manner in which the exchanges are classified, the number of exchanges in each class, and the number of stations connected therewith on the 31st March, 1929, are shown in the following table : —

In addition to the stations shown in the preceding table there were 4,181 stations connected by private telephone-lines directly or indirectly with departmental toll stations, and 424 stations not connected in any way with the departmental system, making a grand total of 152,541 telephone-stations on the 31st March, 1929. The following table shows the number of telephone-stations in each engineering district on the 31st March, 1928 and 1929, respectively, and the percentage of increase in each case : —

Number of Telephone-stations. Year. Number of ]yfji es 0 f Wire. Revenue. — Exchanges. Per 1>0()0 ° a ' Population. £ 1920 .. .. .. 291 177,509 419,318 80,723 65-26 1921 .. .. .. 296 192,027 533,535 88,439 69-80 1922 .. .. .. 301 207,529 614,367 94,683 72-78 1923 .. .. .. 320 229,882 595,967 107,036 80-78 1924 .. .. .. 327 269,421 830,470 111,441 82-67 1925 .. .. .. 340 331,453 867,218 120,097* 87-09 1926 .. .. .. 341 402,433 980,281 130,186* 94-40 1927 .. .. .. 342 440,253 995,071 137.307* 95-48 1928 .. .. .. 344 463,356 1,057,177 144,552* 99-40 1929 .. .. .. 351 495,470 1,135,795 152,541* 103-72 * Includes approximately 5,000 non-exchange stations.

Class I. Class II. Class III. Exchanges or Net- Exchanges or Net- Exchanges or Networks observing works observing works observing Class IV. Continuous Continuous Continuous Exchanges Attendance and Attendance and Attendance and or Networks Dominion having more than having 1,001 to having 201 to where the Totals, 3,500 Paying 3,500 Paying 1,000 Paying Attendance Subscribers' Main Subscribers' Main Subscribers' Main is restricted. Stations con- Stations con- Stations connected therewith, nected therewith. nected therewith. Subscribers' Main stations .. 41,581 24,019 27,962 26,712 120,274 Toll and service stations .. 663 494 933 1,855 3,945 Public call offices .. .. 445 105 57 5 612 Extension stations— P.B.X. .. .. .. 7,177 1,673 575 81 9,506 Ordinary .. .. .. 7,523 3,244 1,993 839 13,599 Telephone-stations: Class totals.. 57,389 29,535 31,520 29,492 147,936 Number of exchanges in each class 4 12 59 276 351 Percentage of new connections 38 15 19 28 made with each class of exchange during the year

Number of Telephone Stations on 31st March, Engineering District. 1928. jj 1929. Per- _ centage Main Extension . , I Main Extension m * n T Stations. Stations. a. | gt a^j on3 _ j stations. a ' 01 (a8e ' Auckland .. .. 35,584 5,472 41,056 37,631 6,046 43,677 6-4 Wellington .. .. 49,286 9,315 58,601 51,690 10,176 61,866 5-6 Canterbury .. .. 17,884 3,760 21,644 18,724 4,045 22,769 5-2 Otago .. .. 15,751 2,688 18,439 16,786 2,838 19,624 6-4 Totals .. 118,505 21,235 139,740 124,831 I 23,105 147,936 5-9 I {__ I

R—l

39

The number of telephone stations (main and extension) connected with each of the fourteen principal exchanges on the 31st March, 1929, was —Auckland, 18,860; Wellington, 18,539 ; Christchurch, 11,811 ; Dunedin, 8,179 ; Wanganui, 3,757 ; Palmerston North, 3,133 ; Hamilton, 2,901; Invercargi.ll, 2,763; Gisborne, 2,706; Napier, 2,697; Hastings,^[2,sB9"; Timaru, 2,045; New Plymouth, 1,987 ; Masterton, 1,967. The number of party and rural lines on the 31st March, 1929, was 10,266 to which were connected 40,583 main stations —an increase of 758 and 3,204 respectively on the figures for the previous year. The following table shows, for each class of exchange, the respective percentages of business and residential stations, also the respective percentages of individual- and party-line stations, on the 31st March, 1929

The length of various items of telephone-exchange plant in existence on the 31st March, 1928, and 1929, respectively, was as follows : —

The percentages of the total wire-mileage in underground and aerial cables and open aerial wire respectively for the year ended 31st March. 1929, are as under : — Telephone-exchange wire in underground cables .. .. 68 per cent. Telephone-exchange wire in aerial cables .. .. 13 „ Telephone-exchange open aerial wire .. .. .. 19 „ WORLD TELEPHONE STATISTICS. The official figures for world telephone development (compiled on 31st March, 1927) show that in the matter of telephone density America led the world, with 15-3 telephones per 100 of population ; Canada was second, with 12-6 telephones ; while New Zealand was third, with 9'5 telephones. Australia and Great Britain occupied sixth and tenth places respectively, with 6-7 and 3-3 telephones per 100 of population. The number of telephones per 100 of population of the world was 1-6. AUTOMATIC-TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. Specifications have been prepared and tenders called for complete automatic exchanges for instal" lation at Gisborne, Whangarei, and Marton. Tenders have been received from a number of firms, and these are now under consideration. They disclose some very interesting technical developments, and represent the very latest automatic-telephone engineering practice. Christchurch Telephone Exchange : Conversion to Automatic Operation. The Christchurch Telephone Exchange, to which over 11,000 stations are connected, is one of the largest in New Zealand to be converted to full automatic operation, and will increase by approximately 14 per cent, the number of automatic telephones in use in the Dominion. But for some unfortunate delays in the delivery of the equipment, the conversion to automatic working would have taken place many months ago. Notwithstanding the delays, however, the actual time occupied in the work of installation compares favourably with that for similar exchanges of like capacity in this

p . . Class I Class II Class III Class IV Dominion en a ° e Exchanges. Exchanges. Exchanges. Exchanges. Percentages. Business stations .... 39 33 28 21 30 Residential stations .... 61 67 72 79 70 100 100 100 100 100 Individual-line stations .. .. 89 75 55 37 64 Party- and rural-line stations .. 11 25 45 63 36 100 100 100 100 100

Cable. Wire. Pole-line. Single . Duct Line. r tt j Under- j . . , Under- j n A er ; a ] Open Under all ground. erla ' §, Cable. Aerial. Headings. Cable. Miles. Chains. Chains. Chains. Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. In existence on 31st 12,947 35,252 71,225 48,440 308,357 ! 65,633 89,366 463,356 March, 1928 Erected during year 746 2,772 10,160 5,260 39,381 5,919 7,332 52,632 Dismantled during year 35 21 1,775 6,633 10,134 9,379 1,005 20,518 In existence on 31st 13,658 38,003 79,610 47,067 337,604 j 62,173 95,693* 495,470 March, 1929 * Includes 122 miles of earth-working circuit.

F.—l

40

and other countries where machine switching methods have been introduced. With practically all the essential equipment now in sight, an intensive effort is being made to hasten completion of the work, additional skilled labour from other parts of the Dominion having been concentrated- at Christchurch to assist in the construction of the internal switching system, as well as in the installation of subscribers' telephones and subsidiary apparatus. If the outstanding items of equipment for subscribers' stations come to hand according to schedule time, as is confidently expected, the whole of the Christchurch metropolitan area will be completed and converted to automatic working in a few months. One indirect advantage arising from the delay that has occurred is that the Christchurch area, being the last of the large centres to receive full automatic treatment, will have the benefit of a number of the very latest developments in machine switching equipment. As soon as the cut-over takes place attention will be directed to the installation of a further 2,000-line extension, so that no unnecessary delay will arise in meeting the growth that is expected to follow the introduction of automatic methods. Automatic Switching Equipment for Small Telephone Communities. During the year experimental work was carried out in the Department's laboratory on a small type of automatic exchange system. The equipment was obtained primarily for experimental purposes with a view to testing its suitability in actual practice for the special conditions met with in rural exchanges in New Zealand where twenty-four-hour service under manual conditions would be economically prohibitive. The experimental work has now been completed, and arrangements are being made to install this system in a suitable rural locality preparatory to its more general adoption should it be found to meet the somewhat exacting conditions encountered in such localities. Automatic Telephones in New Zealand. Of the total number of telephones in use on the 31st March, 1929, about 42 per sent, were automatic (dial) telephones, 5 per cent, common battery, and 53 per cent, magneto instruments. With its large quota of automatic telephones, New Zealand probably possesses a greater percentage of automatically operated subscribers' stations than any other country in the world. An interesting graph hereunder depicts the steady increase in the number of dial telephones in New Zealand since 1920.

GRAPH SHOWING PROPORTION OF DIAL AND MANUAL TELEPHONES IN NEW ZEALAND FROM 1920 ONWARDS.

