POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT (REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR 1930-31.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1931 Session I-II, F-01

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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 1930-31.

CONTENTS.

Receipts and Payments .. .. ! dumber of Post-offices in Dominion Savings-bank . . .. .. .. 1, 25 Dead-letter Office .. .. '*24 Hawke's Bay Earthquake .. ..1,11 Missing Postal Packets .. . . .! 24 Staff • • • • • • .. .. 2; 9 Customs Parcels .. .. 24 Increased Post and Telegraph Charges .. 3 Money-orders .. . . 25 Commercial Branch .. .. .. 3, 16 British Postal Orders . . . . .. 25 Buildings .. .. .. . . 3, 17 Postal Notes .. .. .. . '.25 Overseas Mail-services .. .. .. 4, 21 Post Office Investment Certificates .. 25 Inland Mail-services .. .. 4, 19 Unemployment Act, 1930 .. .. 25 "Charity" Stamps .. .. Inland Telegram Rates ... .. 25 Pictorial Stamps .. .. .. 5,22 Reduction of Cable Rates to Great Britain Commission on Purchases of Stamps by ' and Ireland .. .. 26 licensed Vendors .. .. .. 5,23 Machine-printing Telegraphs .. .. 26 Cable Services .. .. . . 6 Supply °f Current for Telegraph Purposes 27 Telephone Exchange Services .. .. 6,32 Trans-Tasman Flight of Aeroplane Carrier-current Telephony .. 27 " Southern Cross Junior" .. 27 Radio Telegraph and Telephone Services.. 6,30 Chess Matches by Telegraph: Charge for Broadcasting .. . . .. .. 7, 32 Hire of Circuit . . ~ .. 27 Telephone Directories .. .. .. 7', 36 Carrier-current Telephone Systems .. 27 Office of Postmaster-General 7 i Extension of Toll and Telegraph Facilities 28 Appeal Board . . . . !. " 10 Poles and Wire ' • • • • • 2 9 Promotion Board Election .. '' 1Q j New Zealand Submarine Cables .. 30 Departmental Correspondence School .. 10 ~P enln | Radio-telephone Scrvice 30 Examinations., 10 Loss of R ' M - S " Tahiti": Assistance Post and Telegraph Officers' Guild .' 10 w rendered h J d T IO Stations .. .. 30 Stores Branch .. 16 Emergency Radio Installations .. .. 31 Workshops .. ' " " 17 Dlre ct Short-wave Radio Service with RaroLand " " " -. tonga Radio: Reduction in Rates .. 31 Departmental Motor-vehicles !! " 18 New Zealand Radio Stations .. 3 1 Suggestions Board .. 1« Ra dio Telegraphic Charges on Messages to Increase in Postage Rates 19 from Vessels belonging to New Zealand Destruction of Postal Van by Fire .. 20 '+V t v " " Carriage of Mails by Rail .. 20 8 Ship-stataon, Licenses . 32 Onehunga- New Plymouth Mail-service ..' 21 Exchange SysLoss of Mail-steamer "Tahiti" .. .21 tvu l Air Mails .... 90 telephone Statistics .. .. 33 Postage-stamps .. " 22 p Ut ° matlc Telephone Exchanges .. 35 Postal Stationery .. " "22 T f pW RentaJs . . .. 36 ATow t> + 1 n " " Publishing of Telephone Directories 36 New Postal Convention .. 23 Telephone Exchange Service : Term of Con-Parcel-post Service with Canada .. 23 tract qc Decentralization of Postmen at Wellington 23 Telephone Exchange Connections': Reduc'mployment of partially disabled Returned tion of Service Connection Fee in Certain (Skiers as Part-time Postmen .. 23 Circumstances .. .. ..36 Householder Circular Scheme .. 23 Special Telephone Exchange Attendance on plirrl') 0 1011 f p'\ nffi -d •' ' " 23 Sundays and Holidays during Summer Burglary of Post Office Premises .. 23 Months .. .. 3P A i ellV f ed f t .1' TT 24 Fire-alarm Telephone Circuits: Listing by Average Number of Letters posted per Unit ; Telephone Authorities .. 36 of Population .. .. .. 24 I Loud-ringing Extension Bells . . . . 36

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TABLES. No. 1. —Money-orders issued and payable — page (a) Issued in the Dominion .. .. • ■ • • • ■ . . 37 (b) Drawn on the Dominion .. . . • • • • ■ . . 37 No. 2. —General Statement of Post Office Savings-bank Business for Year ended 31st March, 1931 38 No. 3. —General Statement of Post Office Savings-bank Business from 1868 to 1931. .. 39 No. 4. —Estimated Number of Letters and Letter-cards, Post-cards, Book-packets, Newspapers, and Parcels dealt with .. .. .. • • • • • • .. 40 No. s.—Parcel-post .. .. .. • • • • • ■ • • • • .. 41 No. 6.—Telegraph and Toll Business and Revenue 1930, 1931 .. .. .. .. 42 No. 7. —(a) Cable Business .. .. • • ■ • • • • • • • .. 43 (b) Radio-telegraph Business .. .. . ■ • • • ■ • ■ .. 43 (c) Radio-telephone Business .. .. . • • • ■ ■ • • .. 43

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DETAILED INDEX.

A. ! E. PAGE ; PAGE Abolition of commission of purchase of stamps by Earthquake : Hawke's Bay, February, 1931 .. 1, 11 licensed vendors .. .. .. .. 5, 23 Election, Promotion Board .. .. .. 10 Act: Unemployment, 1930 .. .. 25 Employment of partially-disabled returned soldiers Air mails . . .. .. .. .. 5, 22 as part-time postmen .. .. 23 Appeal Board .. .. .. 10 Examinations .. .. .. 10 Articles bearing previously used stamps .. 24 Expenditure of Department .. .. .. 1, 8 Articles delivered .. .. .. 24 Extension bells, loud-ringing .. .. 36 Attendance : Special at telephone-exchanges during Extension of toll and telegraph facilities .. 28 Sundays and holidays during summer months .. 36 Automatic private-branch exchange .. .. 36 Automatic telephone exchanges .. .. 35 Average number of letters posted per unit of popula- F. tion .. .. .. .. 24 Awards for suggestions .. .. .. 18 Fire-alarm telephone circuits : Listing by telephone authorities .. .. .. .. 36 Fires in departmental buildings .. .. 18 Franking privileges subsequent to earthquake .. 15 Free telephones subsequent to earthquake .. 15 Board of Appeal ........ 10 • Book packets posted and delivered .... 40 British postal orders— Issued .. .. .. .. 25 Paid . . 25 Grey Memorial Prize .. .. .. .. 18 Broadcasting '... '. 1 '.! .. 7,32 Guild, Post and Telegraph Officers' .. .! 10 Buildings .. . . .. .. .. 3, 17 Buildings: Damage by fire .. .. .. 18 Burglary of post-office premises .... 23 Business managers, activity of .. .. 16 *1Hastings: Restoration of public facilities after earthquake.. .. .. .. ..14 n Hawke's Bay earthquake, February, 1931 .. 1, 11 Health of staff .. .. .. .. 9 Cable rates to Great Britain and Ireland : Reduction 26 Householdei circulars .. .. .. 23 Cable services .. .. .. .. 6 Cable — Cook Strait .. .. .. 30 j, Miseellaneous .. .. .. 30 Cables, New Zealand submarine .. .. 30 Increase in Post and Telegraph rates and charges .. 3, 19 Canada, parcel-post service with .. .. 23 Inland mail-services .. .. .. .. 19 Carriage of mails by rail .. .. 20 Inland telegram rates .. .. 25 Carrier-current telephone systems .. .. 6, 27 Inspection of post-offices .. .. .. ;23 Certificates, Post Office Investment .. .. 25 Investment Certificates, Post Office .. .. 25 Charges for radio-telegraphic communications to Issue of telephone directories .. .. . .7/36 and from ships in New Zealand waters .. 31 Charges on radio-telegraph messages to and from vessels belonging to New Zealand Government 31 " Charity" stamp .. .. .. .. 5,23 L. Chess matches by telegraph : Charge for hire of circuit .. .. .. .. 27 Land .. .. .. .. 18 Circulars, " Householder" .. .. 23 Loud-ringing extension bells .. .. 36 Clock-towers .. .. .. .. .. 4 Leave, sick .. .. .. .. 9 Commercial Branch .. .. .. .. 3, 16 Letters and letter-cards — Commission : Discontinuance of payment to licensed Average number posted per unit of population .. 24 stamp-vendor .. .. .. .. 5, 23 Delivered .. .. .. .. .. 24 Convention, Postal .. .. .. 23 Destroyed .. .. .. .. 24 Cook Strait cables .. .. . . 30 Imperfectly and insufficiently addressed .. 24 Correspondence School, departmental .. .. 10 Libellous addresses .. .. .. .. 24 Posted without an address .. .. .. 24 Prohibited .. .. .. .. 24 Proportion undelivered to delivered .. .. 24 D. Returned to other Administrations .. .. 24 Returned to senders .. .. 24 , Dead-letter Office .. . . .. 24 Licensed stamp-vendor, discontinuance of payment Deceased officers: Payment to dependants 10 of commission to .. .. 23 Decentralization of postmen at Wellington .. 23 licensed vendors : Abolition of payment of cornDepartmental Correspondence School .. .. 10 mission on stamps purchased .. .. 5 Departmental examinations .. .. .. 10 Licenses — Departmental motor-vehicles .. . . . . 18 Number of radio receiving issued .. .. 32 Destruction of postal van by fire .. .. 20 Wireless ship-station .. .. .. 32 Directories — Loss of mail-steamer " Tahiti. .. .. 21 Telephone, make up and advertisements .. 16 Loss of R.M.S. " Tahiti " : Assistance rendered by Telephone, publishing ~ .. 36 radio stations .. .. .. .. 30

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M. PAGB PAOB Postmen: Decentralization at Wellington .. 23 Machine-printing telegraphs .. .. 26 Post Office Investment Certificates .. .. 25 Mails— Post-offices— Air • • • ■ • • • • 22 Burglary of .. .. .. 23 Air service subsequent to earthquake .. .. 12 Inspection .. .. .. .. 23 Carriage by rail .. .. .. 20 Number in Dominion .. .. 24 Destroyed by fire in postal van .. .. 20 Promotion Board : Election .. .. .. 10 Loss on" Tahiti" .. .. .. 21 Mail-services — Earthquake area .. .. .. 14 Inland .. .. .. .. .. 4,19 Onehunga - New Plymouth .. .. ..21 R. Overseas .. .. .. .. .. 5, 21 Radio— Marine Insurance Fund .. .. .. 17 Assistance: Loss of " Tahiti" .. .. 30 Missing postal packets . . .. 24 Broadcasting .. .. .. .. 7,32 Money-orders— Charges on messages to and from vessels belonging Commission .. .. .. 25 to New Zealand Government .. .. 31 Exchange with other countries .. .. 37 Charges to or from ships in New Zealand waters 31 Issued .. .. .. .. 25 Direct short-wave service with Rarotonga Radio : Paid .. .. .. .. 25 Reduction in rates .. .. 31 Motor-vehicles, departmental .. .. ..17,18 New Zealand stations .. .. ..31 Number of receiving licenses issued .. . . 32 Telegraph and telephone services .. .. 6 Wireless ship-station licenses .. .. 32 Radio-telephone: Opening of overseas service .. 30 Rail, carriage of mails by .. .. 20 Napier: Restoration of public facilities after Receipts .. .. .. .. ..1, 8 earthquake 13 deduction m rates: Direct short-wave radio Newspapers " " " " service with Rarotonga Radio .. .. 31 " Received without address 24 Reduction in salaries .. . 10 Returned to publishers as undeliverable .. 24 Eduction of cable rates to Great Britain and Posted and delivered .. .. 40 I reland .. .... .. .. New Plymouth-Onehunga mail-service .. .. 21 Restoration of communication: Hawke s Bay New Zealand radio stations .. .. 31 D e ua f ®' * , * * * * ' ' ' i o New Zealand submarine cables 30 Revenue of Department 1,8 Number of persons employed in Department .. 9 Number of post-offices in Dominion .. .. 24 • s. O- Salaries .. .. .. .. .. 8 Salaries, reduction in .. .. .. . . 10 Office of Postmaster-General .. .. .. 7 Salary schedule: General Division .. .. 10 Officers ■ g a j e obsolete and unserviceable material .. 17 Absence on sick-leave, average .. .. 9 g an Francisco mail-service .. .. ..5, 21 Deaths .. .. . . .. 10 Savings-bank— Health .. .. .. .. .. 9 Deposits .. .. .. .. .. 1, 25 Number .. .. .. .. .. 9 Excess of withdrawals over deposits .. .. 1, 25 Onehunga-New Plymouth mail-service .. .. 21 Facilities subsequent to earthquake .. .. 15 Overseas mails .. .. .. .. 5, 21 Interest .. .. .. .. .. 1, 25 Overseas radio telephone service opening.. .. 30 Withdrawals .. .. .. 125 Services, cable .. ' .. .. . . 6 Services rendered to Department subsequent to earthquake.. .. .. .. .. 15 P. " Southern Cross Junior " : Trans-Tasman flight.. 27 Staff — Parcel-post: Increase in rates .. . . .. 3, 19 Casual .. .. .. .. .. 9 Parcel-post service with Canada .. .. 23 General Division salary schedule .. .. 10 Parcels — Health .. .. .. .. .. 9 Customs .. .. .. .. 24 Leave: Earthquake.. .. . . 15 Delivered .. .. .. .. 24 Minister's remarks concerning .. .. 2 Foreign (inwards): Declared value and Customs Non-permanent .. .. .. .. 9 duty collected .. .. .. 24 Number .. .. .. .. . . 9 Foreign (outwards): Declared value .. .. 24 Payment to dependants of deceased officers .. 10 Party line: Telephone rentals .. .. .. 36 Permanent .. .. .. .. .. 9 Payment to dependants of deceased officers .. 10 Personal .. .. .. .. 10 Payments .. .. .. .. .. 1 Reduction in salaries .. .. .. 10 Pictorial postage-stamps .. .. .. 5,22 Retirement .. .. .. .. 9 Poles and wire .. .. .. 29 Temporary .. .. . . .. 9 Port Ahuriri: Restoration of public facilities after Stamps— earthquake.. .. .. .. 14 Air mail .. .. .. .. 22 Post and Telegraph Appeal Board .. .. 10 " Charity " .. .. .. 5, 22,23 Post and Telegraph Officers' Guild . . .. 10 Pictorial .. .. .. .. 22 Postage stamps— Postage .. .. .. .. 22 Air mail .. .. .. .. 22 Stamp-vendor, licensed, discontinuance of payment " Charity" .. .. .. 5,22,23 of commission to .. .. 23 Pictorial .. .. .. . . .. 5,22 Stationery : Postal .. .. .. 22 Postal charges, increase in .. .. .. 3, 19 Stores— Postal Convention .. .. .. 23 Marine Insurance Fund i. .. .. 17 Postal notes — Purchase of motor-vehicles .. .. .. 17 Commission .. .. . . 25 Purchases .. .. .. .. 17 Issued and paid .. .. .. 25 Purchased under Stores Control Board Regulations 17 Postal packet, missing.. .. .. ..24 Received and issued: Value .. .. 16 Postal rates, increase in . . .. .. 3, 19 Sale of obsolete and unserviceable material .. 17 Postal stationery .. .. .. ..22 Stores and motor transport to earthquake area.. 15 Postal van: Destruction by fire . . . 20 Submarine cables, New Zealand .. . . 30 Postcards delivered .. * .. .. .. 24 Suggestions, awards for .. .. 18 Postmaster-General, office of .. .. 7 Supply of current for telegraph purposes .. .. 27

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T. page Telejihone exchanges—continued. page ( .>t Private branch automatic .. .. ..36 ' Tahiti Loss of.. .. .. .. 21 Reduction in service connection fee in certain Telegraph charges, increase in .. .. .. 3,26 circumstances .. .. .. .. 36 Telegraph facilities, extension of .. 28 Services .. .. .. .. .. 6 Telegraph Special attendance on Sundays and holidays Inland rates .. .. .. .. 25 during summer months .. .. .. 36 Radio services .. ~ .. .. 6 Statistics .. .. .. .. .. 33 Receipts and payments .. .. .. 8 Term of contract for service .. .. 36 Traffic : Disposal after Hawke's Bay earthquake 12 Telephony, carrier-current .. .. . 6 Telegraphy, machine-printing .. .. .. 26 Term of contract: Telephone exchange service .. 36 Telephone Toll facilities, extension of .. .. 28 Canvass for business .. .. .. lfi Trans-Tasman flight of aeroplane " Southern Cross Carrier-current systems .. .. 27 Junior" .. .. .. .. 27 Directory: Advertisement and make up .. 16 Directories: Issue .. .. .. .. 7 Directories: Publishing . . .. 36 Payment of rental monthly ...... 16 U. Radio .. .. .. .. .. 6 Statistics .. .. .. .. .. 33 Unemployment Act, 1930 .. . . 25 Telephone exchanges— Vancouver mail-service .. . . 5, 21 Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin districts .. 35 Automatic .. .. .. .. .. 35 Christchureh metropolitan area .. .. 35 Conversion to automatic .. .. 35 Destruction of Napier automatic-switching system 35 Wireless— Development of systems .. .. 32 Broadcasting .. . . . . .7, 32 Fire-alarm telephone circuits : Listing by tele- Ship-station licenses .. .. .. '32 phone authorities .. .. 36 Wire and poles .. .. . 29 Loud-ringing extension bells.. .. 36 Working-expenses .. .. .. .. ] Party-line telephone rentals ~ ~ ~ 36 Workshops ~ . tl _ ] y

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1931. NEW ZEALAND.