6—F. 1

F.—l.

Return showing the Equipment installed and the Equipment in Use at Automatic Exchanges on 31st March, 1929.

41

Existing Capacity of Exchange Equipment T>r„rr,h a i- nf Uminmmt fr, tt 0 » Number of Main Stations in Existence irrespective of the Number of TJnits installed. Number oi units 01 equipment m Use. of Equipment in Use. Number of Total Number of Extension Stations Telephone Stations Name of Exchange or Branch Automatic Lines. Automatic Lines. Automatic Stations. Totals. connected. connected. Exchange. Magneto Magneto ; Magneto ; One- Two- Four- Multi- Lines. one- xwo- Four- Multi- Lines. One- Two- Three- Four- Multi- stations. Magneto . t nf , party. party. party. party. party. party. party. party. party. party. party. party. party. Stations. Ssttions. j - ua sneco. Auto, magneto. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) I (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) Auckland Exchange Area — Wellesley Street .. .. 7,200 .. 100 .. .. 6,150 .. 100 .. .. 6,150 90 54 148 .. .. 6,442 4 2,829 .. 9,271 4 Remuera.. .. .. i 1,800 100 100 .. .. 1,894 71 88 .. .. 1.894 142 66 264 .. .. 2,366 .. 210 .. 2,576 Mount Eden .. .. 2,200 .. 100 .. .. 2,046 .. 99 .. .. 2,046 26 72 248 .. .. 2,392 .. 137 .. 2,529 Ponsonby.. .. .. ! 1,560 100 .. .. 1,345 .. 91 .. .. 1.345 54 90 136 .. .. 1,625 .. 122 .. 1,747 Onehunga .. .. 400 .. .. .. .. 400 .. .. .. .. 400 .. .. .. .. .. 400 .. 50 .. 450 Devonport .. 600 100 .. .. .. 576 5 .. .. .. 576 10 .. .. .. .. 586 .. 33 .. 619 Takapuna .. .. 400 .. .. . ■ .. 352 .. .. .. .. 352 .. .. .. .. .. 352 .. 27 .. 379 Christchurch Exchange Area — Hereford Street* .. .. 1,500 I .. .. .. .. 1,491 .. .. .. .. 1,491 .. .. .. .. .. 1,491 .. 238 .. 1,729 St. Albans* .. 500 .. .. .. 487 .. .. .. .. 487 .. .. .. . . .. 487 .. 70 .. 557 Sydenham* .. .. 300 | .. .. .. 289 .. .. .. .. 289 ... .. .. .. .. 289 .. 37 .. 326 Dunedin Exchange Area — ! Dowling Street .. .. 4,000: 100 100 .. 100 3,559 39 37 .. 31 3,559 78 86 36 .. Ill 3,759 111 1,590 44 5,349 155 Roslyn .. .. .. 1,000; .. .. .. .. 890 .. .. .. .. 890 .. .. .. .. .. 890 .. 62 .. 952 South Dunedin .. .. 1.800' 100 .. .. .. 1,373 95 .. .. .. 1,433 70 .. .. .. .. 1,503 .. 109 .. 1,612 Wellington Exchange Area — i Courtenay Place .. .. 3,800 100 100 .. .. 3,738 93 25 .. .. 3,754 184 18 12 .. .. 3,968 .. 1,115 .. 5,083 Wellington South .. .. 2,100 100 100 .. .. 2,012 96 93 .. .. 2,022 268 111 32 .. .. 2,433 .. 178 .. 2,611 Kelburn .. .. .. 1,600 .. 100 .. .. 1,293 .. 55 .. .. 1,298 64 36 24 .. .. 1,422 .. 90 .. 1,512 Khandallah .. .. 200 100 100 .. .. 194 54 68 .. .. 229 60 69 136 .. .. 494 .. 11 .. 505 Stout Street .. .. 7,400 100 100 .. .. 4,381 47 87 .. .. 4,392 116 84 148 .. .. 4,740 .. 3,586 .. 1 8,326 Miramar .. .. .. 400 .. .. .. .. 398 .. .. .. .. 398 .. .. .. .. .. 398 .. 11 .. 409 Single -office exchanges — Blenheim .. .. 800 .. 100 .. 50 734 .. 64 .. 32 734 82 24 60 .. 135 900 135 106 6 i 1,006 141 Dannevirke .. .. 700 .. 100 50 50 590 .. 27 43 .. 590 34 9 20 281 .. 934 .. 124 .. 1,058 Hamilton .. .. 1,700 100 100 .. 100 1,628 1 100 ■■ 87 1,628 84 57 160 .. 510 1,929 510 394 58 j 2,323 568 Hawera .. .. .. 900 .. 100 50 .. 760 .. 37 24 1 760 34 18 56 177 9 1,045 9 157 .. 1,202 9 Masterton .. .. 1.200 100 100 .. 220 997 90 99 ■■ 137 1,089 154 42 24 .. 390 1,309 390 257 8 i 1,566 398 Napier .. .. .. 2,200 100 .. .. 100 1,841 39 .. •• 28 1,858 44 .. .. .. 98 1,902 98 678 4 ! 2,580 102 Oamaru .. .. .. 800 .. 100 .. 20 731 .. 94 .. 8 794 18 36 40 - .. 59 888 59 116 4 1,004 63 Palmerston North .. .. 2,200 .. 100 .. 110 2,176 .. 92 .. 35 2,182 68 36 160 .. 180 2,446 180 343 131 2,789 311 Stratford .. .. .. 500 .. 100 50 .. 425 . . 21 23 .. 425 22 18 16 184 .. 665 .. 70 .. 735 Wanganui .. .. 2,500 200 100 .. 100 2,318 63 78 .. 63 2,318 146 48 208. .. 358 2,720 358 618 14 j 3,338 372 Totals .. .. 52,260 1,300 1,900 150 850 45,068 693 1,345 90 422 45,383 1,848 974 1,928 642 1,850 50,775 1,854 13,368 269 [64, 143 2,123 * Auxiliary apparatus. Columns 8 and 9 include a number of two and four party lines which are being used for other than two and four party stations.

F.—l

42

PUBLIC CALL OFFICES (COIN-IN-THE-SLOT TELEPHONES). The public call office telephone (familiarly known as the " slot telephone ") continues to prove remunerative in business and densely populated residential areas. During the year 66 additional public call offices were provided, bringing the total number in use up to 612. CARRIER-CURRENT TELE f HONE SYSTEMS. One of the most interesting developments of modern telephone practice is that known as the carrier-current " system by which existing channels of communication can be multiplied without increasing the wire plant. The method consists in the application of high-frequency currents to existing telephone-lines, thereby increasing the number of telephone speech channels without increasing the number of wires carried upon the pole-lines. This advance in the telephone art has been made possible largely by the invention and development of two devices now indispensable to the communication engineer—the thermionic valve and the electrical filter-. In an ordinary telephone circuit, each frequency component in the voice of the speaker is transmitted by an electric current of the same frequency, but generally the electrical equipment is not called upon to transmit frequencies above 3,000 cycles per second. In carrier-current operation the voice-frequency currents are caused to modulate a high-frequency current, which thus serves as a carrier for the message. In this way an additional telephone channel is obtained using frequencies entirely above those transmitted along the ordinary voice-frequency channel. By using other highfrequency carriers several additional conversations can take place simultaneously over the one pair of wires. Each channel occupies a certain range of frequencies included in a band extending approximately from 4,000 to 30,000 cycles per second. The words of one speaker may, for example, be conveyed by a channel employing frequencies of from, say, 23,500 to 26,000 cycles per second. At the receiving end the various incoming groups of high-frequency currents are separated by electrical filters. Then by demodulation the original voice-frequency currents are reproduced and transmitted over voice-frequency circuits, such as subscribers' lines, the speech transmitted over each channel thus reaching the proper listener. This is one of the subjects that received attention by the Chief Telegraph Engineer during his trip abroad in 1927. In 1928 it was decided that the carrier-current system should be adopted by the Department for the purpose of improving its long-distance telephone system and for increasing the number of telephone channels between centres where the use of the system would prove economical. Accordingly, in July of that year a contract was let for the supply of five carrier-current telephone systems, to be installed in various parts of the Dominion, as under : — (1) Three short-distance single-channel systems for use between Auckland and Hamilton. (2) One long-distance single-channel system (the terminal equipment of which will be installed at Christchurch and Seddon respectively), for supplementing the South Island land-line section of the Wellington-Christchurch telephone circuit, and for improving the quality of speech between Wellington and the principal centres south and west of Christchurch. (3) One three-channel system (the terminal equipment of which will be installed at Hamilton and Palmerston North respectively) for providing a single channel between Hamilton and Palmerston North and two channels between Wellington and Auckland. Auckland-Hamilton Systems. —The three single-cha.nnel systems for use on the Auckland-Hamilton section are to be operated over three of the existing metallic circuits between those places. The installation of these three systems will obviate the erection of four additional wires over this section of line. The cost of the three carrier circuits will be considerably less than the estimated cost of erecting the additional lines that would have been required to provide the same facilities ; and the carrier circuits will be more efficient than any of the existing physical circuits. Two of these systems have been in operation since November, 1928, and the third is now being installed. Auckland-Wellington Three-channel System. —In this system three additional speech circuits will be obtained by the transmission of six groups of high-frequency currents over the existing metallic circuit. The system has necessitated the installation of equipment at Hamilton, Ohakune, and Palmerston North. It was found necessary to erect a new building at Ohakune for the accommodation of the carrier " repeating " or " amplifying " equipment. The terminal apparatus at Hamilton and Palmerston North is now being installed ; but in consequence of delay in completion of the building at Ohakune it is unlikely that the complete system will be brought into commission before September, 1929, although a modified system may be made available when the terminal equipment is completed. This system will enable the Department to provide two high-grade direct telephone circuits between Wellington and Auckland, and one direct circuit between Palmerston North and Hamilton. These new circuits will show an improvement of over 300 per cent, in efficiency (loudness or volume of speech) as compared with the existing circuits. The Department is confident that these improved facilities will bring about a rapid increase in the traffic handled over this section of line. Besides creating additional and more efficient circuits between the centres named above, this three-channel carrier system will form the first link in a high-grade long-distance telephone network in the North Island. Christchurch-Seddon Long-distance Single-channel System.—The bulk of the equipment for this system has been delivered, and the remainder is due for delivery in April, 1929. It is expected that the system will be in operation about the end of June, 1929. At present there is only one direct circuit between Christchurch and Seddon (Marlborough). The additional circuit to be provided by the installation of the carrier system will minimize the delay that is at present incurred on Christchurch-