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT (REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR 1930-31.

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

To His Excellency the Right Honourable Baron Bledisloe, P.C., Gr.C.M.G-., K.B.E. 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, 1931. RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS. The revenue collected during the year exceeded that for the previous year by £65,800. The sum received was £3,707,420, compared with £3,641,620 for 1929-30. The working-expenses amounted to £3,304,648, while an amount of £400,000 was invested for the purpose of renewal and replacement of existing assets, thus leaving a balance of receipts over payments of £2,772. The amount of uninvested funds carried forward was £55,670. Interest on capital liability, which is included in the working-expenses, totalled £504,000, an increase of £23,000 on the amount paid for the previous year. SAVINGS-BANK. The withdrawals from the Post Office Savings-bank exceeded the deposits by £3,531,769, the respective figures being £28,063,338 and £24,531,569. The interest credited to depositors was £1,763,825, so that the accumulated funds decreased by £1,767,944. The sum at the credit of depositors is now £47,668,547, the per capita average for the Dominion being £31*51. HAWKE'S BAY EARTHQUAKE. The earthquake in Hawke's Bay on the 3rd February had a most disastrous effect on the Department's communication systems and on departmental buildings and plant in the affected area. The capital loss to the Department is estimated at not less than £175,000. The capital value of telegraph and telephone equipment totally destroyed is estimated at £52,000 ; while the cost of restoring telephone and telegraph" equipment partially destroyed will in all probability reach £25,000. The cost of reconditioning the Napier Chief Post-office building, of replacing the damaged portion of the Hastings building, of erecting a new post-office building at Port Ahuriri, and of repairing damage to other buildings is estimated at £50,000. The Department was also involved in expenditure or loss in numerous other ways, such as the destruction or abandonment of other buildings and property, the

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provision of temporary accommodation for various departmental activities, movement of staff, and the undertaking of many special services necessitated by the earthquake. It is fortunate that the cost of renewing and replacing damaged property and equipment can be provided out of the depreciation reserve fund established under the Post and Telegraph Act, 1927. Immediately news was received of the dislocation of the communication services action was taken to provide emergency telegraph and telephone services. In this connection, the latest developments of the communication art, in the form of shortwave radio-telegraphy, carrier current telephony, and multiplex machine-printing telegraph circuits, were brought into operation as speedily as circumstances permitted. Details in connection with the disaster, as it affected my Department, are at pages 11 to 15 of this Eeport. STAFF. The efficiency of the Service has continued unimpaired, notwithstanding that economic conditions made it necessary for expenditure to be cut to a minimum during the year. The existing economic depression first made itself evident in the Department's business for October ; and, in furtherance of the strict oversight of all expenditure that was already being observed, steps were taken for the payment of overtime to be discontinued, as a temporary measure, in favour of a system of granting " time off "to officers for extra time worked. This system, which has before been adopted in times of economic strain, affords a means of absorbing the services of permanent officers who would otherwise be supernumerary when business falls away, and makes it unnecessary to consider the terminating of their services, with all the hardship that entails. The falling-off in business later became more pronounced, and the need for economy in general Government expenditure so pressing that, in accordance with a Government decision having application to all Departments of the Public Service, it was necessary to invite the retirement of a number of officers who were eligible to receive superannuation. The need for parting with many efficient officers of long and faithful service and for effecting retirements at short notice is regretted ; but it will be recognized that this was an alternative to much more drastic action —the paying-off, from the lower ranks, of officers who are not yet eligible to receive a pension on retiring, many of them officers with families. Consistent with the paramount need always of providing an efficient service, every possible avenue of effecting staff savings continues to be explored. The Department's officers in the area affected by the serious earthquake in Hawke's Bay on the 3rd February (see page 15) were severely tried in the disturbance, and many had terrifying experiences in escaping from buildings which were wholly or partly shaken down by the earth movement. The only casualty suffered by the Department's staff was the death from shock of a Telegraphist at Napier immediately following his escape from the post-office building. It speaks wonderfully for the ideal of service that imbues officers that in terrifying circumstances they so efficiently and so promptly restored departmental facilities, and carried cheerfully the extraordinarily heavy load of business, particularly telegraph business, that obtained for some days. It must be appreciated that officers worked long hours under most adverse conditions at a time when their families in many cases required the father's presence, and in some cases when casualties had been sustained by the family ; and my tribute to the self-sacrificing spirit of officers which was evident on all sides is no less a tribute to the wives who carried on alone in the absence of the husbands for long hours on duty. As promptly as possible arrangements were made for the relief and release for a week's special leave of the officers who rendered such excellent service, and transfers to other offices were made when these were desired and could be arranged. In this way the Department was able to give some recognition of the services rendered. Besides creating an unprecedented volume of traffic, the earthquake most seriously affected the Department's communication systems. To overtake the rush of work and to effect the reconstruction necessary a large relief staff required to be maintained in both Hastings and Napier; and in the confused conditions obtaining it was necessary for the Department to provide bunk-house accommodation and meals for the staff for some time.

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INCREASED POST AND TELEGRAPH RATES AND CHARGES. The urgent need for obtaining additional revenue to assist in balancing the Budget for 1931-32 made it necessary for postage rates and charges to be increased. The increases were imposed from the Ist March, 1931. The increases in the parcel-post rates were necessitated partly by the increased charges levied by the Railway Department, on the recommendation of the Railways Commission, for the carriage of mails by rail. At the same time it was decided to revert to the old maximum weight of 11 lb. for parcels. Apart from the fact that the Railway Department provides adequate facilities for the carriage of parcels over 11 lb. in weight, the Post Office could not afford to continue to accept such parcels at rates that would enable the business to be retained. Coincidentally with the postage increases, it was decided also to effect an increase in telegraph rates. For some years past there has been a large and increasing loss on the working of the Telegraph Branch, due to the fact that the rates were not nearly commensurate with the cost of operation. Rigid economy, has been practised and labour-saving apparatus introduced ; and, despite this, it has been found impossible to reduce the losses to any appreciable extent. For the year ended on the 31st March, 1930, the loss was approximately £.134,000. With such a deficit the continuance of the old rates could not be justified in the conditions obtaining. COMMERCIAL BRANCH. The establishment of the Commercial Branch in March, 1930 —a further step in the application of business methods to State enterprise —has been more than justified by the results achieved. The Commercial Branch officers are virtually the Department's commercial travellers, and, in their journeyings during the year, have been successful in bringing in to the Department's coffers no less than £32,000 in business (annual value), most of which would not otherwise have been obtained. But not only do Business Managers bring in more revenue ; they also act in telephone matters as guides, counsellors, and friends to the general public, in that they render services at times for which no additional revenue is forthcoming. The activities of the branch, which at the outset were confined to increasing the number of telephone subscribers and to advancing the sale of miscellaneous telephone equipment, have latterly been extended to the field of advertising, in that the work of obtaining advertisements for the various telephone directories has been undertaken. Having regard to the general depression experienced during the year, and to the infancy of the branch, the success achieved is the more remarkable ; and it is reasonable to expect that with the return of normal times the additional revenue brought in will be even greater. In the light of the year's working there can be no doubt that an increase in the number of telephone subscribers can be fostered by means of the best in salesmanship methods. Undoubtedly the working of liaison officers between the Department and the public has served to lessen considerably the drop in telephone revenue which would otherwise have been experienced. BUILDINGS. Satisfactory progress continues to be made in the execution, of the Department's building programme. The number of new buildings erected during the year was seven —four post-office buildings, one combined garage and store, and two residences for Postmasters. In addition, five small garages were erected, and increased or improved accommodation at a number of places was provided, the latter including the erection of additions of a major character to the Greymouth, Nelson, Newton (Auckland), and Whangarei Post-office buildings. A number of new buildings, also a substantial addition to the Masterton Post-office building, are under construction.

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The earthquake of the 3rd February caused extensive damage to post-office buildings in the Hawke's Bay District. The new chief post-office building at Napier, which was completed and opened for business as recently as the 28th July, 1930, withstood the shock remarkably well, but was gutted by the fire which followed, the destruction of the town's supply of water preventing any attempt at saving the building. The post-office building at Port Ahuriri was badly damaged by the earthquake, and then completely destroyed by fire. At Hastings the clock-tower collapsed, and the old portion of the post-office building which carried the tower was so seriously damaged that it had to be demolished. In the case of the Wairoa Post-office building, the clock-tower collapsed and the building itself suffered extensively. Other departmental buildings in the district, notably the Waipukurau Post-office building, suffered more or less severely from the earthquake. Pending the replacement of the building at Port Ahuriri and the reconditioning and re-erection, respectively, of the buildings at Napier and Hastings, the Department's business at those places is being conducted in temporary premises. Except at Hastings, the arrangements which have been made meet present requirements fairly well. In the case of Hastings the volume of business is practically as great as it was before the earthquake, and it is necessary that proper accommodation be provided as early as possible. Steps are accordingly being taken to this end. In recent years the policy has been to exclude clock-towers from new postoffice buildings, owing principally to the additional expenditure which is involved in strengthening a building sufficiently to carry a clock-tower ; also, because it has been found that, owing to the nature of the structural work which is required to support a clock-tower, the space on each floor below the tower cannot be utilized to advantage ; that the existence of the heavy structural work creates a difficulty in the event of alterations or additions to a building being required ; and that the reverberations from the chiming and striking of the clock cause considerable annoyance to persons working in and around the building, and, especially at night, to officers and their families who are required to reside on the premises. In addition, it was considered that a clock-tower on a building constituted a menace in the event of an earthquake ; and this has, unhappily, been confirmed by the Department's experience in the Hawke's Bay and West Coast disturbances. It has been established that, in the case of the post-office buildings at Hastings, Wairoa, and Westport, the presence of clock-towers contributed largely to the damage caused to the buildings, and proved a grave menace to the safety of officers and of members of the public. In the light of this experience, action is being taken with a view to either strengthening or dismantling the clock-towers on a number of post-office buildings, and so to remove any possible danger of collapse in time of earthquake. It is anticipated that the erection of the new building at Wellington, which is to replace the Courtenay Place Post-office building, will be sufficiently, advanced by September next to permit of the post-office being transferred to the new premises. Since the end of the financial year the erection of new post-office buildings at Palmerston (Otago), Ruatona (also residence), Urenui, and Waitara, has been completed. Satisfactory progress is being made with the erection of new buildings at High Street (Christchurch), and Upper Symonds Street (Auckland). Work has been commenced on the erection of a new building at Westport in replacement of the chief post-office building which was destroyed by the earthquake of June, 1929. It is anticipated that the work will be completed about the end of 1931. The foundations for the proposed new chief post-office building at Dunedin have been completed. Plans and specifications for the building itself, have also been completed, and tenders are soon to be invited for the erection of the building. MAIL-SERVICES. Inland mail-services have been maintained with but little interference, except that the Hawke's Bay earthquake resulted in an interruption for several weeks of the- Napier-Wairoa section of the Napier-Gisborne service. In order to provide an outlet for Gisborne and Wairoa it was necessary for a period to despatch mails via Botorua and the Motu Gorge.

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The contracts for the mail-services in the North Island were relet from the Ist January, 1931. A reduction in the annual subsidies of approximately £4,500 was effected, notwithstanding that a number of important improvements in services was arranged. One of the principal improvements was the establishing of a night mail-service by road between Napier and Gisborne. With this service Gisborne receives mails within twenty-four hours of their despatch from Wellington. The South Island mail-service contracts will be relet from the Ist January, 1932. An alteration in the railway service between Invercargill and Dunedin has made it necessary to establish a twice-weekly road mail-service between those two places to run during the time the daily express service by rail between Christchurch and Invercargill is reduced to thrice-weekly. The Westport-Karamea and the Nelson-Lyell-Westport road services, which were affected by the West Coast earthquake of June, 1929, were restored to the old routes during the year. During the year tenders were invited for the conveyance of mails by air once daily between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, the payment stipulated being at the rate of 3d. an ounce, less a deduction of 7| per cent, to cover post-office expenses. None of the tenders received were for the performance of the service on the stipulated terms, and therefore a service by air was not established. The contract for the conveyance of mails between Bluff and Melbourne, which expired on the 28th January, was not renewed. In August, the " Tahiti," a contract vessel in the Wellington - San Francisco service, foundered when 400 miles from Rarotonga, on the north-bound voyage. The mails were transferred to the " Ventura," and reached London on due date. It is a matter for congratulation that almost the whole of the letter mails on the ship were salvaged, as otherwise great inconvenience would have been caused, particularly to the commercial community ; and those responsible on the ship are deserving of every credit for their splendid performance in face of considerable difficulty and danger. Otherwise the contract services Wellington - San Francisco and AucklandVancouver were performed without interruption during the year. The contracts for these two services expired on the 31st March, 1931. A further extension of the contracts for twelve months has been arranged for at reduced subsidies of £18,000 for the Vancouver service and £22,500 for the San Francisco service. "CHARITY" STAMP. A " Charity " stamp was again placed on sale during the year. The gross proceeds from sales amounted to £1,730, compared with about £5,000 for the previous year. The stamp was of the same design as that for the previous year as unavoidable but unforeseen delay occurred in arranging for a new stamp. It is proposed to make a further appeal this year, and to use a stamp of new design. PICTORIAL STAMPS. It has been decided to issue a series of pictorial stamps for the Dominion of approximately fifteen denominations. Some time will elapse before the stamps are available. Competitive designs have been invited, and these will be adjudicated upon by a special Board, on which there will be representatives of art as well as of the Government Departments concerned. The current series of postage stamps of New Zealand—the " King George " issue—was introduced in 1915. COMMISSION ON PURCHASES OF STAMPS BY LICENSED VENDORS. As an economy measure the payment of commission on purchases of stamps by licensed vendors was abolished from the Ist February, 1931. The saving is estimated at £3,000 per annum.

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CABLE SERVICES. The Dominion continues to be efficiently represented by Mr. M. B. Esson on the Advisory Committee representing the Mother-country, the dominions, and colonies which was set up in connection with the cables and wireless merger to which reference was made last year. Government since the merger did not cease to press for a reduction in the cable rates from New Zealand to the United Kingdom and Ireland ; and it is now recorded that these representations, so ably pressed home by Mr. Esson, have at last borne fruit. Previously a full-rate cable message between New Zealand and Great Britain or Ireland cost Is. lid. a word. The charge from the Ist January is Is. Bd. a word, with corresponding reductions in cheap-rate messages. TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SERVICES. The general experience in other countries indicates that the telephone business is one of the last to suffer from the effects of business depressions and one of the first to recover when conditions improve. As it was not until the closing portion of the year that any falling-off in the net increase of subscribers became evident, this is the experience also in New Zealand ; and it is hoped that the general experience will be further exemplified by a speedy return to the developmental conditions which have characterized the telephone service during the past few years. Continuous study is devoted to improving and modernizing the facilities provided by the telephone service, while keeping the cost as low as possible both to the public and to the Department. The improvements in long-distance communication and methods of operating that have been effected in the telephone service of the Dominion as a result of the application of the most advanced methods have increased the utility of the telephone very considerably, and have enabled a much superior service to be furnished without increase in cost to the user. In this way, the telephone is becoming an increasingly useful adjunct to the business and social world. The gradual extension of automatic-telephone service has been steadily proceeded with until at the present time New Zealand has in use a greater proportion of automatic telephones than any other country. CARRIER-CURRENT TELEPHONY. The development of long-distance telephone communication within the Dominion, which has been a feature of the Department's policy in recent years, has been advanced a further stage by the opening for commercial traffic of a number of additional carrier circuits between the principal centres and other important towns. The installation of the additional carrier-current systems, besides effecting a substantial improvement in the speech efficiency, stability, and reliability of the network of long-distance telephone-lines throughout the Dominion, has improved the service generally by relieving the congestion of traffic between certain of the larger centres, thus appreciably reducing the delays on long-distance toll communications. The facilities now provided enable practically all the important centres to obtain reliable telephonic communication amongst themselves at all hours. In the South Island the efficiency of the network of long-distance telephone communication was further enhanced by the installation at Timaru of voicefrequency amplifiers. By means of this additional equipment, two high-grade telephone circuits have been made available between Christchurch and Dunedin. Similar apparatus has also been installed at Christchurch and Wellington which, together with the additional carrier equipment, has resulted in a marked improvement in the volume, clarity, and reliability of the long-distance conversations over the various circuits with which the equipment is connected. RADIO TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE SERVICES. The institution of a radio-telephone service between New Zealand and Australia has been the principal radio development since the last report. This is also the most far-reaching venture to date in the sphere of the Department's radio operations. The installation work in the Dominion and the necessary testing were

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carried out by departmental officers. Although the service is not being availed of as extensively as could be wished —a condition probably accounted for to some extent by the present financial depression—the number of commendatory letters received by the Department from satisfied users bears ample evidence that the facilities for telephoning to and from Australia are much appreciated. The ultimate aim is the extension of the present service to include the United Kingdom and other countries so as to bring the great majority of the world's telephone subscribers within telephonic reach of New Zealand users. The inclusion of Rarotonga in the direct radio-telegraph services from New Zealand has enabled a reduction to be made in the charges on messages between those two points as well as in delay in the handling of such traffic. In connection with the Hawke's Bay earthquake on the 3rd February, radio played a prominent part, both in conveying information as to the extent of the disturbance and in furnishing auxiliary communication services. In this connection ship stations and certain amateur radio stations performed valuable service during the early stages when other services were temporarily dislocated. A detailed account of the radio operations connected with the earthquake disaster is given in this report at pages 11 and 12. BROADCASTING. On the 31st March, 1931, there was a total of 62,713 radio-receiving licenses, compared with 53,407 on the 31st March, 1930. The continued increase in the number of licensees is adequate proof of the increasing popularity of radio broadcast entertainment. A feature of the broadcasting service during the past year has been the increased number of overseas broadcasts. Many notable events of world-wide interest which have taken place in other parts of the world have been re-broadcast from the New Zealand stations. The contract with the Radio Broadcasting Co. expires at the end of 1931. The whole question of broadcasting is now being reviewed. TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES. As a measure of economy it has been decided to issue telephone directories yearly instead of every six months. It is estimated that a saving of between £5,000 and £6,000 per annum will result from this alteration. Under the new arrangement lists of additions and other amendments to directories will be issued to subscribers six months after each directory is distributed. OFFICE OF POSTMASTER-GENERAL. The office of Postmaster-General and Minister of Telegraphs was again assumed by myself on the 29th May, 1930. I have the honour to be, Your Excellency's most obedient servant, ,Tas. B. Donald. General Post Office, Wellington, 27th June, 1931.

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1931.

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS. The receipts and payments of the Department for the financial year 1930-31 are shown in the following account: — Receipts. Payments. £ s. d. £ a. d. £ a. d. £ 9. d. To Balance forward .. 52,897 17 8 By Salaries .. 1,761,345 19 11 Postages ..1,221,392 6 4 Conveyance of Money-order and ocean mails .. 94,948 14 1 postal- note Conveyance of commission .. 64,877 4 7 inland mails .. 145,282 13 6 Private box and Conveyance of bag rents and mails by rail .. 116,563 5 2 rural - delivery Maintenance of fees .. 47,995 16 7 telegraph and Miscellaneous re- telephone lines 136,170 3 6 ceipts .. 290,521 16 6 Renewals and rePaid telegrams 376,989 6 7 placements .. 158,247 13 10 Paid tolls .. 466,994 16 7 J Motor services and Telephone-ex- workshops .. 33,770 6 8 change rentals 1,238,648 12 10 Miscellaneous .. 354,319 3 4 3,707,420 0 0i Interest on capital liability .. 504,000 0 0 3,304,648 0 0 Renewal and replacement of Assets Fund (investment) .. .. 400,000 0 0 Balance carried down .. .. 55,669 17 8i £3,760,317 17 8£ £3,760,317 17 8£ £ s. d. To Balance brought down .. .. 55,669 17 8J The total cash value of the transactions of the Department, inclusive of the above, amounted to approximately £201,500,000 for the year.

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

8

. Balance of lleceipts Excess of Payments Year. j Receipts. Payments. over Payments. over Receipts. £ £ £ f 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 1992-1923 .. .. .. 2,687,768 2,114,994 572,774 1923-1924 .. .. •• •• 2,688,954 2,120,584 568,370 1924-1925 .. •• •• 2,889.450 2,416,257 473,193 1925-1926 !! .. •• 3,100,396 2,409,556 690,840 1926-1927 •• •• 3,220,666 2,346,274 874,392 1927-1998 ' •• •• 3,329,511 2,299,571 1,029,940 1928-19i9 .! .. •• 3,445,545 2,921,736* 523,809 1929-1930 •• •• 3,641,620 3,611,199t 30,421 1930-1931 ■■ •• •• 3,707,420 3,704,6481 2,772 •Includes payment of interest on capital liability, which was previously paid out of Consolidated Fund. tIncludes investment "Renewal and Replacement of Assets Fund."

F.t-1.

'' ' STAFF. In sympathy with the general depression a falling-off in the Department's business became particularly noticeable in the returns for October; and, although the reduction had been anticipated and in consequence staffs had been kept at a minimum, it was necessary when the reduction took full effect to take exceptional methods of reducing expenditure on staff. The first step was to cancel the, payment of overtime and substitute the system of granting " time off " for hours worked in excess of the regulation forty-four per week, and for Sunday and holiday duty, the new arrangement applying from the Bth December. Action was next taken, in accordance with a general Government decision, to arrange the retirement of a number of long-service officers who were eligible to receive superannuation, 105 ceasing active duty in the first three months of 1931. These two actions enabled the Department to absorb a number of officers who had become supernumerary as a result of reduced business. Arrangements were also made to amalgamate with the clerical branches of the chief post-offices the stores branches at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, this enabling important staff savings to be made. From the Ist April, 1931, it is intended to place the Wellington Telegraph Office under the control of the Chief Postmaster, and this will make possible a further substantia] saving. The Telegraph Offices at the four centres, which until a few years ago were under separate control, will then have been brought under the control of the Chief Postmaster in each case. In the table published below it will be observed that the staff of casual employees has been considerably reduced during the year. Construction works initiated last year have been cortipleted, and very few new works have been authorized ; and, consequently, the need for a large casual staff has vanished. It is pleasing to be able to acknowledge the whole-hearted manner in which officers of all ranks have assisted in practising the economy that is so necessary at the present juncture. Officers quickly appreciated the position, and many valuable suggestions for effecting savings were submitted. It has been possible to adopt a number with a resultant saving in men and money. A great deal of additional work was thrown upon officers during the year by the Department being required to take registrations, to accept payments of levy, and to make wages payments under the Unemployment Act of 1930. Additionally, Postmasters are in many cases required to act as Government representatives on local Unemployment Committees and as certifying officers in respect of payments made under the Act. It is gratifying to record that the manner in which Postmasters and other officers have carried out the many and varied duties required of them in connection with unemployment has been the subject of favourable comment by the Unemployment Board. In the unexampled stress of work that arose in connection with the severe earthquake in Hawke s Bay in February, officers cheerfully undertook without complaint long and arduous duties, and performed them in a manner that could not have been bettered. Full particulars are given in the report of the earthquake, which commences on page 11. Comparative Return op Persons employed in the Department. The total number of persons employed on the Ist April, 1930 and 1931, was as under : — Permanent staff — Ist April, 1930. Ist April, 1931. Administrative Division .. .. .. • • 4 4 Clerical and Engineering Divisions .. .. ■■ 3,485 3,484 General Division .. .. .. .. 5,456 5,413 8,945 8,901 Temporary staff .. . . . - • • • 76 53 Casual staff . . .. .. - - • • • • 698 265 9,719 9,219 Non-permanent staff— Country Postmasters and Telephonists .. .. 1,786 1,710 Postmasters who are Railway officers .. . - 86 83 11,591 11,012 Health of Permanent Staff. The following table gives the average absence of officers on sick-leave this year as compared with last: — Number on Average Absence Average Absence for Year ended 31st March, 1931— Staff. per Sick Officer. each Officer employed. Men .. .. •• 8,151 10-5 4-22 Women .. .. .. 750 14-29 7*9 Year ended 31st March, 1930— Men .. .. -.8,198 9-62 4-98 Women .. .. . * 747 16*05 10*10 , The figures indicate that the health of the staff has been well maintained.

2—F. 1,

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Thirty-one officers died during the year, six as a result of accidents while on duty. Although accidents of a minor nature are not unusual in the Department, it can be said that fatalities are not of frequent occurrence, and, in this respect, the year was an exceptional and unfortunate one. Three of the fatalities resulted from collisions between cyclists and motor-cars, while two were caused by motor-trucks overturning. The sixth death was caused by the electrocution of a Line Foreman of several years' experience who was in charge of a party engaged in the removal of telegraph-lines, one of which on becoming loose contacted with a power-line. The Line Foreman grasped the loose wire and was killed instantly. The happening was adjudged to be entirely accidental. Another death resulted from shock as a result of the Hawke's Bay earthquake, a Napier officer dropping dead soon after vacating the post-office building. Payment to Dependants of Deceased Officers. There has been no departure from the policy of the Department in arranging the payment of compassionate allowances to the widows of deceased officers and of arranging for monetary payments equivalent to the leave due at the time of decease. During the year £634 was paid by way of compassionate allowance. Personal. Mr. 11. D. Edwards, Controller of Savings-banks and Accounts, retired on the 14th May, after completing forty years' service. He was succeeded by Mr. A. Marshall, Assistant Controller of Savings-banks and Accounts ; Mr. Marshall, in turn, being replaced by Mr. P. Cutforth, Inspector, Land and Income Tax Department. It is recorded with regret that while on a tour abroad, in December, Mr. Edwards died suddenly. Reduction in Salaries. Under the provisions of the Finance Act, 1931, which is to come into operation on the Ist April, 1931, all salaries, wages, allowances, and other forms of emolument of officers are to be reduced by 10 per cent. General Division Salary Schedule. The new salary schedule for male officers of the General Division, to which reference was made in last year's report, came into operation on the Ist April, 1930, and resulted in the salary conditions of 2,800 officers being improved. Although the main object of the schedule was to increase the salaries of the lower-paid officers, provision was made for tradesmen who were at the maximum of the rank-and-file class to be advanced by £25 per annum, and thirty-eight officers received immediate benefit under this clause. APPEAL BOARD. The Post and Telegraph Appeal Board, under the chairmanship of Mr. E. C. Cutten, the senior Stipendiary Magistrate at Auckland, held only one session during the year. Appeals from fifty-eight officers were dealt with and resulted as follows : Appeals allowed, 2 ; appeals disallowed, 84 ; appeals did not lie, 19 ; appeals withdrawn, 57. The appeals lodged were, with few exceptions, against non-promotion. Sittings were held at Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington, and Christchurch. PROMOTION BOARD ELECTION. A Promotion Board election, held on the 18th February, resulted in the re-election of Mr. H. M Patrick as the elective member of the Board. Two officers contested the election. DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL. The instructional school, which provides tuition by correspondence for officers who desire to extend their knowledge of departmental matters and improve their general education, continues to be an important factor in making for efficiency within the Service. There were 1,273 enrolments in the school during the year. The majority of the students were successful at the various departmental examinations for which they presented themselves. EXAMINATIONS. The number of officers who entered for departmental efficiency examinations held during the year was 2,543. The candidates that were either wholly or partially successful numbered 1,316. POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICERS' GUILD. Official recognition has been accorded to a new organization, known as the Post and. Telegraph Officers' Guild, which was formed during the year. The membership of the Guild is open to all officers of the Department in receipt of salaries of £320 and over.

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HAWKE'S BAY EARTHQUAKE, FEBRUARY, 1931. The most disastrous earthquake in the history of New Zealand occurred in the Hawke's Bay District on the 3rd February, 1931, at 10.47 a.m. Departmental buildings and plant were seriously damaged, and post and telegraph services interrupted. Telegraph and telephone communication was lost within the whole of the area bounded approximately by Dannevirke in the south, Gisborne in the north, and Taupo in the north-west, the principal offices concerned being Napier and Hastings. Rail communication was interrupted temporarily, but, fortunately, it was possible at all times to maintain road communication south of Napier. The road between Napier and Wairoa was obliterated in a number of places, but Wairoa was able to maintain communication through Gisborne. The Napier Chief Post-office building, a three-storied structure which was completed last year at a cost of £52,745, withstood the earthquake shocks, but was gutted by the fire which followed and swept the business area of the town ; the Port Ahuriri Post-office building was badly damaged and then destroyed by fire ; at Hastings the clock-tower of the post-office building collapsed and damaged the old portion of the building to such an extent that it required to be demolished ; the clock-tower of the Wairoa building collapsed, causing the collapse of a portion of the roof and of the front wall of the building ; and a number of other post-office buildings, notably the Waipukurau building, were damaged more or less seriously. The first reports of the disaster reached Wellington by wireless messages from the s.s. " Northumberland " and " Taranaki " anchored off Napier, the " Taranaki" immediately following her transmission by giving general information as to the position so far as it could be seen from the roadstead in a message received at Wellington Radio at 11.10 a.m. Later these reports were supplemented by information furnished by H.M.S. " Veronica," lying at the wharf at Port Ahuriri. Immediately the Department made effective use of its telegraph and telephone system in organizing the despatch to the area of doctors and nurses. Restoration of Communications. Radio Communication. —Amateur radio stations rendered valuable service in supplementing means of communication as soon as possible after the earthquake. Efforts were at once made by the Department's Wellington radio station to establish communication with amateur radio stations at Napier and Hastings. The first indication of success in this connection was at 3.45 p.m., when a message from the Postmaster, Hastings, transmitted by a Hastings amateur station was picked up by a Wellington amateur station. Efforts to gain further contact with the Hastings amateur at that time were unsuccessful, but soon after 5 p.m. the Hastings station was heard working with a Gisborne amateur station, by whose assistance contact was arranged. By 7 p.m. Wellington-Radio succeeded in establishing communication with the Hastings amateur radio station already referred to, and important messages were exchanged until land-line connections were restored. At about 4 p.m. on the 3rd another amateur station at Wellington reported having established contact with a Napier amateur station. The Department assumed control of both stations, placing departmental officers in charge, and the two stations exchanged a large number of urgent messages until the Wellington station was released at 4.20 p.m. on the 4th February. The Napier station continued as an auxiliary official station until the 6th February, working direct with WellingtonRadio. In addition to those amateurs already referred to who participated in the establishment of direct channels to Wellington, considerable assistance was rendered by other amateur radio stations at Gisborne, Wairoa, Auckland, Rotorua, and Wellington. Short-wave transmitting and receiving equipment were hurried to the spot by representatives of radio firms and readily made available for departmental use as required. Short-wave equipment was installed early on the 4th February at the Hastings Street School as an official radio-station under the call sign " ZLN." Although on account of the prompt restoration of line circuits this station was not used to any extent, it provided a sense of security against the total loss of communication. Telegraph and Telephone Lines. —Tests made at Wellington immediately after the earthquake showed that telegraph and telephone lines were interrupted north of Dannevirke and south of Taupo. Steps were at once taken by the engineering branch to organize the work of restoration. As a result a party was despatched from Dannevirke at noon direct for Takapau, to work northwards. Shortly afterwards a second party left Dannevirke to clear the section between Dannevirke and Takapau. A. third party, consisting of two gangs, left Palmerston North for Waipukurau direct with tentative instructions to divide their forces and work north and south from Waipukurau. These parties were preceded by an Engineer and an Overseer with the object of ascertaining the nature of the damage and organizing the work of the several parties to the best advantage. In the meantime the local line staffs at Napier, Hastings, and Waipukurau, which were isolated from headquarters, commenced to do all in their power to restore the lines, particularly on the south side ; and a party had also left Rotorua with instructions to restore communication on the Taupo-Napier route. In the absence of specific information as to the extent of the dislocation, and in anticipation of more serious developments, a party of engineers, specially chosen by reason of their qualifications in certain phases of telegraph, telephone, and radio engineering, was at once organized at Wellington and despatched by motor transport with emergency materials. The work of line-restoration was considerably complicated owing to the recurrence of contacts with successive tremors. In some cases the lines were broken by falling buildings ; and many poles were shaken loose and angle poles straightened up. In a number of instances all the wires for many spans were twisted together, resembling a wire rope.