43

P.—l

North Island traffic during certain hours of the day. It will also enable the Department to give subscribers at Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, and the principal exchanges on the West Coast facilities for communicating throughout the twenty-four hours of the day with subscribers in the principal centres of the North Island, while Invercargill and Gore will be able to communicate with almost all the principal exchanges in the North Island between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and all day on Sundays. It has already been decided to install several additional carrier-current telephone systems during the next financial year, with a view to effecting still further improvements in the long-distance telephone system of the Dominion. CHECKING OF TELEPHONE TRANSMITTERS AND RECEIVERS. A very important factor in telephone communication is the maintenance of the subscriber's telephone in a high state of speech efficiency. This subject has received considerable attention by telephone administrations abroad, and there has been established a Standardization Group for the preparation and supply of standard apparatus with which the corresponding components of subscriber's telephone apparatus may be compared. Arrangements have been made for the Department to be admitted to the Standardization Group referred to. It is anticipated that this will be of material assistance in maintaining the quality and efficiency of telephone communication in New Zealand. PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF DOMINION BUREAU OF STANDARDS. With the rapid development of the higher phases of radio frequency and telephonic transmission generally, the need for the formation of a body having the custody of national physical standards is becoming of increasing importance. The recent movement in this direction by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research will be of material assistance to the Department, and will furnish a means whereby the delicate testing-instruments necessary for the proper functioning of the Department's telegraph and telephone apparatus can be periodically related to and checked against reliable physical standards. DEPARTMENTAL LABORATORY. Owing to the expansion of the Department's activities and the growing need for accurate investigations into developments in communication engineering, it was necessary to seek larger quarters for the Telegraph and Telephone Laboratory. Possession of the new quarters was taken on the 17th July, 1928. The work of the laboratory has been divided into three main sections —telegraph and telephone, field, and radio —each directed by a qualified Engineer acting in conjunction with the Engineer-in-Charge. In order to deal with the increased volume and scope of laboratory work, provision was made for considerable additions to the testing and experimental apparatus, and the staff was strengthened. Accommodation has been provided on the roof of the building for the weathering and testing of all items of line and cable plant which under working-conditions are subject to the effects of climatic exposure. Suitable radio telegraph and telephone apparatus has also been installed for the testing of radio equipment and for experimental work relating to the various phases of radio engineering undertaken or controlled by the Department. In addition to the more routine work of preparing specifications for telegraph and telephone materials and of testing such materials before issuing for use, considerable investigation is undertaken which is of great value in increasing the efficiency of the engineering service generally. Technical publications from all parts of the world bearing on the work of the Department are carefully scrutinized with a view to .the application of new methods to New Zealand requirements. In order to take full advantage of the rapid progress being made in the science and practice of radio telegraphy and telephony, it has been found necessary to extend the operations of the radio branch of the Department's service. With the removal of the laboratory to new premises, all radioinspection activities carried out in the Wellington metropolitan area have been concentrated at the laboratory. During the past twelve months the radio-inspection staff has done some valuable work in connection with the elimination of power interference in Wellington City and environs, a large number of cases being investigated. On each occasion the source of the trouble has been located, and with the co-operation of the power authority concerned an improvement duly effected. In this connection a van which has been fitted up with radio apparatus for the purpose of tracing and localizing sources of interference has been of great service. The radio section has also been engaged in connection with the purchase of apparatus required by the various stations for the new short-wave channels referred to elsewhere. Design-work has also been carried out in connection with the supply of a low-power transmitting-set suitable for communication between the main radio stations in the island groups and outlying points in the groups.

F.—l

44

APPENDIX.

DESIGNATION OF OFFICES CHANGED.

CABLE BUSINESS. The Dominion's outward International and Australian cable business, excluding press, for the years 1928-29 and 1927-28 was as follows :— INTERNATIONAL. Number of Value. Messages. £ 1928-29 .. .. 179,399 .. .. .. 188,851 1927-28 .. .. 170,818 .. .. .. 178,091 Increase 8,581 = 5-02 per cent. Increase 10,760 = 6-04 per cent. AUSTRALIAN. Number of Value. Messages. £ 1928-29 .. .. 146,942 .. .. .. 29,747 1927-28 .. .. 148,011 .. .. .. 29,464 Decrease 1,069 = 0-72 per cent. Increase 283 = 0-96 per cent. There was a total increase of 7,512 messages, and an increase in value of £11,043. Of the total revenue received on forwarded cable messages—viz., £218,598 —£205,145 was paid to other Administrations, and £13,453 was retained by New Zealand. RECEIVED CABLE MESSAGES. The number of cable messages received in New Zealand during the years 1928-29 and 1927-28, exclusive of press, was as follows : — International. • Australian. 1928-29 .. .. 156.115 .. .. .. 140,597 1927-28 .. .. 147,325 .. .. .. 140,899 Increase 8,790 = 5-96 per cent. Decrease 302 =0-21 per cent. The total revenue earned by New Zealand on received cable messages during the year 1928-29 was £11,224, as compared with £10,674 for 1927-28.

Poatal District. Changed from Changed to Thames .. .. .. .. Waiomio . . .. .. Puru. Christchurcli .. .. .. .. Spreydon* .. .. .. Hillmorton. * New office opened under name of Spreydon.

45

P.—l

RADIO-TELEGRAMS. The radio business transacted by the New Zealand coast stations during the years 1928-29 and 1927-28 was as follows:—

Table No. 1. Table showing the Number and Amount of Money-orders issued and of Money-orders payable in New Zealand since the Year 1863. Issued in the Dominion.