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All lines up to Waipukurau —within thirty-three miles of Hastings—were restored at 4 p.m., and by 7.30 p.m. clear, though weak, speech was obtained by telephone between Waipukurau and Hastings, Morse operation being impracticable owing to line conditions. At 9.55 a.m. on the following day Morse communication over a shaky circuit was restored between Waipukurau and Hastings. At 11.35 a.m. direct Morse communication between Wellington and Hastings was established, and at short intervals thereafter further outlets were obtained as circuits were cleared and Morse sets wired. Telegraph communication was re-established between Napier and Hastings at about 9 a.m. on the 4th February. During the morning several outlets between Napier and Hastings were cleared, but, owing to the numerous tremors, they were subject to continual interruption. An improved simplex Morse circuit from Wellington to Hastings and Napier was obtained by 1 p.m., while the recovery of further circuits enabled duplex working to be accomplished by 4 p.m. The development of telegraph communications continued as rapidly as possible. By 10 a.m. on the sth February a quadruplex set had been brought into service at Hastings, and by 5 p.m. on the same day two quadruplex sets had been installed at Napier. Four arms of the multiplex machine-printing telegraph system were then installed at Napier, and two were brought into operation at 6.20 p.m. on Sunday, the Bth February, when the Borough Council's emergency power-station commenced supplying electricity. At 2.45 the following day a full multiplex was working. By 11.30 a.m. on the sth February, the telegraph-line between Napier and Taupo was restored by a self-contained mobile party from the Auckland District, thus providing a Morse outlet from Napier to Auckland via Rotorua. At 5 p.m. the circuit was being worked duplex. Between Napier and Wairoa the damage to roads and departmental telegraph and telephone lines was very severe, and telegraph communication between those points was not restored for several days. This was not, however, a serious state of affairs, as communication between Wairoa and Gisborne was re-established by 4.30 p.m. on the 3rd February. On the Napier-Wairoa section considerable damage was done to the pole-line, necessitating its diversion at several points. At Turiroa, a section of the main road had dropped 20 ft., and had moved 30 ft. out of line. At Matahoura Gorge the road was covered by landslides to a height of 30 ft. to 40 ft., and access to a section of line could only be obtained by linemen descending 250 ft. of almost sheer cliff. The lines were joined through temporarily by dropping braided bronze wire from the railway viaduct to the pole-line 280 ft. below. A shaky Morse connection between Napier and Wairoa was eventually obtained on the 9th February, and on the 11th one clear metallic circuit between those points was available. All the NapierWairoa circuits were restored by the evening of the 12th. A severe earthquake at 1.30 p.m. on the 13th caused further interruption, but a Morse wire was recovered at noon the following day and one metallic circuit by 5 p.m. All the lines between Napier and Wairoa were again cleared by the 17th February. One Morse circuit between Wairoa and Gisborne was restored at 4.30 p.m. on the 3rd February. During the same evening the remaining Wairoa-Gisborne circuits were recovered. These circuits again suffered complete interruption by the earthquake on the 13th, but full recovery was effected within forty minutes. Carrier-current Systems. —Owing to the interruptions of the lines and later the total destruction by fire of the equipment itself, the carrier-current systems operating from Napier were completely disrupted. Apparatus collected from various points was installed at the temporary telegraph office at Napier on the 11th February and provided separate outlets from Napier to Wellington, Auckland, Palmerston North, and Gisborne. Communication on the Napier-Wellington system was established at 7 p.m. on the 11th, but owing to faulty lines the Auckland, Palmerston North, and Gisborne circuits were not suitable for toll purposes until the 12th, 16th, and 25th February respectively. Although the earthquake on the 13th interrupted all physical lines, the carrier channel between Napier and Wellington continued in operation. Disposal of Telegraph Traffic. Owing to the disconnection of telegraph circuits, special measures were necessary to dispose of telegraph traffic to and from the affected area. The number of messages lodged for transmission for some days after the earthquake was enormous, and even had the circuits remained intact over the whole period it would not have been possible by means of telegraphic transmission to dispose of all the messages presented. In addition to the use of radio channels as already mentioned, telegraph traffic from Napier and Hastings was, on the 3rd and 4th February, forwarded by road to Waipukurau and Dannevirke for transmission, Napier telegraphists being despatched to those stations to assist in the disposal of the traffic. Arrangements were made on the afternoon of the 3rd for a telegram mail to be conveyed from Wellington to Hastings by aeroplane leaving Wellington early on the morning of the 4th. Messages for the district were copied and forwarded by aeroplane which left Wellington on the 4th at 6 a.m. and arrived at Hastings at 10 a.m. A regular service by aeroplane for the carriage of telegrams and important mail-matter was then established between Auckland, Gisborne, and Hastings, and between Wellington and Hastings; and this service continued until 9th February. During that period twenty-four aeroplane flights were made between Hastings and Wellington, and eight between Auckland and Hastings, calling at Gisborne en route, and, in addition, several flights were made between Gisborne, Wairoa, and Hastings. It is regretfully added that a flight from Gisborne to Hastings on the Bth fatally terminated at Wairoa when an aeroplane piloted by Captain Kight crashed after dropping a mail, the pilot and the two passengers being killed. .

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In addition to the telegrams forwarded by aeroplane, thousands of messages were forwarded by motor-car between Napier, Hastings, and Wellington, the ears picking up and delivering batches of messages at offices en route. The heavy traffic necessitated continuous telegraph attendance at Napier, Hastings, Wellington, Wairoa, Gisborne, and Auckland from the 3rd until the 10th February. Furthermore, a special attendance on Sunday, the Bth, was observed at Palmerston North, Dannevirke, and Wanganui. On the 11th February all offices reverted to normal telegraph attendance, except Hastings and Wairoa. Hastings since the 11th February has observed an attendance of from 8 a.m. to midnight, the transfer to Hastings on the 18th February of the Napier morning newspaper having made it necessary to observe the midnight attendance permanently. Wairoa reverted to normal attendance on the 19th February. Owing to the departure of a large number of residents and to the abandoning of homes, the delivery of telegrams by message-boy at Napier and Hastings for the first few days was impossible, and telegrams for towns in the earthquake area were accepted only at the senders' risk. Until normal deliveries were re-established, telegrams were delivered on application at the temporary offices ; but a very considerable number remained unclaimed. Restoration of Public Facilities, Napier. Postal Branch. —As soon as it was seen that the chief post-office building could not escape the fire, as much material as possible was removed from it, and prompt measures were taken to obtain temporary premises. First, the band rotunda in Olive Square was occupied, but this had to be vacated to enable it to be used as a surgical operating-theatre. Accommodation was then obtained in the Railway Social Club room for branches other than the telegraph and the money-order and savings-bank, and business was being conducted in that location by 4 p.m. On the following day (the 4th) the money-order and savings-bank branch re-opened in the Wairere Bowling Club House. On the 6th those branches of the office which were being conducted in railway permises moved to the adjacent Hawke's Bay Farmers' Building ; and the money-order and savings-bank branch was transferred to the same building on the 9th. These premises were used until the beginning of March, when all branches were transferred to the Hastings Street School, where, as explained later, the telegraph branch had been installed from the afternoon of the earthquake. The whole of the Department's business at Napier will continue to be conducted in the Hastings Street School until the post-office building is re-conditioned. For some time after the earthquake the delivery of correspondence by postman was impossible, owing to the destruction of business premises and the abandonment of private residences, and delivery of mail-matter was made over the counter. A once-daily delivery by postman was resumed on the 6th March ; and the usual full twice-daily delivery was resumed on the 17th idem. Telegraph Branch. —The telegraph branch at Napier re-opened to the public on the 3rd February at about 6 p.m. in the Hastings Street School. The news that the telegraph office had re-opened had a very reassuring effect upon the inhabitants, and by 7 p.m. hundreds of people were at the temporary office writing messages on whatever scraps of paper could be obtained. As no telegraph outlet was available, the messages were despatched to Waipukurau and Dannevirke that evening by motor-car, together with telegraphists to assist in their disposal at the latter offices. The gradual development of the telegraph branch and the disposal of the heavy traffic are covered in a general way in other parts of this statement. Telephone Exchange, Napier. —On the destruction of the telephone-exchange building and equipment by fire, action was at once taken to establish a temporary exchange in the Hastings Street School. The diversion of the lines to the new quarters was put in hand on the afternoon of the 3rd February. A 100-number switchboard arrived from Wellington on the 4th, and an emergency exchange was at once installed in the school, and connections made for the police, relief organizations, temporary hospitals, and other essential services. The efforts of the engineering stafi to provide for essential services was splendidly seconded by men from the H.M.S. " Veronica," who assisted in piecing together wire circuits from the temporary exchange site to the Nelson Park hospital and other points. When everything possible had been done to furnish telephone connections for essential services, attention was turned to the more difficult task of preparing for the more extended telephone service which it was anticipated would be required as soon as conditions began to return to normal. To do this effectively and promptly and at a minimum cost, it was essentia] that a temporary building should be made available close to the main exchange manhole, upon which point all cables converged. With the concurrence of the Mayor and with the assistance of the Public Works Department in the demolition of adjacent menacing walls and the clearance of debris from the site, a galvanized-iron and wooden building was erected on the roadway immediately in front of the old telephone exchange. The building was ready for accommodation on the 22nd February. On the completion of the temporary building and main distributing frame, a large staff of cable-jointers commenced work, and the testing of underground telephone cables was pat in hand. It was found that comparatively little trouble had been caused to cables. All aerial laterals in the fire-stricken area were, of course, destroyed; in addition, a 300-pair underground cable feeding Taradale and Westshore was fractured in places and saturated. A 50-pair cable along the Westshore embankment was broken at splices, and smaller underground cables were also affected. No damage appears to have been suffered by cables enclosed in ducts.- The telephone-exchange service was transferred from the Hastings Street School an the 4th March, and from that date a more general service was made available. Prior to that date the service had been confined to emergency requirements and to the comparatively small number of subscribers in urgent need of connections.

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Restoration op Public Facilities, Hastings. As soon as possible after the earthquake mail-matter, valuables, and other matter were salvaged from the damaged building and safeguarded. The first public demand was naturally for telegraphic communication, and the acceptance of telegrams was commenced on the 3rd February at the railway bus office (opposite the post-office). The following morning post-office business was commenced in the departmental lineman's shed in St. Aubyn Street; and the telegraph office was fully established at the railway-station. During Thursday, the sth February, possession was taken of Clifton Commercial College—departmental property in St. Aubyn Street—-the telegraph instruments remaining at the railway-station. It was soon recognized that the St. Aubyn Street premises were inconvenient and unsuitable for lengthy occupation, and other premises were sought. On the morning of the 10th February, all public branches at Hastings commenced operation in the Oddfellows' Hall, Market Street. The telegraph instruments were removed from the railway-station to the Oddfellows' Hall on the 22nd February. A postman's delivery was made at Hastings on the afternoon of Thursday, the sth February, prior to which time as much correspondence as possible had been delivered to callers. The postmen resumed their usual two deliveries daily on the 16th February, when all services were approaching normal. Telephone Exchange.—The central battery telephone exchange at Hastings, which gave service to about two thousand subscribers, although put out of action by the destruction of the power plant and dislocation of the outside plant, was comparatively little damaged. It was, however, exposed to the weather due to the collapse of portions of the roof and walls of the portion of the building in which it was housed. Preliminary steps were taken for its preservation soon after the earthquake, and a little later greater protective measures were adopted. Four of the main 600-pair cables were damaged in the exchange manhole, which was filled with water from broken water services. Terminals and laterals in the business area were extensively damaged, but the outlying portions of the system on the whole suffered only minor damage. An emergency manual telephone exchange for essential services and for toll lines was established at the railway-station on the 6th February. On Sunday, the 22nd February, the connections with this emergency exchange were cut over to a provisional and more permanent exchange, capable of providing for one thousand subscribers, established in a storeroom at the back of the post-office building. The reconnection of subscribers was then put in ha,nd with all speed. In the new portion of the Hastings building the installation of a " Strowger " automatic exchange, to take the place of the central-battery system, was proceeding at the time of the earthquake. Fortunately, this apparatus escaped almost uninjured, but its erection was not sufficiently advanced to enable it to be brought into operation at the time. The work was accelerated, and the automatic exchange was brought into operation on the 31st May, 1931. Restoration of Public Facilities, Port Ahuriri. As the post-office building at Port Ahuriri was completely wrecked by the earthquake and later in the day swept by fire, the facilities provided by that office were totally interrupted. Pending the provision of other accommodation, a temporary office was established in the railway-station on the 4th February, and telegrams and mail-matter were carried between Port Ahuriri and Napier at frequent intervals. On the 25th February the office was transferred to a temporary galvanized-iron shed which had been erected on land adjoining the railway-station. On the 23rd March Morse telegraph communication with Napier was restored, and two days later the toll service was restored. Mails and Mail-services. The principal effect of the earthquake on mails and mail-services was the interruption of the Napier-Gisborne mail-service. There was very little other disorganization, except on the day of the earthquake. On the 4th and sth February at every opportunity mails were exchanged by motor-vehicle between Napier and the temporary rail-head at Waipukurau and intermediate offices. By midday on the 4th February the train service had been resumed as far north as Otane, by 2 p.m. on the sth to Hastings, and later on the same day to Napier, each successive step lessening the use of motor-vehicles. Napier-Gisborne Mail-service.—The ordinary time-table for this service provided for a service by lorry leaving both Napier and Gisborne at 7 p.m. daily, and arriving at destination at 5 a.m. the next day. From the 4th to the 11th February, inclusive, the Gisborne-Wairoa section of the service was performed daily in daylight, the road between those two places being in good order. On the other hand, the section between Napier and Wairoa was totally interrupted on account of the road being impassable. The contractors made strenuous efforts from both the Wairoa and Napier ends to resume the service as soon as possible, but about a fortnight elapsed before that could be done. Even then only a service in daylight for letters was possible. On the 3rd March, the service was extended (still by daylight trip) to all mail matter except parcels, which were conveyed by sea as opportunity offered. The comprehensive night service was resumed in its entirety on the 21st April. During the period in which the Napier-Gisborne mail-service was disorganized mails to and from Gisborne, Wairoa, and other offices served from those places were exchanged by air (letter mails only) ; by sea as opportunity offered ; and overland via Rotorua and the Motu Gorge (letter mails only).

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Savings-bank Facilities. It is a matter for congratulation that the whole of the savings-bank records were saved. The circumstances of many refugees from the earthquake area rendered it necessary to make special arrangements to enable them to operate on their savings-bank accounts. On the sth February, it was arranged to pay at Palmerston North (where the principal refugee camp was established)' and Wellington on demand in urgent cases sums up to £10 on production of pass-books. In cases in which money was not required urgently, applications for withdrawals up to the full amount at credit were accepted and transmitted to Napier or Hastings by post. Any refugee desiring to transfer his account from the Napier to any other district was permitted to do so, the fee for the service being waived. Furthermore, all pass-books lost as a result of the earthquake were replaced free. Stores and Motor Transport. A very important factor in the early restoration of the Department's services was the prompt manner in which it was possible to despatch stores and material from Wellington. Of great importance was the part played by the Department's motor fleet and staff ; and the advantage in an emergency of having one central garage for Government vehicles was clearly demonstrated. A car was on its way to Hawke's Bay by 2 p.m. on the day of the earthquake. By 2.30 a.m. the following day nine vehicles from the central Government garage controlled by the Post and Telegraph Department, in Wellington were en route to Napier, and during the day which followed the number engaged on the work increased to fourteen. During the first few days of the earthquake period, chauffeurs and vehicles were held in readiness to proceed to Hawke's Bay at a moment's notice at any hour of the day or night. Many of the vehicles sent to Hastings and Napier did not immediately return to Wellington, but were utilized for the transport of medical supplies, provisions, water, and camp equipment for the inhabitants of Napier and Hastings, and thereafter for various departmental purposes in the affected area. Four departmental vehicles stationed at Napier were destroyed in the fire following the earthquake. Franking Privileges and Free Telephones. For the purpose of facilitating relief work, the Mayors of Napier and Hastings, the Member of Parliament for Napier, and Earthquake Relief Committees in several places were authorized to send inland telegrams free. The Y.M.C.A., which undertook particularly the work of dealing with inquiries for persons in the earthquake area, were authorized to send telegraphic replies free. Thirty-six telephones were installed free of charge in premises occupied for relief purposes in several towns in the Dominion. Staff. It is gratifying to record that no departmental officer was killed in the earthquake. It is recorded with regret, however, that Mr. F. C. McArthur, Telegraphist, died of shock shortly after making his exit from the Napier post-office building, and that Mr. H. P. Hopkins, Exchange-clerk, Waipawa, was severely injured. It is impossible to exaggerate the value of the services rendered by officers under terrifying circumstances. For many days earthquake tremors continued alarmingly ; and the mental strain under which officers laboured in performing long and strenuous hours of duty, in separation from their families, in many cases in the hours of darkness, will be appreciated. A number of officers, at no small risk to themselves, were instrumental in saving departmental records and property. With the severance of communications, an immediate and extremely heavy burden fell on the Department's line maintenance and construction staff, while the large volume of telegraphic traffic placed an unprecedented burden on the telegraph staffs in the area, staffs which were reinforced to the fullest extent by officers from other branches not so hard pressed. As soon as the required arrangements could be made the Department arranged for the relief of officers for a week's special leave ; and, in this way many were enabled to rejoin their evacuated families and to obtain much needed rest. To meet their own desires many were permanently transferred from the area, and a number were granted temporary transfers. At many offices outside the affected area officers were also required to perform arduous and lengthy hours of duty in effecting the transmission of telegrams and toll traffic to and from Hawke's Bay. They cheerfully worked at high pressure until traffic assumed normal proportions. Owing to the absence of accommodation at Napier and Hastings, it devolved upon the Department to provide bunk-house accommodation and meals for officers, particularly those on the relief staffs, and arrangements to this end were promptly made, a minimum charge for the service being made. Services rendered to Department. The utmost assistance was given by the Public Works, Defence, and Railways Departments in readily making available supplies required for the various operations of the Department in the disturbed area, and by the last-mentioned Department in providing rapid transport. In many directions the officers of these Departments co-operated splendidly with the Department's officers in accelerating post and telegraph restoration work. It is also desired to acknowledge the assistance rendered to the Department by many residents of the affected area and others in the delivery of telegrams and in a number of other ways in restoring and maintaining departmental facilities; also, the valuable services rendered by the organizations which provided food and in different ways attended to the well-being of officers in the earthquake area, and by those local residents who assisted in providing these services.

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COMMERCIAL BRANCH. The Commercial Branch, which was established in March, 1930, has during its first year of working not only helped considerably to maintain the financial position of the telephone branch, but also established between the Department and the telephone public a link in which the predominant feature is personal service. The total annual value of new business of all descriptions handled exceeded £30,000. The transactions numbered approximately five thousand. As was indicated in the report for last year, the object of the branch, in so far as telephones are concerned, is to bring into profit telephone lines and equipment which are lying idle and which can be brought into use at small cost. In this connection the Commercial Branch has worked in the closest association with the officers of the Engineering Branch, as the co-operation of these two branches is essential to the extension of the telephone business on sound economic lines. The institution, in March last year, of a system of monthly rentals has been helpful in enabling new telephone business to be secured. Spread over twelve payments in the year, settlement of the telephone rental becomes as easy as settlement of any other monthly account. There is little doubt that this arrangement has popularized the telephone and brought it within the reach of many who previously considered it to be beyond their means. The Commercial Branch has been instrumental not only in securing new subscribers, but also in retaining a number of old subscribers who had notified their intention of relinquishing their telephones. Some people who are thus induced to continue do so, of course, for only a short period, but others, once having reversed their decision to relinquish, reinstate themselves as permanent subscribers. The field staff of the Commercial Branch which, at the outset, comprised four Business Managers, one each at Auckland and Christchurch and two at Wellington, has now been increased at Auckland to one Business Manager and two Business Agents ; at Wellington, to two Business Managers and one Business Agent; at Christchurch, to one Business Manager and one Business Agent; and at Dunedin, to one Business Manager : a total of nine officers. In addition, for the purpose of canvassing the residential areas of the smaller centres, the services were requisitioned of local officers who, over short periods, devoted the whole of their time to the making of an intensive canvass of the residential areas. In this way the residential areas of Napier, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Hawera, New Plymouth, Timaru, and Invercargill have been covered with a resultant increase in the number of telephone subscribers. The operations of the Commercial Branch have been extended to the field of advertising in that the sale of space in telephone directories, which was formerly undertaken by an advertising contractor, has been taken over by the branch. The change coincided with an alteration in the layout of directories. In future all telephone directories will have two columns of names to the page instead of one, and each page will bear not more than one advertisement which will be accommodated in a one-inch space at the top of the page. This restriction on advertising space greatly improves the appearance of the directories, and enhances their value both as telephone directories and as advertising media. In this new field, the Commercial Branch has been singularly successful, practically the whole of the advertising-space available in directories of towns visited by Business Managers being sold. The advertising contractor who formerly canvassed for directory advertisements has been given the right to compile and to print " Classified Business Directories," which will be bound and issued with the official telephone directories. The particular advantage of the business directory will be that it will present in handy form a list of bakers, butchers, grocers, plumbers, florists, &c., each trade grouped together, and will show, besides the names and addresses, the telephone numbers of the business people concerned. For inclusion in the business directory a small charge will be paid by the subscriber to the advertising contractor. The publication in a telephone directory of a classified business directory is not new. The custom has long been in force in the older countries of the world. At the time of taking over the work of obtaining advertisements for telephone directories, the Department took over also the work of obtaining orders for bold-type listings in the columns of names of subscribers. This also was formerly in the hands of an advertising contractor. 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, 1931, and the value of stocks held at that date. For the purpose of comparison the particulars for the previous year are shown also : —

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1930-31. 1929-30. .. T Stock in hand, T> • . * T * Stock in hand, Receipts. Issues. 3lst March, 1931. Celp Issues. 3lst March, 1930. £ £ £ £ £ £ Auckland 234,809 202,600 134,775 234,302 232,618 102,565 Christchurch .. 83,816 93,668 83,967 164,972 154,976 93,820 Dunedin 70,641 62,291 54,892 93,209 87,718 46,542 Wellington .. 368,370 391,485 281,093 388,217 360,417 304,208 Dominion totals 757,636 750,044 554,727 880,700 835,729 547,135 . ___ * Excluding transfers within storekeeping districts,

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The total value of orders placed during the year was £348,772. Of this amount, £145,486 represented the cost of stores for supply from within the Dominion, while £203,286 represented the cost of stores for supply from overseas. The total value of orders placed during the previous year was £533,967. The total value of stores purchased by the Department under contracts arranged by the Stores Control Board was £35,236, including £29,732 for motor-spirit, and motor lubricating-oils. An amount of £3,461 was spent in the purchase of insulator-cups manufactured in the Dominion, and £15,487 in the purchase locally of 19,259 silver-pine poles and 300 cedar poles. Rata and other New-Zealand-grown timber was obtained at a cost of £5,119 for cutting into telegraph-arms, &c. Orders for twine of New Zealand manufacture amounted to £3,575. Particulars of purchases arranged by the Post and Telegraph Department 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 during the year of sixty motor-vehicles for other Departments, and of fifty-seven motor-vehicles for the Post and Telegraph Department. The figures for the previous year were 141 and 110 respectively. Sale of Obsolete and Unserviceable Material. A number of auction sales of obsolete and unserviceable material, including worn-out motorvehicles from various Departments, was held during the year. The total value of property disposed of was £6,471. This sum includes the value of scrap lead, copper, and other metals sold by tender. Marine Insurance Fund. The insurable value of stores from countries within the Empire and from the United States of America covered under the New Zealand Government Marine Insurance Fund was £263,204. WORKSHOPS. The Department's workshops throughout the Dominion continued to cope efficiently with the ever-growing requirements of the Service, and, in addition, the facilities were increasingly availed of by other Departments for the servicing and repairing of their motor-vehicles. While the activities of the shops were, in the main, similar to former years, the general curtailment of expenditure, together with the installation in some instances of more up-to-date plant, resulted in a slight reduction of staff. At the four chief centres the workshops are equipped for undertaking all classes of maintenance work, in respect of both telegraph and telephone apparatus and motor-vehicles. Manufacturing-work to a limited extent is also carried out in the Wellington Workshops, and to a lesser extent at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Being essentially maintenance shops, the manufacturing-work naturally forms only a very small portion of the work executed, but the amount of such work undertaken assists to keep fully occupied the staff and machinery which are necessary for maintenance purposes. At the workshops situated at Hamilton, Napier, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Whangarei, Paeroa, Masterton, Gisborne, Greymouth, Timaru, and Invercargill the work is confined to repairs to motorvehicles. The total value of the work performed in the various workshops during the year amounted to £103,584, of which £7,627 represents the value of services rendered to other Government Departments. BUILDINGS. During the year buildings were erected as follow : — Post-office buildings : Kurow, Mount Albert (Auckland), Napier, Te Anga. Garages : Albany, Blenheim (also store, &c.), Ohura, Rawene, Tikitiki, Walton. Residences for Postmasters : Hinds, Kurow. The foundations for the new chief post-office building which it is proposed to erect at Dunedin have been completed.

3—F. 1.

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Value of Items purchased. Year ended Requisitions. Items. 1 ———— Total. On Indent. Locally. ! £ £ £ 31st March, 1931 .. 3,196 13,376 23,560 43,060 66,620 31st March, 1930 .. 3,557 16,218 21,972 72,861 94,833

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A building was erected on Mount Crawford (Wellington) for the accommodation of the New Zealand receiving station of the trans-Tasman radio-telephone service. Increased or improved accommodation for departmental purposes has been provided at the following places: Christchurch, Gore, Greymouth, Hokitika, Huntly (garage), Kaikohe, Kaitaia, Nelson, Newton (Auckland), Papatoetoe, Wairoa (garage), Wellington (workshops), Whangarei. The following works were in progress at the end of the year : Courtenay Place (Wellington East), new post-office building ; High Street (Christchurch), new post-office building ; Lower Hutt, automatic telephone - exchange building ; Masterton, addition and alterations; Palmerston (Otago), new post-office building; Ruatoria, new post-office building and residence for Postmaster; Upper Symonds Street (Auckland), new post-office building ; Urenui, new post-office building ; Waitara, new post-office building ; Westport, new chief post-office building. The erection of a new chief post-office building at Dunedin lias been authorized, and tenders for the work are soon to be invited. The erection of new buildings at the following places has also been authorized, but, owing to the financial position, action has been deferred meantime : Greymouth (garage and store), Petone, Thames, Thornbury. The following buildings were disposed of : Awa, old post-office building ; Ohakune Junction, lineman's cottage ; Slope Point, old telephone-office building ; Takaliue, old post-office building ; West Plains, old post-office building ; Worser Bay (Wellington), old boat-shed. On the 22nd April a fire which broke out in nearby premises threatened to destroy the Ahaura Post-office building. The danger was averted, however, by the voluntary services of a number of residents. As it was, the building suffered some damage. On the 23rd April the post-office building at Collingwood was slightly damaged by a fire which caused extensive damage in the township. The building was saved from destruction through the combined efforts of the local fire brigade and two members of the post-office staff. LAND. Areas of land were acquired for departmental purposes as follow : Clydevale, new site for postoffice building ; Golville, site for post-office building ; Grey Lynn, site in Surrey Crescent for post-office building ; Hamilton, site for chief post-office building ; Mahanga Bay (Wellington), site for storage of submarine cable, &c. ; Milton, site for residence for Postmaster ; Mount Crawford (Wellington), site for radio-receiving station ; Ngawha, new site for post-office building ; Ruatoria, new site for post-office building and residence for Postmaster ; Te Anga, site for post-office building ; Urenui, site for post-office building ; Waterloo (Lower Hutt), site for post-office building ; Wellington, site for line depot. Areas of departmental land were disposed of as follow : Clydevale, old post-office site ; Howick, portion of post-office site ; Longford, old telegraph reserve ; Naumai, old post-office site ; Ngawha, old post-office site ; Ohakune Junction, site of lineman's cottage ; Ruatoria, old post-office site ; Te Kopuru, old post-office site ; Tokoroa, old post-office site ; Waiuku, portion of old post-office site ; Worser Bay (Wellington), site for storage of submarine cable, &c. DEPARTMENTAL MOTOR-VEHICLES. Owing to the reduction in the demand for transport, it has been possible to withdraw from commission and sell a number of worn-out vehicles without replacing them. Fifty-seven new vehicles were purchased during the year, and seventy-five old ones were sold. At the 31st March, 1931, the departmental motor-vehicle fleet comprised 111 cars ; 473 lorries, trucks, and vans ; and 14 motor-cycles : a total of 598 vehicles, against 616 as at the 31st March, 1930. The total mileage travelled by the fleet for the year was 4,479,391—22,648 in excess of the mileage for the previous year. SUGGESTIONS BOARD. The number of suggestions made by officers for improving the working of the Department was 426. The number of awards was fifteen, the total sum awarded being £34. The Gray Memorial Prize for the best original suggestion for 1928 was awarded to Mr. R. L. R. Apperley, Senior Mechanician, Wellington, for a suggestion concerning a multiple toll-line dialling circuit. The 1929 prize was awarded to Mr. W. Gazley, Supervisor, Stores Division, General Post Office, for a suggestion that, when practicable, solo giant solid tires instead of twin solid tires be fitted to the rear wheels of departmental motor-lorries. In each case the prize took the form of a gold medal.

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POST OFFICE. INCREASE IN POSTAGE RATES. To obtain revenue for the Consolidated Fund for the year ending the 31st March, 1932, postage rates and charges were increased as under on the Ist March, 1931 : —

INLAND MAIL SERVICES. Except for the interruptions due to the earthquake in Hawke's Bay, particulars of which are furnished in the paragraph concerning the earthquake published 011 page 14 of this report, mailservices by road have been performed with regularity throughout the year. The contracts for the various services performed under contract in the North Island expired on the 31st December, and new contracts were arranged for a further period of three years from the Ist January. The result of the reletting was most satisfactory, a saving in subsidies of approximately £4,500 per annum being effected, notwithstanding that a number of improvements were effected. For most services there was keen competition. There was a noticeable increase in the number of tenders received for " blocks " of services. There is a distinct tendency towards the centralization in the larger towns of the commencing-points of 'the services to outlying districts, the existence of many motor passenger services resulting in road mail-services being run from the larger centres. Gisborne is now provided with a night mail-service by road to and from Napier, with the result that all mail-matter (except ordinary parcels) is available in Gisborne twenty-four hours after despatch from Wellington. Parcels that are not sent " express transit " reach Gisborne thirty-eight hours after leaving Wellington. Previously letters only were carried on the night service, and parcels and second-class matter on a next-day service. The cost of the new service is considerably less than the cost of the former separate services. Another improvement was effected by arranging for mails to and from Kaitaia and Awanui and other places in the district to be conveyed via the Mangamuka Gorge. Formerly most of the Kaitaia and Awanui mails were conveyed via Kaeo and Mangonui. Rawene and other places on or adjacent to the Hokianga River, previously served by launch from Horeke, are now served by roacl from Kaikohe. The mail-service route for Dargaville has also been altered. Mails for and from that place are now transported by rail and road via Tangowahine (the present terminus of the new railway for Dargaville) at a considerable saving in cost, the former contract river mail-service between Helensville and Dargaville having been dispensed with.

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Item. J Old Rate. New Rate. Letters and letter-cards for inland Id. for first ounce and |d. for each 2d. for first ounce and Id. for each delivery additional ounce additional ounce. Letters and letter-cards addressed to Id. for each ounce . . . . 2d. for first ounce and Id. for each places within the Empire, United additional ounce. States, and certain other places Late fee . . . . . . Id. . . . . . . .. 2d. Post-cards (inland) .. . . Jd. . . . . . . . . Id. Inland packets .. . . . . fd. for each 2 oz. or fraction thereof Id. for each 4oz. or fraction thereof up up to 2 lb., and 2d. for each to 1 lb., and 4d. for each additional additional pound up to 5 lb. pound up to 5 lb. Registered magazines .. . . Each copy Id. for each 8 oz. or fraction Each copy 2d. for each 8 oz. or fraction thereof thereof. Newspapers— Inland . . . . .. £d. per copy .. .. .. Each copy Id. for each 8 oz. (From 23rd March, rate altered to Id. for each 16 oz.) Overseas to all places to which Id. per copy . . . . .. Each copy Id. for each 6 oz. Postal Union rates do not apply (From 13th April, rate altered to Id. for each 16 oz.) Registration . . . . . . 3d. .. .. .. . . 4d. Acknowledgment of receipt of regis- 2Jd. . . .. .. . . 3d. tered article Parcels (inland) .. .. .. Not exceeding lib., 6d. ; for each Not exceeding 1 lb., 6d. ; not exceeding additional pound up to 10 lb., 2d. ; 2 lb., Is. ; for each additional pound and for each additional pound up up to 11 lb., 3d. ; maximum weight, to 281b., Id.; maximum weight, 11 lb.; maximum size, 6 ft. in length 28 lb. ; maximum size, 7 ft. in and girth combined. length and girth combined Parcels (inland) containing fishing-rods Not exceeding 3 lb., Is. 6d. ; for each Not exceeding 3 lb., 2s. 6d. ; for each and golf-clubs exceeding 3 ft. 6 in. additional pound or fraction thereof additional pound or fraction thereof but not exceeding 4 ft. 6 in. in length up to 11 lb., 3d. up to 11 lb., 3d. Fragile fee— For ordinary sized parcels .. 6d. .. . . .. Is. For light bulky parcels . . .. 9d. . . . . .. ... Is. 6d. Insurance of parcels (inland) .. Minimum fee, 3d. .. .. Minimum fee, 4d. Undelivered printer matter returned Jd. .. . . .. .. Id. to sender Customs clearance fee .. .. 3d. . . .. . . 6d.