Forwarded. Received. Year. i Number of j Amount Number of Amount j earned by Total ValueJ 1 earned by Messages. Words. New Zealand. Messages, j Words. New Zealand. £ £ £ 1928-29 .. .. 14,345 204,857 3,847 6,523 25,559 290,137 5,059 1927-28 .. .. 14,440 169,987 2,906 5,688 25,361 j 290,933 4,846 'Increase .. .. 34,870 941 835 198 .. 213 Decrease .. 95 .. .. .. .. 796 I I

Where payable. Total. Commission ln the Dominion. United Kingdom.* Fore 'g n Countries.} a r • received. No. Amount. No. | Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. | Amount. £ £ £ £ £ £ 1863 1,057 2,201 9,614 4,74° 21,944 4,645 24,145 .. .. 11,586 55,703 r 873 3,562 34,288 142,642 11,913 48,548 6,150 28,068 .. .. 52,351 219,258 1883 9,023 132,232 402,559 26,211 9 1 >634 14 > Ir 3 46,94 0 •• •• I7 2 ,556 541,133 1893 10,249 146,133 576,359 29,616 86,545 35,208 88,025 .. .. 210,957 750,929 1903 15,882 273,535 1,108,067 63,309 157,790 59,468 150,368 .. .. 396,312 1,416,225 1913 16,872 516,536 2,821,624 100,634 336,992 73,575 199,158 .. 690,745 3,357,774 1923 28,357 545,605 3,849,423 54,461 223,143 68,044 284,778 16,869 32,815 684,979 4,390,159 1924 28,542 580,569 4,113,813 57, I 75 232,436 75,743 312,624 18,024 34,056 731,5" 4,692,929 ]925 28,843 610,971 4,406,461 64,777 259,439 72,519 278,050 18,421 33,280 766,689 4,977,230 1926 24,746 635,078 4,453,878 67,570 273,758 70,774 270,065 19,688 35,426 793,110 5,033,127 1927 24,775 639,889 4,416,182 69,764 276,747 73,021 265,752 20,807 36,409 803,481 4,995,090 1928 24,884 642,136 4,406,187 69,366 266,072 73,786 267,411 22,597 37,852 J 807,885 4,977,522 Drawn on the Dominion. Where issued. : — • Total. Year. In the Dominion. United Kingdom.* AustraUaajid British p ore jg n Countries.! j j No. I Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. 1 I ; I £ £ £ £ £ 1863 2,067 9,169 415 1,824 558 3,078 .. .. 3,040 14,071 i8 73 34,288 142,642 1,482 6,626 1,668 7,689 .. .. 37,438 156,957 1883 132,23 4° 2 ,559 3,725 '5,553 5,697 23,300 .. .. 141,654 441,4" 1893 146,133 576,359 8,746 32,617 10,679 40,929 •• •- 165,558 649,905 1903 273,535 1,108,067 13,035 49,I8I 17,777 68,340 .. .. 304,347 1,225,589 1913 516,536 2,821,624 12,693 70,084 31,450 110,487 .. .. 560,679 3,002,194 1923 545,605 3,849>423 11,042 63,313 26,042 123,703 1,813 8,669 584,502 4,045,108 1924 580,569 4,113,813 8,310 60,862 28,543 127,350 2,348 10,309 619,770 4,312,334 1925 610,972 4,406,461 9,857 69,098 27,318 119,073 2,140 8,391 650,287 4,603,023 1926 635,078 4,453,878 10,047 70,948 28,935 124,952 2,334 10,326 676,394 4,660,104. 1927 639,889 4,416,182 11,646 80,0x5 32,791 136,763 2,428 9,301 686,804 4,642,261 1928 642,136 4,406,187 10,607 7°, I 5 I 32,650 138,068 2,636 9,358 688,029 4,623,764 * Includes foreign offices to year 1915. f In previous years included in United Kingdom and foreign offices.

F.—l.

Table No. 2. Table showing the Number and Value of Postal Notes sold January, 1886—the Date upon which Postal Notes were first issued in New Zealand— to 31st March, 1929.

46

Number of Postal Notes sold. Total. Year. i ~j 1 ; 7 ; | At Is. At Is. 6d. At 2s. At 2s. 6d. At 3s. At 5s. At 7s. 6d. At 10s. At 12s. 6d. At 15s. At 17s. 6d. At £1. At £5. Number. Value. i £ Quarter ended Mar. 31,1886 3,019 2,04(3 .. 1,012 .. 2,039 909 2,379 695 992 425 2,866 .. 16,442 6,910 1886-87 .. .. 16,605 12,283 .. 6,647 .. 11,566 5,729 13,103 4,090 5,187 2,375 14,961 92,546 37,659 1887-88 .. .. 22,467 17,167 .. 9,162 .. 15,553 7,671 17,487 5,278 6,940 2,952 17,578 122,255 47,729 1888-89 .. .. 27,428 21,900 .. 11,912 .. 19,741 9,477 21,149 6,618 8,243 3,633 19,778 .. 149,879 56,842 1889-90 .. .. 32,754 25,387 .. 14,478 .. 23,550 10,894 24,011 7,809 9,386 4,158 22,596 .. 175,023 65,484 1890-91 .. .. 35,915 28,559 .. 16,092 .. 25,204 12,229 25,906 7,969 10,172 4,366 23,503 .. 189,915 69,722 1891-92 .. 42,416 33,722 19,383 29,550 14,019 30,132 9,058 11,611 4,953 25,839 .. 220,683 79,326 1892-93 .. .. 48,612 38,849 .. 22,038 .. 33,012 16,072 32,747 9,904 12,330 5,369 28,969 .. 247,902 87,857 1893-94 .. .. 56,761 44,706 .. 25,461 j .. 37,771 18,096 37,687 11,016 13,800 6,156 33,935 .. 285,389 101,002 1894-95 .. .. 62,306 49,846 .. 28,975 I .. 43,829 20,423 43,167 11,864 15,567 6,790 36,601 .. 319,368 112,308 1895 96 .. .. 68,454 56,185 .. 32, S01 .. 49,204 22,802 47,787 13,601 17,191 7,020 33,390 1,192 349,627 123,368 1896-97 .. .. 74,534 62,056 .. 35,322 j .. 54,219 24,871 51,963 14,365 18,102 7,406 32,868 1,090 376,796 129,012 1897-98 .. .. 81,958 69,981 .. 38,617 | .. 60,843 26,968 55,748 15,463 19,477 7,904 32,179 728 409,866 134,378 1898-99 .. .. 86,529 72,710 .. 41,991 .. 64,3S6 28,448 59,631 16,202 19,990 8,193 32,696 673 431,449 139,957 1899-1900 .. .. 93,762 77,431 .. 44,384 .. 70,416 30,680 63,787 16,957 21,393 8,539 33.491 607 461,447 147,686 1900-1901 .. 85,478 68,068 13,834 52,691 14,702 80,630 24,497 71,001 13,304 23,875 6,799 35,067 560 490,506 154,436 1901-1902 .. .. 49,529 30,255 62,285 70,683 65,467 109,663 .. 92,708 .. 32,128 .. 43,042 556 556,316 173,317 1902-1903 .. .. 54,268 33,409 70,122 76,613 75,700 119,593 .. 102,641 .. 34,508 .. 48,852 558 616,264 191,905 1903-1904 .. .. 61,379 37,514 85,909 86,626 89,276 134,270 .. 114,755 .. 38,030 .. 58,629 656 707,044 220,070 1904-1905 .. .. 65,484 40,263 86,711 96,228 99,739 154,281 .. 130,430 .. 42,317 .. 69,206 688 785,347 250,123 1905-1906 .. .. 74,389 45.358 98,503 108,493 114,411 167,430 143,216 .. 46,228 .. 76,508 788 875,324 276,279 1906-1907 .. .. 82,417 54,375 106,311 120,321 128,384 187,083 .. 159,045 .. 51,559 .. 91,193 954 981,642 314,053 1907-1908 .. .. 89.906 58,202 124,052 136,392 143,854 205,500 .. 171,951 .. 57,637 .. 104,714 423 1,092,631 347,300 1908-1909 .. .. 97,285 59,484 153,925 162,588 146,148 227,471 .. 188,677 .. 62,916 123,786 .. 1,222,280 389,143 1909-1910 .. .. 113,825 67,406 181,791 195,168 166,486 261,045 214,453 .. 70,967 .. 143,611 .. 1,414,752 447,619 1910-1911 .. .. 130,645 79,792 211,298 244,941 201,569 301,707 242,854 .. 82,253 .. 171,900 .. 1,666,959 524,943 1911-1912 .. .. 141,504 85,130 236,665 263,829 215,984 337,338 .. 261,600 .. 88,693 .. 190,823 .. 1,821,566 574,980 1912-1913 .. .. 154,201 92,342 264,844 279,311 220,109 367,942 283,206 95,535 .. 213,153 .. 1,970,643 636,473 1913-1914 .. .. 172,400 103,753 298,669 324,417 256,231 418,712 312,870 .. 106,560 .. 245,230 .. 2,238,842 721,743 1914-1915 .. .. 182,733 107,483 307,934 346,011 263,522 444,427 .. 325,071 107,506 .. 229,640 .. 2,314,327 725,118 1915-1916 .. .. 186,873 114,570 319,115 364,086 267,383 461,137 .. 334,277 .. 111,095 211,543 .. 2,370,079 723,314 1916-1917 .. .. 184,873 112,639 322,946 343,031 260,956 440,215 .. 301,825 .. 108,978 .. 211,000 .. 2,286,463 695,819 1917-1918 .. .. 187,005 115,867 316,266 337,418 258,421 401,696 .. 252,396 .. 103,348 .. 194,180 .. 2,166,597 638,246 1918-1919 .. 181,824 114,553 299,791 326,398 253,728 381,202 .. 238,337 .. 102,467 192,751 2,091,051 619,605 1919-1920 .. .. 196,327 121,037 310,105 339,341 268,032 396,994 .. 246,688 110,819 .. 208,177 .. 2,197,520 655,910 1920-1921 .. .. 217,553 120,888 309,649 342,040 266,119 410,584 254,868 123,917 234,601 .. 2,280,219 705,027 1921-1922 .. .. 239,187 120,780 314,035 352,681 259,372 445,995 .. 269,863 .. 137.192 .. 238,517 .. 2,377,622 739,783 1822-1923 .. .. 262,172 130,275 331,376 348,779 236,877 475,947 .. 276,650 .. 138,621 233,809 .. 2,434,506 747,025 1823-1924 .. • • 285,065 145,277 386,241 385,307 247,915 528,178 .. 299,987 .. 151,288 .. 243,519 .. 2,652,777 804,343 1924-1925 .. 297,019 154,406 397,666 428,707 253,311 577,873 .. 316,947 .. 162,281 .. 258,123 .. 2,846,333 860,029 1925-1926 .. .. 318,454 159,549 448,307 458,634 254,038 607,000 .. 339,864 .. 170,376 .. 284,500 .. 3,040,722 922,873 1926-1927 .. 394,853 165,278 482,600 545,182 260,844 650,226 .. 340,646 .. 181,164 .. 308,845 .. 3,329,638 987,687 1927-1928 .. .. 601,143 186,961 497,760 518,248 278,844 688,004 .. 352,524 .. 192,363 .. 298,370 .. 3,614,217 1,015,213 1928-1929 .. .. 389,074 186,302 j 519,908 535,803 326,953 733,585 .. 369,777 .. 203,906 .. 310,676 .. 3,575,984 1,057,624

F. —1.

Table No. 3. Table showing the Number and Value of Transactions at Money-order Offices during the Year 1928, and at Savings-bank Offices during the Year 1928-29.

47

Money-orders. Savings-banks. I j j j Postal District. issued. Paid. Number Deposits. Number Withdrawals. j of New j ; of Accounts Accounts Number. Commission. Amount. Number. Amount. opened. Number. Amount. closed. Number. Amount. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Auckland .. .. .. .. 140,641 4,577 17 9 789,263 8 5 191,409 1,154,305 18 11 15,368 267,909 4,649,545 18 7 13,389 243,477 4,898,092 2 9 Blenheim .. .. .. .. 9,333 278 10 6 54,577 0 7 4,760 34,266 1 7 975 16,046 280,649 15 10 727 13,387 301,624 6 3 Christehureh .. .. .. 71,873 2,325 7 3 442,133 0 3 73,812 614,612 2 4 11,301 255,595 4,388,234 11 3 7,773 219,139 4,504,916 18 5 Dunedin .. .. .. .. 66,707 2,057 3 9 372,664 9 0 62,168 407,102 8 5 5,766 113,046 1,997,199 2 5 j 5,308 93,659 2,255,471 8 5 Gisborne .. .. .. .. 19,788 636 2 9 122,939 3 10 9,530 - 79,016 5 ] 2,426 37,478 611,889 1 5 1,638 28,554 633,115 3 11 Greymouth.. .. .. .. 21,358 640 10 3 121,924 6 11 9,966 62,612 16 7 1,271 17,737 312,503 16 9 1,032 12,011 319,881 18 9 Hamilton .. .. .. .. 80,013 2,261 3 6 472,218 0 11 39,016 240,848 6 8 7,634 93,741 1,393,815 13 11 4,992 61,705 1,414,026 12 10 Invercargill .. .. .. 34,748 1,011 18 0 187,631 12 4 24,017 145,164 7 5 3,209 38,655 716,796 7 0 2,563 32,054 787,539 13 7 Napier .. .. .. .. 38,469 1,197 4 9 244,563 8 7 25,286 206,588 7 8 4,867 73,684 1,305,861 2 7 3,534 59,331 1,334,108 2 7 Nelson .. .. .. •• 18,193 567 6 0 108,493 19 3 12,479 86,312 9 3 1,679 28,630 491,432 7 10 1,057 20,846 453,179 13 2 New Plymouth .. .. •• 34,844 1,039 11 6 208,920 11 7 21,981 158,780 9 0 3,805 58,641 1,127,962 0 2 2,903 43,820 1,099,113 13 9 Oamaru .. .. .. •• 10,674 290 12 6 99,885 18 3 4,637 31,368 6 10 1,153 17,210 366,914 16 10 795 14,621 363,550 3 3 Palmerston North .. .. .. 43,246 1,166 4 3 279,158 16 1 28,115 180,462 19 6 5,744 84,462 1,472,081 4 10 3,562 62,514 1,426,151 2 4 Thames .. .. .. 30,689 885 16 0 178,812 12 2 12,523 82,247 15 0 3,111 35,652 524,596 15 2 2,386 20,226 560,601 8 11 Timaru .. .. •• •• 21,140 583 3 3 230,493 9 9 10,741 74,157 9 8 2,459 42,430 907,335 10 0 1,879 34,190 882,359 4 4 Wanganui .. .. .. •• 40,099 1,064 3 3 238,693 2 8 22,332 144,374 18 5 4,301 67,550 1,047,399 16 1 3,235 51,821 1,076,711 8 7 Wellington .. .. •• 108,501 3,703 17 9 715,891 13 5 128,700 880,991 18 8 16,839 356,197 5,451,802 14 7 11,983 265,070 5,595,774 9 4 Westport .. .. .. .. 14,023 410 0 3 70,726 1 7 4,209 24,551 12 2 712 10,088 155,017 0 3 469 5,695 152,087 17 8 Western Samoa .. .. .. 2,327 116 0 6 22,740 19 3 249 1,550 14 10 290 2,647 38,108 8 10 267 1,879 42,475 19 11 Rarotonga.. .. .. .. 1,219 71 2 9 15,790 4 10 418 10,703 13 8 201 1,258 13,235 4 8 48 1,257 11,159 8 0 Grand totals, 1929 .. 807,885 24,883 16 6 4,977,521 19 8 686,348 4,620,019 1 8 93,111 1,618,656 27,252,381 9 0 69,540 1,285,256 28,111,940 16 9 I I

F.—l

48

Table No. 4. POST OFFICE SAVINGS-BANK.—GENERAL STATEMENT. Table showing the Business of the Post Office Savings-bank in the various Postal Districts of New Zealand during the Year ended 31st March, 1929.