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The through, services between Rotorua and Tauranga and between Rotorua and Te Puke have ceased, as Tauranga and Te Puke are now adequately served by rail. In August the contract service between Wellington (or Lyttelton) and the Chatham Islands for the conveyance of passengers, freight, and mails (a service arranged by the Department of Agriculture) was terminated. Payment for the conveyance of mails for the Islands has since been made on a weight basis. Following the opening of the new coastal road between Westport and Greymouth a service for the conveyance of mails was established on the Ist December which permits of a more expeditious exchange of mails between Westport on the one hand and Greymouth and Christchurch on the other. An improved service, making better provision for the transport of passengers and mails, was arranged between Bluff and Half-moon Bay (Stewart Island) from the Ist January. The reduction by the Railway Department of some of its services necessitated the establishment of road services in order to maintain reasonable mail communication for certain places formerly served by rail. Important in this connection is the twice-weekly road service established between Invercargill and Dunedin. This service operates when the frequency of the express train service between Christchurch and Invercargill is only thrice-weekly. This road service, which provides for letter mails and " express transit" parcels, is performed by departmental vehicle. Other places the reduced train services for which have been replaced or supplemented by roacl mail-services are Oxford, Wyndham, Waikaka, Waikaia, Whitecliffs, and Greytown. The Nelson-Reefton-Westport road service which, as a result of the earthquake in June, 1929, was diverted via Maruia, reverted to the original route via Lyell on the Ist November, 1930. The sea service arranged between Westport and Karamea as a result of the earthquake in that area was terminated on the 22nd January, 1931, on the restoration of the former thrice-weekly service by road. DESTRUCTION OF POSTAL VAN BY FIRE. On the 3rd March the postal van attached to the 2 p.m. express train from Wellington to Auckland was destroyed by fire. As the train was approaching Tangiwai, a small settlement situated some miles south of Ohakune, the Mail Agents observed smoke rising from the end of the van nearest the engine-tender adjoining. Immediate action was taken to remove the mail stacked in the affected space, but when this operation was completed there was an outburst of flames. The fire spread quickly, fanned by the draught due to the speed of the train, and it was with some difficulty that communication with the carriage immediately behind the van was obtained, a passage having first to be cleared through the bags at the rear of the van. When the door was reached the officers could not open it, and they had to break the glass panelling to draw the attention of passengers in the adjoining carriage, who immediately operated the emergency apparatus and brought the train to a standstill. By this time the van was full of smoke and the fire had a good hold. Prompt steps were taken to detach the vehicle from the rest of the train, but all efforts to check the flames were without avail. Little time was available in which to salvage mail, and, with the exception of nineteen bags and loose registered articles, the whole of the mail, which comprised 188 receptacles, was destroyed. Except that one of the agents was singed, the departmental officers escaped scathless. They had a narrow escape, however, and under the conditions obtaining they did well to save a portion of the mails. The circumstances under which the van caught fire were the subject of a Commission of Inquiry. The Board was unable to determine the origin of the fire. CARRIAGE OF MAILS BY RAIL. Payment by the Post Office to the Railway Department for the carriage of mails has for many years been made on the basis of the number of miles of main lines and branch lines open for traffic. Since 1928 the rate of payment under this arrangement has been £21 2s. 6d. per mile for main lines and £16 per mile for branch lines open for traffic. In addition, postal sorting cars were paid for at the rate of Is. 4d. per mile, and wagons on express trains at the rate of 9d. per mile. On this basis the amount paid to the Railway Department for the year 1930 was £116,563. The question of the payment for the carriage of mails by rail was investigated in 1930 by the Railways Commission; and the Commission recommended that.the Post Office be charged on the following basis for mails carried by the Railway Department: — Mails carried in guards' vans on any train . . . . Half railway parcel rates. Haulage of postal sorting-cars attached to express or mail trains .. . . . . . . Is. 4d. per car-mile. Haulage of bogie wagons conveying mail-matter on express trains . . . . . . . . 9d. per wagon-mile. Haulage of four-wheeled wagons conveying mail-matter on mixed or goods trains .. . . . . 6d. per wagon-mile. The'recommendation was adopted by Government;, and from the Ist April, 1931, payment is being made on the new basis. To form a basis for arriving at the amount due to the Railway Department for the carriage of mails in guards' vans, all mails carried will be weighed for a period of two weeks in each year.

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ONEHUNGANEW PLYMOUTH MAIL-SERVICE. The Onehunga-New Plymouth mail and passenger steamer service, which had been in operation for about fifty years, ceased on the 2nd April. Until the Main Trunk Railway was opened between Auckland and Wellington in 1908, this service was the principal means of communication between Auckland and the South. Of recent years the increased use of motor transport has affected the service to such an extent that the steamship company decided early in the year to replace the passenger steamer by an auxiliary schooner carrying cargo only. It is not now advantageous to use the service for mails. The Onehunga-New Plymouth service is the third mail and passenger steamer-service to be abandoned in the Auckland Province during recent years. The Auckland - Whangarei sea service was abolished in September, 1926, and the Auckland - Tauranga sea service in March, 1.929. The opening of through railway-lines was principally responsible for the withdrawal of the sea services. OVERSEAS MAILS. Except for the loss of the •" Tahiti " on the 17th August, while on the voyage from Wellington to San Francisco, the ocean mail-services between Auckland and Vancouver and between Wellington and San Francisco have been performed regularly and without mishap. The Union Steamship Company, the mail contractors, were given authority to cancel the San Francisco - Wellington portion of the round trip that was to have been performed by the " Tahiti." For the following round trip the " Maunganui " replaced the " Tahiti," after which the " Monowai " (formerly the " Razmak " of the P. and 0. Steamship Co.'s fleet) entered the service in permanent replacement of the " Tahiti " on the 2nd December from Wellington. The average times of transmission of mails during the year by the contract services, which provide for regular fortnightly sailings, were as follow : Auckland to London (via Vancouver), 30-92 days ; London to Auckland (via Vancouver), 30-38 days ; Wellington to London (via San Francisco), 28-69 days ; London to Wellington (via San Francisco), 31-5 days. The contracts for the services expired on the 31st March, 1930, and were renewed for a further period of a year from the Ist April, 1930. The contracts are to be further renewed for twelve months from the Ist April, 1931. The Panama route continues to be used for the despatch of specially addressed correspondence and of second-class mail matter and parcels for the United Kingdom and Europe. The advent of fast steamers on this route has led to the service becoming popular for specially addressed correspondence, and a considerable quantity of first-class matter is now despatched by the service. The United Kingdom Post Office uses this route almost wholly for the despatch of second-class mail-matter and parcels to New Zealand and to a considerable extent for letter mails. The Suez route is used only for the despatch from New Zealand of specially addressed letters, but considerable use is still made of the route for forwarding correspondence to New Zealand. The weekly Friday non-contract service maintained between Australia and New Zealand by steamers of the Union Steamship Co. and the Huddart Parker Co. was reduced for some months of the year. The service was, however, so rearranged that a steamer left either Auckland or Wellington every Friday for Sydney. Previously on every alternate Friday steamers left both Auckland and Wellington for Sydney. In addition to the regular weekly service, mails for Australia are despatched fortnightly on Tuesdays by the steamers engaged in the Vancouver and San Francisco services, and, when a good despatch is afforded, by cargo steamers engaged in the Melbourne, Sydney, and Newcastle - New Zealand services. The Bluff - Melbourne mail service contract was not renewed or relet when it expired on the 28th January. LOSS OF MAIL-STEAMER "TAHITI." The mail-steamer " Tahiti " was lost at sea on the 17th August (New Zealand time) some 400 miles south of Rarotonga on the outward voyage from Wellington to San Francisco. The sinking of the vessel was occasioned by a mishap to the starboard propeller shaft which occurred at 4.30 a.m. on the 15th August, when the ship was four days out from New Zealand. Water rapidly found its way into the after-holds and engine-room of the ship, and for some hours the position of the vessel was precarious. Although in a helpless condition, she remained afloat sufficiently long, however, to permit of the saving of the passengers and crew, and the great bulk of the first-class mail-matter. Following the mishap steps were at once taken to have the letter mails brought to the deck. In this work the Mail Agent (Mr. J. C. Greig) and his assistant (Mr. S. Hanna) had every assistance from the crew. At a later stage the Mail Agents were able, with the help of passengers, to bring second-class mails also to the deck. At this time the crew were busily engaged in manning the pumps, and it was necessary for the Agent and his assistant to work in the hold at some risk to themselves in the event of the vessel foundering. On the 16th August, the small Norwegian vessel " Penybryn " reached the scene, and stood by until on the following morning the s.s. " Ventura," a large American passenger vessel, arrived. The passengers and crew were transferred to the " Ventura." The boats of the " Tahiti," with the assistance of a boat from the " Penybryn," then engaged in the task of transferring the letter mails from the disabled steamer to the " Ventura." This was a most hazardous undertaking, as the mail-bags had to be dropped from the deck of the " Tahiti "to the boats rolling in the swell below. Some of the bags fell into the sea, but most of these were recovered. Of a total of 257 letter-bags on the ship only

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nine were lost. The second-class matter which was lost comprised 330 bags, of which forty-one were parcel receptacles. One bag of parcels was saved. The " Ventura " was bound for San Francisco, and the salvaged mails were sent on by her, arriving in London on due date. The Mail Agents returned to New Zealand by the Tofua after transferring at Pago Pago. For the sixty hours which elapsed from the time of the mishap to the " Tahiti " to the transfer of the passengers and letter mails to the " Ventura " the Mail Agents, in common with the ship's complement, were without sleep ; and the strain on them was considerable. From the outset they assisted in the emergency work that was continuously necessary to keep the ship afloat until succour arrived. The devotion to duty under very trying conditions of the Mail Agents was in accordance with the highest ideals of the Service. The assistance rendered them by the master, ship's officers, and crew is also worthy of special comment. The Mail Agents' efforts would have been of little avail without the substantial assistance of members of the ship's complement. This will be appreciated all the more when it is mentioned that the letter mails comprised 27 tons, ship's measurement, and that they and the second-class matter required to be brought to the deck by manual labour. AIR MAILS. Towards the end of 1930 Government invited tenders for the conveyance of mails by air once daily each way between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. It was proposed to make a surcharge of 3d. an ounce for all mail carried, and one of the conditions was that, subject to a 7|-per-cent. deduction to cover Post Office expenses, the successful tenderer should accept payment at the rate mentioned for conveying mails. None of the tenders received complied with the conditions, and the proposal to establish the service was accordingly abandoned. The service would no doubt have been of some benefit to the business community ; but it was not expected that it would be availed of regularly to any appreciable extent, in view of the quick and regular night mail-services already operating between Auckland and Wellington and Wellington and Christchurch. From the Ist July, 1930, the date on which the Air Mail Convention of London came into force, arrangements were made for the acceptance of letters for transmission by the Karachi-London air service and by air mail-services traversing Australia, Canada, and the United States of America. The time saved by the use of the Karachi-London service in the transmission of correspondence posted in New Zealand between the fortnightly sailings of the San Francisco and Vancouver contract mailsteamers is from one to ten days according to steamer connections made in Australia, and also according to whether the winter or summer time-table is operating between Karachi and London. The use of Canadian and United States air services results in a saving of from one to two dayS, while in the case of Australia a saving of up to seven days, according to destination, may result from the use of air mail-services. For the period Ist July, 1930, to 31st March, 1931, the number of letters posted in New Zealand to connect with overseas air mail-services was 8,043. By far the greater number of these letters was forwarded by the Karachi—London service. POSTAGE-STAMPS. The postage-stamps issued during the year comprised the " Charity" stamp (the report in connection with which appears on the following page) and a 2d. " Official " stamp. The latter was reintroduced during March, following the increase of the minimum letter-postage to 2d. Proposed Issue of Series of Pictorial Stamps.—Competitive designs have been invited for a new issue of postage and revenue stamps for the Dominion. The designs are to be representative of characteristic or notable New Zealand scenery or genre, or industrial, agricultural, or pastoral scenes ; and the values will be in approximately fifteen denominations ranging from id. to 3s. The closingdate for the receipt of designs is the 30th September, 1931. A special Board, on which there will be representatives of art as well as of the Government Departments concerned, will be set up to adjudicate on the merits of the designs submitted, and a prize of £25 will be paid for each design that is adopted for a stamp of the new series. Air-mail Stamps.—The issue of a series of air-mail stamps comprising the denominations 3d., 4d., and 7d. has also been approved. The plates for the stamps are being manufactured in England. POSTAL STATIONERY. The cost to the Department of the post-card and letter-card paper and printing was about £1,700 a year. As it was considered that there was no sound reason why the cost of the articles should be borne by the Department, it was decided to make an addition to the selling-price, hitherto the postage value, to cover the cost of production. Accordingly, from the 2nd February, 1931, the following charges were introduced : — Id. letter-cards, 2d. for 10 (in addition to postage value). Jd. post-cards, fd. for 8, or 6d. for 100 (in addition to postage value). The selling-prices of other articles of postal stationery already included an amount to cover the cost of production.

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The increased postage rates which were brought into operation on the Ist March necessitated the reintroduction of letter-cards bearing postage 2d. and the introduction of inland post-cards and postal wrappers bearing postage Id. (" King George V." die). These were placed on sale during March at the following prices in addition to postage : Letter-cards, 2d. for 11 ; inland post-cards, Jd. for 8 ; postal wrappers, 2d. for 22. In view of the negligible demand for " reply-paid " post-cards, such cards were withdrawn from sale in March. Existing stocks were converted into single cards. For the same reason, further supplies of large registered-letter envelopes will not be obtained. "CHARITY" STAMP. It is regretted that the hopes entertained for a greater response this year to the " Charity " stamp appeal were not realized, the gross value of the sales being £1,730, compared with approximately £5,000 the previous year. The decreased response was no doubt due to the financial depression through which the Dominion is passing, and to a lesser extent to the design of the stamp being practically a replica of that of the previous year. A new design had been ordered from England, but unexpected difficulty experienced in engraving prevented the stamp reaching New Zealand in time for the launching of the campaign. The stamps were placed on sale on the 29th October, 1930, and withdrawn on the 28th February, 1931. The object of the appeal is the establishment of permanent bases throughout New Zealand for health camps for improving the health of ill-nourished and debilitated children, and of children who are contacts of tuberculosis in their own homes. DISCONTINUANCE OF PAYMENT OF COMMISSION TO LICENSED STAMP-VENDORS. As an economy measure the payment of commission to persons licensed under the Stamp Duties Act to sell stamps ceased on the 31st January, 1931. The saving is estimated at £3,000 per annum. A large number of vendors continue to sell stamps without commission. NEW POSTAL CONVENTION. The Postal Union Convention, which was signed at London on the 28th June, 1929, came into force on the Ist July, 1930. PARCEL-POST SERVICE WITH CANADA. At the request of the Canadian Administration, the weight limit for parcels posted in Canada for delivery in New Zealand was increased in June from 15 lb. to 20 lb. DECENTRALIZATION OF POSTMEN AT WELLINGTON. The scheme of decentralization of postmen in Wellington has proved successful in operation, and the arrangement has been made a permanent one. A substantial saving in expenditure has resulted, without impairing the efficiency of the service. EMPLOYMENT OF PARTIALLY-DISABLED RETURNED SOLDIERS AS PART-TIME POSTMEN. Early in the year four partially-disabled returned soldiers were employed in Auckland to assist the postmen on the busier walks in the inner business area. In respect of the first delivery, this has resulted in a gain in delivery time of correspondence of from half an hour to an hour. "HOUSEHOLDER" CIRCULAR SCHEME. The revenue from " Householder " circulars posted during the year was £12,941, and the number of the circulars dealt with was 6,836,964. The scheme is becoming increasingly popular with the business community. INSPECTION. During the year 1,802 visits of inspection to post-offices were paid by Inspectors. A large deficiency was found in the official cash at one office. The Postmistress admitted that she had misappropriated the amount, and was dealt with according to law. BURGLARY OF POST-OFFICE PREMISES. There were several burglaries of post-office premises during the year. Most of the offices entered were situated in stores or other buildings which are not the property of the Department; and in only one case was a large sum of money the property of the Department stolen. This was at the Karioi Post-office. The safe, containing approximately £96 in negotiable values, was removed from the building, and although very full inquiries were made by the police the offenders were not traced or the safe recovered.

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ARTICLES DELIVERED. Daring the year 1930 the estimated number of articles delivered in the Dominion, including those received from places overseas, compared with the number in 1929, was as under : — 1Q0 „ Increase Decrease 193 °- 1929 ' Per Cent. Per Cent. Letters .. .. 160,995,793 159,977,587 0-64 Post-cards .. .. 5,242,939 5,244,459 .. 0-03 Parcels .. .. 3,317,841 3,601,476 .. 7-87 All other articles .. .. 108,526,092 105,759,874 2-61 Totals .. .. 278,082,665 274,583,396 AVERAGE NUMBER OE LETTERS POSTED PER UNIT OF POPULATION. 1930, 101-9. NUMBER OF POST-OFFICES IN DOMINION. Small country post-offices continue to be replaced by rural deliveries. Offices opened during the year numbered 13, while offices closed numbered 60. The number of offices remaining open on the 31st March, 1930, was 1,812. DEAD LETTER OFFICE. 1930. 1929. Letters returned to senders in New Zealand .. .. 650,546* 622,050 Other articles returned to senders in New Zealand .. 257,238 270,795 Letters returned to other Administrations .. .. 101,480f 90,205 Other articles returned to other Administrations .. 127,156 120,160 Letters destroyed (senders unknown and contents of no value) 36,413 31,506 Letters and letter-cards posted without addresses .. 12,148 12,048 Letters imperfectly or insufficiently addressed .. .. 20,967 23,122 Letters intercepted addressed to persons and firms on prohibited list .. .. . . .. . . 1,681 3,210 Letters intercepted on account of libellous addresses .. 112 82 Newspapers received without addresses .. .. 4,183 5,752 Other articles received without addresses .. .. 3,970 4,629 Newspapers returned to publishers as undeliverable .. 46,346 44,854 Articles bearing previously used stamps.. .. .. 156 80 The proportion of undeliverable letters to the total number of letters delivered was 0-49 per cent. In 1929 the proportion was 0-46 per cent. MISSING POSTAL PACKETS. During 1930 the number oi inquiries for missing postal packets received by the Department was 6,601. In 3,608 cases, or 54-6 per cent, of the total number, the packets were traced or otherwise accounted for satisfactorily. The position regarding delay in delivery is as follows : — Sender responsible for delay .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,010 Addressee responsible for delay .. .. .. .. ..1,129 Post Office responsible for delay .. .. .. .. .. 382 No delay, or responsibility not fixed .. .. .. .. .. 1,087 In 2,993 cases the disposal of the packets could not be determined. These cases represent 0-00123 per cent, of the total number of articles posted. 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 1930 and 1929 are shown in each case :— 1930. 1929. £ a. d. £ s. d. Declared value of received parcels .. 1,301,121 0 0 1,648,250 0 0 Customs duty .. .. .. 332,793 17 11 372,143 10 8 Declared value of forwarded parcels . 78,031 0 0 115,580 0 0

* Including 34,265 registered. f Including 923 registered.

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MONEY-ORDERS. During the year 833,505 orders, amounting to £5,069,629, were issued. This represented a decrease compared with the previous year of 1,853 in number and £117,924 in value. The commission amounted to £35,603 19s. 9d., an increase of £9,930 lis. 7d. BRITISH POSTAL ORDERS. British postal-order business again increased slightly, 162,274 orders, of a value of £90,794 19s. 2d., being sold, as against 157,377 orders, of a value of £88,057 15s. 4d., for the previous year. The number of orders paid was 32,934, of a value of £19,000, compared with 34,687, of a value of £20,264, paid during the previous year. POSTAL NOTES. The postal-note service continues to be freely used. The number of postal notes issued was 90,653 greater than in the previous year, and the value increased by £5,361. The sales for the year were 3,907,288 postal notes, of a value of £1,128,807, against 3,816,635, of a value of £1,123,446, during the previous year. The commission totalled £26,033 ss. 9d., an increase of £321 17s. 9d. on the commission earned in the previous year. SAVINGS-BANK. The deposits amounted to £24,531,569, and the withdrawals to £28,063,338, an excess of withdrawals of £3,531,769. The interest credited to depositors was £1,763,825, and the total amount at the credit of depositors at the end of the year was £47,668,547. POST OFFICE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES. Post Office Investment Certificates provide a regular avenue of investment for people of small means who desire the slightly higher rate of interest offered by a fixed deposit. The certificates are issued for one, two, and five years currency, respectively. The total sales since Ist September, 1927, the date on which the new issue was first available, amount to £2,443,214, of which £713,433 was sold during the financial year 1930-31. UNEMPLOYMENT ACT, 1930. The Unemployment Act of 1930, which came into force on the 11th October, required the registration of all male persons over twenty years of age. This work was entrusted to the Post Office. The work of registration and the subsequent issue of coupon-books to the persons liable under the Act to pay the levy has entailed a considerable amount of work, which may be appreciated by the fact that the registrations numbered approximately 462,700. In addition, the Department collects a quarterly levy of 7s. 6d., the amount collected up to the 31st March being £280,830. The Department also pays the amount due for wages, &c., under the different unemployment relief schemes. Up to the 31st March vouchers totalling £255,000 have been paid. It has also been required in many cases that Postmasters act as Government representatives on local unemployment committees, and in this capacity the calls upon the time of Postmasters have been many and varied. TELEGRAPH AND TOLL SERVICES. INLAND TELEGRAM RATES. In view of the progressive loss sustained in the maintenance and operation of the inland telegraph service, it was found necessary to bring under exhaustive review the scale of inland telegraph charges. This loss has been accentuated by the sudden drop of telegraph traffic due to depressed conditions in business circles in the Dominion. It was considered that the only practicable method of reducing this progressive loss was by increasing the telegraph rates, and, accordingly, increased rates were brought into operation on the Ist AlYn'oh. In addition to this increase in charges the Department has exhausted every process of reducing the overhead cost of maintaining the service. It is yet too early to gauge to what extent the increase in rates will reduce the heavy loss sustained in past years in conducting the inland telegraph service.

4—F. 1.

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The increases are as set out below :—

Press telegrams : The rates for press telegrams were unaltered, but where previously all press messages lodged after 5 p.m. were charged for separately at the press rate the number of words now permitted to be charged at this rate is limited as follows : — Morning newspapers may receive 6,000 words of inland press news charged at the press rate, each word in excess being charged fd. per word. Evening newspapers may receive 1,000 words of inland press news charged at the press rate, each word in excess being charged at |d. per word. During sessions of Parliament the limits imposed after 5 p.m. are extended to 8,000 words in the case of morning newspapers and 3,000 words in the case of evening newspapers. REDUCTION OF CABLE RATES TO GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. Since the sale of the Pacific Cable undertaking by the partner Governments of Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to Imperial and International Communications, Ltd., New Zealand has been represented upon the Imperial Communications Advisory Committee, and every effort has been made by our representative to secure the most favourable rates for cable service between New Zealand and" the United Kingdom. It is gratifying to record that from the Ist January, 1931, cable rates from New Zealand to Great Britain and Ireland were reduced as follow :—

MACHINE PRINTING TELEGRAPHS. The teleprinter and multiplex printing telegraph apparatus in the Dominion continues to furnish a reliable service. The flexibility of the multiplex system and its suitability for the rapid handling of heavy traffic were particularly in evidence during the period immediately following the earthquake in Hawke's

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Old Rate. j New Rate. Telegrams (ordinary) .. .. .. 9d. for 12 words, and Id. Is. for 12 words, and Id. for each additional word for each additional word. Telegrams (urgent) .. .. . . Is. 6d. for 12 words, and 2s. for 12 words, and 2d. 2d. for each additional for each additional word. 1 word Letter-telegrams (inland) .. .. .. I 9d. for 27 words, and Id. Is. for 24 words, and Id. for each additional 3 for each additional 2 words words. Greetings telegrams : (Inland) —Christmas and 6d. for 11 words, and -|d. 9d. for 12 words, and Id. New Year for each additional word for each additional word (text transmitted free) (text transmitted free). * Radio-telegrams originating in, or destined for New Zealand — (a) Exchanged between the New Zealand lOd. per word .. lid. per word. coast stations and ships not registered in Australia or New Zealand, and not trading exclusively between the two countries (b) Exchanged between the New Zealand 5d. per word .. .. 6d. per word. coast stations and ships registered in Australia or New Zealand, or trading ( exclusively between the two countries or on the New Zealand coast * Amended rates took effect from 1st April, 1931.

Old Rate. Reduced Rate. Full rate . . . . . . Is. lid. per word . . . . Is. 8d. per word. Deferred . . . . . lli per word . . . . lOd. per word. British Government . . Is. per word . . . . lOd. per word. Daily letter . . . . 8d. per word (minimum charge, 6d. per word (minimum charge, 13s. 4d.) ' 10s.). Week-end . . . . , . 7d. per word (minimum charge, 5d. per word (minimum charge, lis. 8d.) 8s. 4d.). Press . . . . . . 6d. per word . . . . 4d. per word. Deferred press (via Pacific only) did. per word . . 3d. per word.

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Bay on the 3rd February. The multiplex sets at Napier were completely destroyed by fire, and a relief set was installed in a temporary telegraph office giving a direct multiplex circuit to Wellington. Two of the four channels were automatically repeated at Wellington into a Wellington-Auckland circuit, thus permitting the simultaneous transmission to both Wellington and Auckland of eighty words a minute in each direction. SUPPLY OF CURRENT FOR TELEGRAPH PURPOSES. The policy of introducing the universal-battery telegraph system into the larger telegraph offices, and thereby effecting improved operation and substantial economies in maintenance, has been furthered during the year by the installation of the system at Napier and at Nelson. Investigation has been made with promising results into the practicability of using rectifiers instead of batteries for supplying current for telegraph operation. Two rectifying units constructed to the Department's specification were purchased, and extended trials have indicated a very satisfactory and economical performance. The temporary office at Napier is now being wholly supplied by current from rectifiers with entirely satisfactory' results. T KAN'S I'ASM AX FLIGHT OF AEROPLANE " SOUTHERN CROSS JUNIOR." At 3 a.m., New Zealand time, on the 7th January, 1931, Mr. Guy Menzies, of Sydney, left Sydney as the sole occupant of the aeroplane " Southern Cross Junior " on a flight from Australia to New Zealand. The enterprise was undertaken without previous notification ; and, upon the receipt of late advice from Australia, offices on the West Coast were instructed to keep a lookout for the aeroplane. At 3.20 p.m. on the same day the Chief Postmaster at Greymouth advised that the aeroplane had landed in a swamp at Herepo, near Ross, the report of the landing coming in the first place from the Postmistress at Harihari. This is the first occasion upon which a solo flight from Australia to New Zealand has been undertaken, and the safe arrival of the aeroplane was a matter of great interest and gratification on both sides of the Tasman. CHESS MATCHES BY TELEGRAPH : CHARGE FOR HIRE OF CIRCUIT. From the Ist December, 1930, the Department has made a charge for the hire of telegraph circuits for the purpose of conducting chess matches by telegraph. This charge is assessed at the rate of Id. per mile of telegraph circuit utilized on each occasion, with a minimum charge of 15s. for each occasion. The length of circuit involved is based on the toll-line distance between the respective offices. CARRIER-CURRENT TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. The long-distance telephone network was considerably improved and extended during the year by the installation of the following additional carrier-current systems Auckland-Whangarei . . . . .. One single-channel system. Auckland-Tauranga . . .. . . ~ Auckland-Napier . . .. • . „ Napier-Gisborne . . . . . . Two single-channel systems. Napier - Palmerston North . . . . One additional single-channel system. New Plymouth - Wanganui . . . . One single-channel system. Wellington-Napier . . . • • • ~ Wellington - Palmerston North .. . . One additional single-channel system. Wellington - New Plymouth . . . . One single-channel system. Wellington-Blenheim .. .. ■ ■ „ Nelson-Blenheim . . • ■ • ■ „ Seddon-Christchurcli . . .. . . One additional single-channel system. Christchurch-Greymouth . . . . One single-channel system. Dunedin-Invercargill .. . • • • ,> The Auckland-Whangarei carrier system has been installed for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the toll services between Auckland and stations situated north of Whangarei and Dargaville. The arrangement is a temporary expedient until arrangements can be completed for the extension of the system north of Whangarei. The Auckland-Tauranga circuit improves the efficiency of the telephone trunk-line between those two places, and, in addition, results in a more efficient long-distance service to other stations in the Bay of Plenty —e.g., Opotiki and Whakatane. Incidentally, the superimposing of this system has rendered the original circuit available for providing one additional outlet between Auckland and Paeroa and one between Paeroa and Tauranga.

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Until quite recently the Gisborne district has been more or less isolated telephonically from the principal cities of the Dominion. Conversation between those centres and Gisborne has in the past been possible only with great difficulty. The opening of the Wellington-Napier carrier system was the first important step in the direction of improving the toll service to the East Coast district. This was followed by the establishment of two carrier systems between Napier and Gisborne and one direct carrier circuit between Auckland and Napier. These additional facilities have effected a great improvement in the service in so far as it affects Napier, Gisborne, and other towns on the East Coast between Napier and the East Cape. The carrier systems which have been established between Wellington and New Plymouth and between Wanganui and New Plymouth have effected a marked improvement in the quality of the service so far as the Taranaki District is concerned, particularly in regard to communication with districts south and east of New Plymouth. In the past all calls from New Plymouth to stations south of Hawera had to be switched through Hawera. The provision of the new direct outlets to Wanganui and Wellington respectively will therefore result in a great improvement in the speed of the service as well as in the quality and volume of transmitted speech. It became evident soon after the Cook Strait four-core continuously-loaded telephone cable was brought into commission in 1926 that it would be necessary to provide additional circuits to carry the steadily increasing volume of inter-island traffic. The original allocation of cable circuits provided for one direct outlet between Wellington and Christchurch, but for some time past it has been necessary to afford relief by utilizing a circuit which involved intermediate switching at Blenheim. The matter of providing a second direct trunk circuit between Wellington and Christchurch without incurring further heavy expenditure in the laying of a second submarine telephone cable presented technical difficulties of some magnitude, as the only other cables across Cook Strait are of the single-core type, a type not designed for telephone purposes. After extensive investigations and tests, it was found that several of these single-core cables would lend themselves to the application of carrier-current methods, and that it would be practicable to establish one high-grade telephone circuit over each and still retain certain existing telegraph facilities. As a result, an additional telephone circuit has been provided between Wellington and Blenheim which is a modification of the standard single-channel system used in the Dominion. It utilizes carrier frequencies for the transmission of speech in one direction while voice frequencies are used for transmission in the other. The modified system is operating over No. 5 Cook Strait single-core unloaded telegraph cable which terminates at Lyall Bay (Wellington) and White Bay (Marlborough) respectively, the circuit from the latter point being continued by means of open aerial line to Blenheim. It is interesting to note that this cable is telephonically equivalent to 900 miles of open aerial trunk-line of the type used for long toll circuits throughout the Dominion —viz., lines built up of conductors of No. 12 copper wire. By the use of amplifying and equalizing equipment at Wellington and Blenheim the circuit has been made equal in efficiency to toll lines of fifty miles in length. The design of a circuit by the means indicated enabled an additional outlet to be provided for inter-island telephone traffic a,t a comparatively small cost. By utilizing this outlet for the Wellington—Blenheim traffic the four-wire single-channel carrier system operating over the four-core continuously-loaded submarine cable between Wellington and Seddon became available for use in building up a second direct trunk circuit between Wellington and Christchurch. This circuit was completed by the installation of an additional single-channel carrier system between Seddon and Christchurch, the two systems being permanently linked together on the four-wire principle at Seddon. The efficiency and reliability of long-distance communications to and from Dunedin, Invercargill, and the West Coast of the South Island have been considerably increased by the installation of the Christchurch-Greymouth and Dunedin-Invercargill carrier systems and by the installation of voicefrequency repeaters at Timaru and Christchurch respectively. The voice-frequency repeaters at liniaru are used to amplify the speech in the two Christchurch-Dunedin. trunk circuits while the single voice-frequency repeater at Christchurch is associated with the Christchurch-Greymouth physical circuit, so that it will approximate in efficiency to the high-grade carrier circuit which has been superimposed over it. Lhe provision of one additional circuit between Christchurch and Greyniouth, one between Christchurch and Dunedin, and one between Dunedin and Invercargill has effected a further improvement by speeding up the service in these districts. The terminal apparatus associated with six carrier telephone systems was completely destroyed bv fire at Napier as a result of the recent earthquake. There was not sufficient equipment available in the Dominion enable the Department to restore all of the circuits affected, and some readjustment of facilities had to be made so that the necessary equipment could be provided to meet immediate requirements in respect of the toll circuits terminating at Napier. This was arranged by closing down indefinitely one of the single-channel carrier systems between Napier and Gisborne and one between Napier and Palmerston North. The Gisborne and Palmerston North terminals of these two systems were transferred to Napier, and by supplementing these with other equipment from Wellington it was found practicable to restore all toll services, with the exception of the two carrier channels referred to above. EXTENSION OP TOLL AND TELEGRAPH FACILITIES. A progressive improvement of toll and telegraph systems has been aimed at throughout the year. Where necessary, reconstruction work has been carried" out for the purpose of improving the stability of pole lines and increasing their carrying-capacity. Rearrangement of circuits has also been effected with a view to increasing their earning-powe'r and decreasing the cost of maintenance. In those