CO 03 CJ 03 ® 03 — loo-g Number Amoimt Number Average Number Number Nu ?i ber Total Amount Amount °' Tnfal 4mnimt nfnach of Amount Excess of Excess of of of . °* . standing to the standing to w ogg Deposits With- Total Amount oi of each Deposits over Withdrawals Interest Accounts Accounts Credit of all the Credit Postal Districts. "g ,l|, 2 , 3 received rp«-ivpM rtiiririt» received drawals Withdrawals Withdrawal Withdrawals over Deposits for the opened closed Open Accounts, of each nSg.'d during thJpeSS rlnrine during during the Period. during during during Period. during during inclusive of Open Ac-|S-Sg.2 the the Period. during the the the Period. the Period. the the a * f C J? s 0 e Interest to the cbunt at a»,5«8 Period. p J5i Period. Period. Period. Period. £' Close of the Period. Close of ioccsfn Period. Period. the Period. I i I £ s. d. £ s. d.i £ s. d. ! £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Auckland .. .. 187 267,909 4,649,545 18 7 17 7 1| 243,477 4,898,092 2 9 20 2 4 .. 248,546 4 2 281,046 16 5 15,368 13,389 141,979 7,882,956 7 0 55 10 7 Blenheim .. .. 16 16,046 280,649 15 10 17 9 10 13,387 301,624 6 3 22 10 7 .. 20,974 10 5 21,763 15 10 975 727 10,904 600,400 1 2 55 1 5 Christchurch .. J 73 255,595 4,388,234 11 3 17 3 5j 219,139 4,504,916 18 5 20 11 2 .. 116,682 7 2 282,297 15 7 11,301 7,773 123,388 7,798,616 5 0 63 4 1 Dunedin .. .. 78 113,046 1,997,199 2 5 17 13 5 93,659 2,255,471 8 5 24 1 8 .. 258,272 6 0 164,012 4 5 5,766 5,308 72,920 4,397,558 18 2 60 6 2 Gisborne .. .. 26 37,478 611,889 1 5 16 6 7 28,554 633,115 3 11 22 3 5 .. 21,226 2 6 40,027 0 7 2,426 1,638 21,307 1,124,606 5 5 52 15 8 Greymouth.. .. 24 17,737 312,503 16 9 17 12 5 12,011 319,881 18 9 26 12 8 .. 7,378 2 0 29,164 19 3 1,271 1,032 13,478 794,179 11 6 58 18 6 Hamilton .. .. 90 93,741 1,393,815 13 11 14 17 5 61,705 1,414,026 12 10: 22 18 4 .. 20,210 18 11 83,880 6 5 7,634 4,992 41,478 2,389,059 2 5 57 12 0 Invercargill .. 38 38,655 716,796 7 0 18 10 11 32,054 787,539 13 7 24 11 5 .. 70,743 6 7 63,541 2 5 3,209 2,563 30,195 1,715,583 1 1 56 16 5 Napier .. .. 39 73,684 1,305,861 2 7 17 14 5 59,331 1,334,108 2 7 22 9 8 .. 28,247 0 0 81,224 10 3 4,867 3,534 39,882 2,286,297 8 7 57 6 7 Nelson .. .. 32 28,630 491,432 7 10 17 3 4 20,846 453,179 13 2 21 14 9 38,252 14 8 .. 36,094 18 0 1,679 1,057 17,481 1,017,336 7 7 58 5 0 New Plymouth .. 37 58,641 1,127,962 0 2 19 5 9 43,820 1,099,113 13 9 25 1 8 28,848 6 5 .. 66,672 13 6 3,805 2,903 31,350 1,930,727 1 6 61 11 10 Oamaru .. .. 12 17,210 366,914 16 10 21 6 5 14,621 363,550 3 3 24 17 4 3,364 13 7 .. 24,398 17 4 1,153 795 10,002 671,921 17 4 67 3 8 Palmerston North .. 41 84,462 1,472,081 4 10 17 4 7 62,514 1,426,151 2 4 22 16 3 45,930 2 6 .. 84,618 10 3 5,744 3,562 33,767 2,438,424 2 0 72 4 3 Thames .. .. 39 35,652 524,596 15 2 14 14 3 20,226 560,601 8 11 27 14 4 .. 36,004 13 9 38,532 9 11 3,111 2,386 23,652 1,067,499 16 5 45 2 8 Timaru .. .. 18 42,430 907,335 10 0 21 7 9 34,190 882,359 4 4 25 16 2 24,976 5 8 .. 60,692 18 3 2,459 1,879 23,788 1,700,732 7 10 71 9 11 Wanganui .. .. 42 67,550 1,047,399 16 1 15 10 1 51,821 1,076,711 8 7 20 15 7 .. 29,311 12 6 69,414 12 1 4,301 3,235 36,914 1,949,265 12 11 52 16 1 Wellington.. .. 60 356,197 5,451,802 14 7 15 6 1 265,070 5,595,774 9 4 21 2 3 .. 143,971 14 9 301,149 5 8 16,839 11,983 146,758 8,430,325 15 4 57 8 11 Westport .. .. 20 10,088 155,017 0 3 15 7 3 5,695 152,087 17 8 26 14 1 2,929 2 7 .. 13,802 4 5 712 469 6,627 378,035 3 1 57 0 11 Western Samoa .. 2 2,647 38,108 8 10 14 7 11 1,879 42,475 19 11 22 12 1 .. 4,367 11 1 1,911 18 0 290 267 1,451 48,147 5 5 33 3 9 Rarotonga .. .. 5 1,258 13,235 4 8 10 10 5 1,257 11,159 8 0 8 17 7 2,075 16 8 .. 803 6 9 201 48 975 22,544 10 9 23 2 6 Totals for year ended 879 1,618,656 27,252,381 9 0 16 16 91,285,256 28,111,940 16 9 21 17 6 .. 859,559 7 91,745,050 5 4 93,111 69,540 S28, 29648,644,217 0 6 58 14 7 31st March, 1929

49

F, —]

7—F .1

Table No. 5. POST OFFICE SAVINGS-BANK.—GENERAL STATEMENT. Table showing the Business of the Post Office Savings-bank in New Zealand, by Ten-year Periods, from 1868 to the 31st December, 1918, and Yearly Periods thereafter to the Yeat ended 31st March, 1929.

Branches 1 , T < Average j Average Number Number Nu^ ber Total Amount Amount of the Post Number ol Total Amount Amount of Number f.xppsk of R „„„ „ f of of . J" , standing to the standingto Year 0fflce Sed of Deposits T wfthdTawal?' each With " Deposits over Withdrawals Interest for founts remain Credit Yeal - Savings- received during dl trine durine theYear drawal Withdrawals over Deposits the Year. iff? ing Open °Sii3 ' nS the Year. Year. S. the Year. ng during the Year, durmg the Year. dnrmg durmg £ Open of the Year Year - the Year. Year Year rfthe c , ose 0 , che Ye ar. Close of the Year £ s. d.j £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. j £ s. d. £ s. d. Year ended 31st Mar., 879 1,618,656 27,252,381 9 0 16 16 91.285,256 28,111,940 16 9 21 17 6 .. 859,559 7 91,745,050 5 4 93,111 69,540 828,296:48,644,217 0 6 58 14 7 1929 Year ended 31st Mar., 870 1,570,493 27,611,066 5 1 17 11 7 1,274,90630,584,997 14 4 23 19 10 .. 2,973,931 9 31,747,155 13 9 93,331 72,433 804,725 47,758,726 2 11 59 6 11 1928 Year ended 31st Mar., 875 1,509,909 29,456,383 2 7 19 10 21,224,764 30,149,628 17 3 24 12 4 .. 693,245 14 81,767,426 2 8 97,713 72,041 783,827 48,985,501 18 5 62 9 11 1927 Year ended 31st Mar., 870 1,446,530 31,833,621 9 5 22 0 11,197,985 32,602,505 17 2 27 4 3 .. 768,884 7 9 1.731,577 17 2 104,447 81,440 758,15547,911,321 10 5 63 3 11 1926 Year ended 31st Mar., 855 1,371,009 29,582,897 2 9 21 11 7 1,108,29130,413,609 3 11 27 8 10 830,712 1 2 1,680,919 10 10 95,595 70,604 735,148 46,948,628 1 0 63 17 3 1925 Year ended 31st Mar., 846 1,261,141 29,598,372 4 S 23 9 41,075,037 29,510,320 19 6 27 9 0 88,051 5 2 .. 1,649,976 4 8 92,465 73,098 710,157 46,098,420 11 4 64 18 3 1924 Year ended 31st Mar., 840 :l,175,10426, 682, 426 11 4 22 14 2 1,081,300 27,769,262 16 3 25 13 8 .. 1,086,836 4 11 1,605,525 1 10 78,490 66,630 690,790 44,360,393 1 6 64 4 4 1923 Year ended 31st Mar., 831 1,227,59129,195,997 10 0 23 14 61,119,662 30,236,231 6 5 27 0 0 .. 1,110,233 16 51,599,907 2 0 89,859 75,748 678,930 43,841,704 4 7 64 11 6 1922 months ended 819 1,664,206 44,302,852 5 4 26 12 51,458,008 41,162,486 9 10 28 4 83,140,365 15 6 .. 1,818,534 5 2 152,930118,894 664,819 43,352,030 19 0 65 4 2 31st March, 1921 Totals for 1919 .. 794 il,289, 16129,758 ,448 9 7 23 1 8 994,247 25,962,378 2 6 26 2 33,796,070 7 1 .. 1,178,935 6 6 118,109 77,531 630,78338,393,130 18 4 60 17 4 1918 .. 786 1,213,353 18,101,104 18 1 14 18 4 727,72914,938,841 10 0 20 10 73,162,263 8 1 .. 1,059,471 17 8 76,869 53,015 590,205 33,418,125 4 9 56 12 5 1908 .. 593 706,101 9,674,075 4 0 13 14 0 484,672 9,417,820 10 3 19 8 8 256,254 13 9 .. 379,808 6 7 80,133 57,829 342,077 12,159,293 18 1 35 10 1] 1898 .. 409 281,749 3,279,611 7 5 11 12 10 196,764 3,194,893 16 7 16 4 9 84,717 10 10 .. 128,128 16 6 37,265 26,628 169,968 4,957.771 5 5 29 3 5 1888 .. 290 145,355 1,544,747 7 11 10 12 6 96,204 1,387,471 1 10 14 8 5 157,276 6 1 .. 78,080 6 0 21,307 16,543 84,488 2,048,441 10 9 24 4 10 -878 .. 147 69,908 762,084 12 0 10 18 0 42,746 742,053 14 3 17 7 2 20,030 17 9 .. 31,664 12 9 13,005 9,634 32,132 819,071 8 2 25 9 9 1868 .. 55 13,014 194,535 11 6 14 18 11 6,365 107,094 17 3 16 18 6 87,440 14 3 .. 4,880 7 3 3,282 1,186 4,252 163,518 15 7 38 9 1 tTotals from 1st Feb. to 46 6,977 96,372 7 10 13 16 3 1,919 26,415 18 9 13 15 3 69,956 9 1 .. 1,241 5 0 2,520 364 2,156! 71,197 14 1 33 0 5 31st Dee., 1867 * Termination of Savings-bank year altered from 31st December to 31st March, with effect from 31st March, 1921. t The Post Office Savings-bank was established in the Dominion in February, 1867.

F. —1

50

Table No. 6. Table showing the Estimated Number of Letters and Letter-cards, Post-cards, Book-packets, Newspapers, and Parcels posted and delivered in the several Postal Districts of New Zealand during the Year ended the 31st December, 1928.

Posted in the Dominion. Delivered in the Dominion. Total posted and delivered. Postal District ( r 1 , ; | ' (192S). Le e tter r -oa a rdl I p °st-oards. Books, &c. Newspapers. Parcels. letter-cards, j Post-cards. Books, &c. j Newspapers, i Parcels. 1J ° st - oards - Books ' &0 - papers. Parcels. i i ! r j i Auckland .. 31,050,544' 879,580 19,110,828 5,344,099 905,222 33,063,199 1,062,516 15,987,47s 1 5,024,734 621,784 64,113,743 1,942,096 35,098,30610,368.8331,527,006 Blenheim .. 1,927,245 29,328 512,282 301,639 19,682 1,953,328, 53,079 653,484 490,672 69,901 3,880,573 82,407 1,165,766 792,311 89,583 Christchurch .. 17,146,558 745,212 10,831,760 1,564,360 441,046 20,642,180 1,050,595 11,284,871 2,976,571 354,671 37,788,738 l,795,807j 22,116,631 4,540,931 795,717 Dunedin .. 12,437,793 478,335 7,583,156 1,795,327 328,687 11,600.732 603,902 7,095,777 2,262,247 308.480 24,038,525 1,082,237 14,678,933 4,057,574 637,167 Gisborne .. 2,987,906: 55,796 896,595 615,920 45,734! 3,394,222 59,241 1,617,616 1,142,882 122,317 6,382,128 115,037 2,514,211 1,758,802 168,051 Greymouth .. 1,752,754| 39,091 510,469 297,830 36,608' 2,055,092 52,793 682,760 509,106 84,071 3,807.846 91,884 1,193,229 806,936 120,679 Hamilton .. 9,696,410 261,274 2,654,356 1,024,221! 98,445 9,650,407 369,967 4,810,351 2.034,786 314,535 19,346,817 631,241 7,464,707 3,059,007 412, 9« A Invercargill .. 6,327,277: 177,411 3,151,185 678,852 84,318 6,698,783 256,490 3,571,516 1,187,277 154,804 13,026,060 433,901 6,722,701 1,866,129 239,122 Napier ' .. 6,601,745 113,035 2.808,086 751,643 84,760 7,557,485 189,215 3,887,689 1.600,378 195,013 14,159,230 302,250 6,695,775 2,352,021 279,773 Nelson .. 2.262,159 58,539 828,274 213,782 45,877 2,734,888 71,890 1,198,509 614,302 114,205 4,997,047 130,429 2,026,783 828,084 160,082 New Plymouth 4,661,811 125,970 2,145,728 598,153 68,757 5.700.838, 206, 063 1 3,377,361 1,199,575 172,939: 10,362,649 332,033 5,523,089 1,797,728 241.696 Oamaru .. 1.484.722 47,463 552,597 165,529 18,902 1.693,601 89,219 1,015,300 368,706 48,243 3,178,323 136.682 1,567.897 534,235 67,145 Palmerston N. 6.142,937 112,775 2,914,749 658,248 88,517 8,082,646 268,866 4,937,894 1,341,418 194,272, 14,225,583 381,641 7,852,643 1,999,666 282,789 Thames .. 2,948,780 51,584 1,017,992 320,546' 35,321: 3,529,019 154,544 2,094,456 738,842 133,289i 6,477.799 206,128 3,112,448 1,059,388 168,610 Timaru .. 3,510,822 194,220 1,425,515 389,449 40,209 3,811,626 139,685 1,974,921 674,739 95,576 7,322,448 333,905 3,400,436 1,064,188 135,785 Wanganui .. 5,896,633 129,558 2,794,482 819,684 89,167 5,490,355 160,043 3,291,119 1.093,261 192,738, 11,386,988 289,601 6,085,601 1,912,945 281,905 Wellington .. 25,884,951 533,751 15.897,969 4,947,914 901.769 25,922,576 588,260 10,928,599 3.973,428 398,865' 51,807,527 1,122,011 26,826,568 8,921,3421,300,634 Westport .. 776,841 10,998 126.444 123,201 13,624 1,167,179 24,726 322,465 308,815 48,061 1,944,020. 35,724 448,909 432,016 61,685 Rarotonga .. 42,232 984 1,784 776 2,088 47,352 664 6,760 10,736 2,720 89,584 1.648 8,544 11,512! 4,808 Western Samoa 86,070 3,164 3,384 14,934 552 126,666 642 6,048 ! 78,612 5,316 212,736 3,806 9,432 93,546 5,868 Totals, 1928 143,626,190 4,048,068 75,767,635 20,626,107! 3,349,285154,922,174 5,402,400| 78,744,974 27,631,087 3,631, 800j 298,548,364 9,450,468 154,512, 60948, 257,194|6, 981, 085 Totals, 1927 147,365,719 4,067,202 70,020,863 20,763,048 ! 3,321,903150,112,575 4,815, 581 66,178,313 26,326,604 3,581, 632 1 297,478,294 8,882,783 136,199, 176 47,089, 652|g, 903, 535 1 I 1 1 - I

F.—l.

Table No. 7. Registered Articles. The number of registered articles dealt with in 1928 compared with the number in 1890, 1910, and 1927, was as follows :— 1890. 1910. 1927. 1928. From places beyond the Dominion .. 26,374 132,493 215,625 388,700 Registered in the Dominion .. .. 169,321 993,675 1,873,374 2,202,600 Totals .. .. .. 195,695 1,126,168 2,088,999 2,591,300

Table No. 8. Parcel-post. The following shows the number and weight of parcels posted during the years 1890, 1900, 1910, 1927, and 1928

The following table shows the number and weight of parcels exchanged with other countries during the years, 1927 and 1928 : —

B—F. 1.

51

I I 1 I — 1890. 1900. 1910. 1927. 1928. I I I I [ ! I I Number .. 121,292 199,413 1,190,711 3,321,903 I 3,349,285 Weight .. 336,6431b. 12 oz. 682,104 lb. 7 oz. 1 3,953,284 lb. 15 oz. 16,719,107 1b. |

Received. Despatched. Places. 1927. 1928. 1927. 1928. J Number. Weight. Number, j Weight. Number, j Weight. Number. | Weight. lb. lb. : lb. lb. Great Britain and Ireland and 189,267 j 1,627,080 204,214 1,797,145 28,033 109,668 27,350 118,590 foreign countries via London United States of America and 64,819 , 419,248 64,612 419,854 ' 5,343 21,435 4,789 19,806 Possessions Canada .. .. .. 10,348 ! 71,949 11,549 86,920 1,723 i 5,714 1,805 5,844 New South Wales .. 29,089! 108,952 32,814 126,223 11,816 40,315 12,027 39,192 Victoria.. .. .. 17,710 77,625 18,125 82,917 5,776 20,276 5,599 18,677 Queensland .. 1,151 ! 2,753 1,338 2,696 1,302 4,201 1,289 4,019 South Australia .. .. 961 2,645 948 2,674 868 2,962 884 3,073 Tasmania .. .. 445 1,331 465 1,634 788 2,505 730 2,067 Western Australia .. 583 1,466 608 1,453 840 2,774 798 2,628 Cape Colony .. 1,196 3,215 1,119 2,793 117 312 145 394 Natal .. .. .. .. .. .. •• 505 1,527 438 1,270 Egypt .. ■■ .. 268 1,754 263 1,719 80 358 70 487 Aden .. .. 577 4,492 391 2,759 India .. . . .. 2,972 20,135 4,667 36,164 982 5,178 1,094 5,982 Ceylon .. .. .. 539 2,786 482 2,266 130 550 124 505 Straits Settlements .. 342 1,031 531 1,463 363 1,890 417 1,880 Hong Kong .. .. 1,274 8,842 1,727 12,353 374 1,790 467 2,538 Fiji .. .. 1,084 2,373 1,041 2,293 2,128 7,374 2,177 7,241 Tonga .. .. .. 69 219 86 315 1,358 6,974 1,587 8,297 Tahiti .. .. .. 97 797 77 671 240 1,321 240 1,278 Norfolk Island .. .. 42 102 90 258 266 821 544 1,753 Uruguay .. . . .. .. .. •• 68 374 45 200 Others . . ■ . 1 9 • • 5 12 13 42 Totals .. 322,834 2,358,804 345,147 2,584,570 63,105 238,331 62,632 245,763 I

F.—1

52

Table No. 9. Comparative Table showing the Development in the Telegraph, Toll, and Telephone-exchange Services during the Ten-year Periods ended 30th June, 1866 and 1876, the 31st December, 1886, the 31st March, 1896. 1906, 1916; and the past Five Years.

Telegraph and Toll. Number of Telegrams and Toll Messages forwarded during the Year. Revenue in respect of Telegraph, Toll, and Telephone-exchange Services. Telegrams. Telegraph. Total rear. Number N ber H J - V ,, ; , Tola. j - — j Telephone M p'oie? f Miles of Offices Letter- 6 Total 'of ToU 1 | Letter- Govern _ Sous Total Revenue. Telephone- „°' e Wire, opened. Ordinary. Urgent, j Press. tele- Number of Messages. Ordinary. Urgent. Press. tele- ,°^ n Telegraph revenue. exchange llne ' grams. ment ' Telegrams. | grams. menl ' j HeTOnne? Revenue - Revenue. | £ £ i £ £ £ £ ! £ £ £ £ 30th June, 1866 699 1,390 13 *24,761 .. .. .. 2,476 27,237 .. ! *5,562 .. .. .. 483 . . 6,045 .. .. 6,045 1876 13,154 7,247 142 *890,382 .. .. .. 160,704 1,051,086 .. *62,716 .. .. .. 16,154 .. 78,870 .. .. 78,870 31st Dec., 1886 4,546 111,178 412 *fl,583,717 .. .. .. 252,549 1,836,266 .. (*f88,385 .. .. .. 27,281 i .. 115,666 .. 118,254 133,920 31st Mar.. 1896 6,245$ ; 15,764J 743 fl,553, 232 59,038 198,108, .. 224,579 2,034,957 89,254! {73,160 7,510 ! 9,508 .. 25,844 4,889:120,911 2,110 25,934 148,955 1906 ! 8,355 125,116 1,312 3,995,998 211,571 379,185! .. 289,135 4,875,889 764,330 133,204 12,807 ! 18,095 .. 24,168 3,895 192,169 16,368 89,542 298,079 1916 ,13,684 148,052 2,413 6,062,131 299,823 383, 155i .. 127,841 6,872,950 3,963,801 223,843 22,770 27,557 .. 9,085 163,488 446,743 111,969 287,547 846,259 1925 12,938 ! 56,415 2,264 5,827,745 292,885 461.875 215,473 61,560 6,859,538 8,612.412 300,426 30,145 63,601 10,535 4,420 15,190 424.317 344,393 867,2181,635,928 1926 113,052 |59,791 2,221 6,043,563 317,021 488, 487'317, 484 58,460 7,225,015 8,976,859 310,039 32,385 167,481 14,738 4,992 : 17,158 446,793 358,037 980.2831,785,113 1927 13,158 161,732 2,199 5,725,008 279,957 555,638;426,816 55,790 7,043,209 9 329,017 291,316 28,658 ,76,770 19,133 4,607 ; 36,220 456,704 372,612 995,071 1.824,387 1928 112,771 62,602 2,165 5,541,205 240,540 589,896;413,213 44,510 6,834.364 9,733,150 283,493 24,682 177,876 18,661 3,614 i 30.802 439,128 397,234 1,057,177 1,893,539 1929 12,728 62,992 2,139 5,646,947 234,102 577,327 402,517 44,029 6.904 922 10,655,450 289.807 22,722 74,141 17.895 3,698 35,353 443.616 442,896 1,135,7952.022,307 •Includes private, Press, and Provincial Government messages. t Includes " delayed " telegrams. i Includes miscellaneous telegraph revenue. Note. —Inland Telegram Tariff : Prior to the 1st September, 1869, inland telegrams were charged for on a mileage basis. From that date a uniform rate was fixed of 2s. 6d. for ten words and 6d. for each additional five words. From the 1st April, 1870, the minimum charge was reduced to Is. From the 1st November, 1873, the rate was further reduced to Is. for ten words and Id. for each additional word, address and signature, hitherto charged for, being free up to ten words. From the 1st July, 1877, there was introduced the " urgent " code, at double the ordinary rate. From the 1st July, 1878, a " delayed " system was introduced, the rate being fixed at 6d. for ten words, exclusive of address and signature up to ten words, and Jd. for each additional word. From the 1st February, 1892, the number of words allowed for the minimum charge in each case was increased to twelve, with free address and signature up to six words. From the 15th August, 1892, the ordinary rate was fixed at Is. for eighteen words, including address and signature. From the 1st June, 1896, the rate was fixed at 6d. for twelve words, including address and signature, and Id. for each additional word; and " delayed " telegrams were abolished. From the 1st November, 1906, the charge for additional words was reduced to id. each. From the 23rd September, 1915, the ordinary rate was increased from 6d. to 8d. for twelve words (" urgent " Is. 2d.); and on the 1st August, 1920, it was further increased to Is. for twelve words and Id. for each additional word; (" urgent" 2s., and 2d. for each additional word); Sundays and holidays, double rates. From the 1st November, 1920, there was introduced a system of letter-telegrams, to be delivered by post on the morning following the day of presentation. The rate (since altered) was Is. 6d. for thirty-six words and |d. for each additional word. From the 1st February, 1923, the rate for ordinary telegrams was reduced to 9d. for twelve words, the charge for each additional word remaining at Id. (''urgent" Is. 6d., and 2d. for each additional word). From the same date the letter-telegram rate was reduced to 9d. for twenty-seven words and Id. for each additional three words.

53

F.—1

Table No. 10. Table showing the Number forwarded and the Revenue derived from Toll Calls and Paid Telegrams of all Codes and the Value of franked Government Telegrams in the undermentioned Postal Districts during the Twelve Months ended 31st March, 1929.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—'Preparation, not given; printing (1,165 copies, including graphs and illustrations), £124.

By Authority: W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—1929.

Price Is. 9d.]

Revenue derived from Paid Value of franked ilr' Value °J i Number ol Number of Total Number of Postal District. ; Telegrams of all Government Telegrams of | p aid i ele „ rams and franked Telegrams of ] Codes and Toll Telegrams. h !r (fn Toll Calls Government all Codes and Toll Calls. an( * Calls. Telegrams. Calls. ! I £ £ £ I I Auckland .. 134,304 492 134,796 2,873,553 5,487 2,879,040 Blenheim 13,522 138 13,660 287,429 1,848 289,277 Christchureh .. . 93,001 497 93,498 1,796,299 6,657 j 1,802,956 JJuneclm .. .. 64,337 274 64,611 1,295,215 3,353 1,298,568 Oasborne .. 26,587 64 26,651 491,609 835 ! 492,444 Greymouth 17,589 56 17,645 300,639 749 301,388 Hamilton 64,919 29 I 64,948 1,534,417 220 1,534,637 Invercarg.il .. 38,299 58 38,357 884,526 807 885,333 Napier .. .. 47,344 99 47,443 1,059,462 1,292 1,060,754 w ™" •' '■ 17,275 216 17,491 366,639 2,794 369,433 New Plymouth .. .. 39,008 105 39,113 884,066 1,279 885,345 Oamaru .. .. 11,891 32 11,923 202,984 433 203,417 Palmerston North .. ; 49,852 19 49,871 1.106,106 238 1,106,344 ihames .. .. ,. : 24,333 9 24,342 594,856 j 123 594,979 limaru .. .. 27,646 102 27.748 549,349 1,384 550,733 iw a .^ ar l U1 •• ■ 38,720 82 38,802 765,247 1,070 766,317 Wellington .. ,. 131,987 1,332 133,319 2,384,180 1 14,199 2,398,379 Westport .. . . j 6,847 94 6,941 139,767 1,261 141,028 Totals, 1928-29 .. 847,461 3,698 851,159 i 17,516,343 44,029 17,560,372 Totals, 1927-28 .. 801,946 3,614 805,560 16,523,004 44,510 16,567,514

F.- I.

Waipukurau Post-office Building. (Showing Recent Addition.)

The Post-office Building, Waverley. (Erected 1928.)

F.—l.

Public Telephone Cabinets (in Bronze) which have been erected in front of the Chief Post-office Building, Auckland.

Auckland: Central Telephone Exchange (including Recent Addition).