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cases in which existing facilities could not be sufficiently augmented or improved by such methods new circuits were erected. The following is a list of places between which the efficiency of existing circuits was increased or where new circuits were provided : — Whangarei-Towai. Gtorobanga-Honikiwi. Whangarei-Waiwera (main East Coast line). Whatawhata - Te Pahu. Whangarei-Maungakaramea- Waiotira. Awakino-Urenui. Auckland-Waiuku. Awakino-Mahoenui. Auckland-Patumahoe. Wanganui-Pipiriki. Auckland-Pukekohe. Patea-Wanganui. Auckland-Hamilton. Patea-Hawera. Pukekohe-Tuakau. W airoa-Nuhaka. Pukekohe-Patumahoe-Waiuku. Napier-Hastings. Paeroa-Morrinsv.il le. Levin - Palmerston North. Katikati- W aihi. Levin-Wellington. Ngatea-Waitakaruru. Marlborough Sounds toll line rearrangements. Rotorua-Ngongotaha. Rangiora-Amberley. Tauranga-Matamata (new toll link between the Christchurch-Greymouth-Westport. Waikato and Bay of Plenty districts). Ctiriatchurch-Culverden-Hanmer Springs. Whakatane-Te Teko via Edgecumbe. Ohristchurch-Rakaia-Methven. Taupiri-Orini. Dunedin-Brighton. Te Kuiti-Te Anga. Dunedin-Cromwell. Te Kuiti - Mahoenui. Invercargill-Winton. Waimiha-Mapiu-Mokauiti. Invercargill-Riverton. In addition to the foregoing, 279 miles of toll and telegraph pole-line were reconstructed during the year. This work also involved the replacement of 1,800 miles of wire. The maintenance of the telegraph and toll systems throughout the Dominion was carried out satisfactorily during the year. With the exception of the disruption of lines in the Hawke's Bay area as a result of the earthquake, no interruption to service of any magnitude or over an extended period was experienced. From the Department's point of view this fully justifies the practice of carrying out regular and systematic overhauls, and the usage of only those classes of pole structures which have been proved equal to service conditions. In connection with the construction and maintenance of 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 not infrequently happens that its communication system is called upon to stand the most severe demands. POLES AND WIRE." During the year 154 miles of pole-line and 959 miles of wire were erected for telegraph and telephone (toll) purposes, while 204 miles of pole-line and 477 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, 1930 and 1931, respectively, were as follows : —

The telegraph, arid telephone wire in use on the 31st March, 1931 —viz., 63,657 miles —is classified as under :— Miles. Used exclusively for telephone toll traffic . . . . .. . . 4,733 Used exclusively for telegraph traffic .. .. .. .. .. 9,271 Used simultaneously and (or) conjointly for telegraph and telephone toll traffic .. .. .. .. .. .. ..49,653 The total length of wire that may be used for telephone toll traffic is 54,385 miles.; the total length that may be used for the transmission of telegrams, 58,923 miles ; and the length of telephone toll-lines over which telegrams may be transmitted by telephone, 23,494 miles. The ..total length of Morse circuit derived from the superimposing of telephone circuits is 14,107 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 7,326 miles. In addition, 3,715 channel miles of telephone toll circuit have been obtained from the application of the carriercurrent telephone system to telephone trunk lines.

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Pole-line and Wire. ! J™ T e ? d ° d i 01 Y e Jf e ? ded 31st March, 1930. j 31st March, 1931. Miles of pole-line .. .. .. .. .. .. 12,638* 12,588 Miles of wire .. .. .. .. .. .. 63,175* 63,657 * Revised figures.

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NEW ZEALAND SUBMARINE CABLES. Cook Strait Cables. With the exception of the two broken single-core telegraph cables between Oteronga Bay and White Bay to which reference was made in last year's report, the Cook Strait telephone and telegraph cables have remained in good working-condition during the year. The cable-repair steamer " Iris " has been commissioned to repair the Department's interrupted submarine cables in Cook Strait and will undertake this work shortly. The vessel is expected to arrive in Wellington from Melbourne early in April. A high-grade telephone circuit between Wellington and Blenheim has been established over No. 5 Lyall Bay - White Bay single-core unloaded submarine-telegraph cable, and has been in operation since October. This cable is 44'65 nautical miles long, and is now utilized for the simultaneous transmission of both telephone and telegraph traffic, a quadruplex system operated as a diplex or triplex being used for the despatch of the telegraph traffic. Further particulars of the telephone system arc given under the heading " Carrier current telephone systems." As originally designed and equipped the Wellington-Seddon four-core continuously-loaded submarine cable provided for three telephone channels and four simplex hand-speed-operated telegraph channels. With the modifications recently adopted by the Department it is now practicable to operate a duplex system over each of three telegraph channels while the fourth channel is reserved for the operation of a multiplex dialling system by means of which the toll operators at Wellington and Blenheim dial direct the wanted subscribers at the distant terminal exchanges. In addition to these increased telegraph facilities, an extra telephone channel was established over this cable by the application of carrier-current methods as mentioned in last year's report. Miscellaneous. A break in the Bluff - Stewart Island cable occurred in October, localization tests disclosing that the fault was close to the Ocean Beach (Bluff) cable hut. Repairs, which involved the laying of approximately 0-37 nautical miles of second-hand shore-end cable, were effected in November. Approximately three miles and three-quarters of 4-pair and four miles of 8-pair submarine telephone cable were laid in the Marlborough Sounds during the year in order to provide improved telephone facilities for settlers in that locality. For the purpose of providing facilities for connecting prospective subscribers in the Birkenhead and Northcote areas direct to the Auckland telephone exchange two 150-pair telephone cables were laid across Auckland Harbour in May. The total length of cable laid was approximately three and a half nautical miles. RADIO-TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE SERVICES. OPENING OF OVERSEAS RADIO-TELEPHONE SERVICE. Last year in this report reference was made to the proposed institution of a radio-telephone service between New Zealand and Australia. The service was opened on 25th November, 1930, by a conversation between the Acting Prime Minister of Australia (the Hon. J. E. Fenton) and the Acting Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Hon. E. A. Ransom). The New Zealand terminal consists of a modulating unit working in conjunction with a 3-kW. short-wave continuous-wave transmitter at Wellington Radio. Directional arrays are employed both for transmission and reception. The receiving station is situated on Mount Crawford, approximately five miles from the transmitting station, and the terminal or linking equipment at the Stout Street toll centre. Communication via the overseas radio-telephone service is available from almost any centre in New Zealand to the exchanges in the eastern States of Australia. The charge for a connection between any available points in the two countries is £1 per minute with a minimum charge of £3. Tests are at present being conducted with a view to extending the service to London and other countries telephonically connected therewith ; and it is anticipated that the extended service will be open to the public in the near future. LOSS OF R.M.S. " TAHITI " : ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY RADIO STATIONS. A striking demonstration of the value of radio to ships at sea was given on the 15th August when between 3 and 4 a.m. (New Zealand time) the R.M.S. " Tahiti," bound from Wellington to San Francisco, was in urgent need of assistance. There was no response from other ships to messages broadcast by the vessel indicating the seriousness of her position, but Auckland Radio, per medium of Sydney Radio, got into touch with the s.s. " Ventura," then 500 miles from Suva, advising that vessel of the disaster, and then informing the " Tahiti "of the "Ventura's " position. In addition, a cable message was sent to Suva requesting the opening of the Suva Radio station, which was in a favourable position for directing the " Ventura." At 6 a.m. Suva Radio established communication with the " Ventura," and at 9 a.m., by arrangement, directed the latter vessel to proceed to the assistance of the " Tahiti." The s.s. " T'ofua " and s.s. " Antinous " also left Suva and Rarotonga respectively to assist, but were later recalled. In the meantime Auckland Radio had been endeavouring, unsuccessfully, to raise the small steamer " Penybryn," which was bound from Papeete to

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Auckland and was believed to be nearer to the " Tahiti " than was the " Ventura." At 4.35 p.m. the " Tahiti " also called the " Penybryn " and asked for assistance, but the message was apparently not received. From then on New Zealand and Pacific Island stations endeavoured to raise the " Penybryn," and at 6.33 p.m. Chatham Islands Radio heard the vessel asking, " Who is calling me % " At 6.42 p.m. the Chatham Islands station succeeded in passing to the " Penybryn " the Tahiti's request for the smaller vessel to stand by to take off the passengers if necessary. Rarotonga Eadio then established communication with fhe " Penybryn," which was worked successfully until she reached the " Tahiti." Ultimately the " Ventura " arrived and took on board the passengers and crew of the " Tahiti." All the New Zealand and Pacific Islands radio stations remained open continuously throughout the period of anxiety and closely co-operated in rendering every assistance possible. EMERGENCY RADIO INSTALLATIONS. To ensure the maximum reliability of the New Zealand communications system and to provide a means of meeting any unforeseen interruptions that may arise, a number of self-contained short-wave radio-transmitting sets are being installed at strategic centres throughout the Dominion. DIRECT SHORT-WAVE RADIO SERVICE WITH RAROTONGA RADIO: REDUCTION IN RATES. Consequent upon the inauguration of a direct short-wave radio service between New Zealand and Rarotonga, commencing on the 12th May, 1930, the following reductions have been made in the rates on messages to the Cook Islands : — Ordinary messages to Rarotonga : reduced from Is. 6d. to Is. per word. Press messages : reduced from 4|d. to 3d. per word, with a minimum of ss. for each press message. Messages for Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, and Mauke : reduced from Is. 9d. to Is. 3d. per word. The reductions do not apply to messages to Niue. NEW ZEALAND RADIO STATIONS. At Wellington Radio a 165 ft. steel-lattice mast has been erected. The higher mast and aerials have considerably improved the range of the medium-wave transmitters. A directional transmitting array of the horizontal doublet type, with reflector of similar design, has been erected for the New Zealand - Aiistralian radio-telephone service which was obtained by the addition of a 5-kW. modulating unit to the existing 3-kW. short-wave continuous-wave transmitter. A second array ha,s been provided for the Pacific Islands radio-telegraph service with a considerable improvement in reliability. The change of voltage, in the Wellington City power-supply system necessitated the complete replacement of the electrical wiring and the substitution of all direct-current motors by alternatingcurrent type. To minimize the risk of an entire interruption to the power-supply, provision has been made for the supply to be obtained over alternative routes and for emergency service to be given from a storage-battery source. A fire at the Auckland Radio Station in May caused slight damage, necessitating the renewal of most of the inside wiring. Owing to interference from electric-power reticulation, the remotelycontrolled receiver previously located at the Avondale Post-office was moved in July last to Takapuna. An improved service has resulted. RADIO-TELEGRAPHIC CHARGES TO OR FROM SHIPS IN NEW ZEALAND WATERS. From the Ist April, 1931, the charge for the transmission of an ordinary radio-telegram to or from ships (other than His Majesty's ships when in New Zealand waters, ships registered in New Zealand or Australia, and ships trading exclusively between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Dominion of New Zealand, or between ports on the coast of New Zealand) from or to any telegraphoffice in the Dominion of New Zealand has been increased to lid. per word. The charge for the transmission of an ordinary radio-telegram to or from ships registered in New Zealand or Australia and ships trading exclusively between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Dominion of New Zealand, or (except in special cases) between ports on the coast of the Dominion of New Zealand, from or to any telegraph-office in the Dominion of New Zealand, has been increased to 6d. per word. RADIO-TELEGRAPHIC CHARGES ON MESSAGES TO AND FROM VESSELS BELONGING TO NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT. From the Ist September, 1930, radio-telegraphic charges on messages to and from vessels belonging to the New Zealand Government, which are engaged in Government service in New Zealand waters, were reduced from sd. to 2fd. per word, with a minimum charge of Is. 3d. per message.

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BROADCASTING. On the 31st March, J 931, there was a total of 62,713 radio-receiving licenses on issue throughout the Dominion. Of this total, 26,023 licenses were held in the Wellington District, 19,016 in the Auckland District, 10,543 in Canterbury, and 7,131 in Otago. Included in the totals are 246 licenses issued free to blind persons. The continued increase in the number of licenses is adequate proof of the increasing popularity of radio broadcast entertainment. The silent night previously observed at Station 2YA, Wellington, has been abolished, and a daily schedule of transmissions is now observed from that station. Eleven low-power private broadcasting-stations were opened during the year, three being at Auckland, two at Hastings, and one each at Dannevirke, Gisborne, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wairoa, and Wanganui. Permission was also given for the opening of a private broadcasting-station at Apia, Samoa. The radio-inspection staff has continued its activities, and considerable success has been attained in the elimination of the various types of interference. Many persons still fail to realize their obligations in regard to obtaining licenses for radio-receiving apparatus. During the year 391 persons were proceeded against for operating unlicensed stations, the fines inflicted totalling £427. The contract with the Radio Broadcasting Co. expires at the end of 1931. The whole question of broadcasting will now be reviewed. The Department's special facilities are still, wherever possible, made available to the Broadcasting Co. for the purpose of relaying programmes between centres. A notable overseas rebroadcast was effected on the 15th March, when, at 5.30 a.m., the Prince of Wales's speech at the opening of the British Empire Exhibition at Buenos Aires was rebroadcast throughout New Zealand. The radio link on this occasion was the longest yet xitilized for such a purpose m New Zealand. The medium , consisted of an 8,000-mile section of a commercial radio channel between Buenos Aires and Rugby, England, whence the signals were retransmitted to New Zealand, a total distance of approximately 19,000 miles. Reception at Wellington was effected by means of the Department's overseas short-wave receiving-station at Mount Crawford, which passed on the signals to the Wellington Broadcastingstation. A notable use of radio telephony was made on the evening of sth February, when, by the aid of the Department's commercial short-wave radio-telephone channel to Australia, an account of the earthquake which took place two days previously was transmitted to Australia and to. the United States of America. In the case of the Australian broadcast, the speech was conveyed by land-line from the A.W.A. Station 2ME, Sydney (the terminal of the trans-Tasman radio service) to the A class stations in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, which broadcast the account to Australian listeners. The second transmission was relayed on short waves by station 2ME, Sydney, to station W2XAF, Schenectady, N.Y., U.S.A., which passed it on to a broadcasting network in the United States. This transmission was of a two-way character, consisting partly of questions and answers between the American and the Wellington announcers. Both transmissions were reported as being excellently received by the terminal broadcasting-stations. WIRELESS SHIP STATION LICENSES. The number of wireless ship-station licenses issued for the year 1930 was 74. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SERVICES. DEVELOPMENT OF TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SYSTEMS. The development of the local-exchange systems during the year has been somewhat less than in the past few years. The number of new connections (subscribers' main stations) joined up was 12,779, which is almost the same as the previous year ; but the number of relinquishments of subscribers' main stations was 8,575, or over two thousand more than in the previous year. In view of all the circumstances, however, the growth of the systems, as evidenced by a net gain of approximately four thousand subscribers' main stations, can be regarded as.satisfactory. Taking into consideration the telephones of all kinds relinquished as well as new telephone-stations connected, the total number of telephone-stations at the end of the year was 157,767. If to this number is added the private-line telephones connected with toll stations and non-departmental exchanges (3,972) the number of telephones in service on the 31st March, 1931, was 161,739. The total number of telephone-stations has been adversely influenced by the temporary loss of approximately three thousand subscribers in the Napier and Hastings areas. Provision is being made for an anticipated early resumption of normal telephoneexchange service in the Hawke's Bay District. Amongst other facilities introduced during the year was a new design of automatic telephone fitted with a hand-microphone. The new type of telephone is improved in both design and operation, and, although a small additional rental will be payable for its use, the general style and increased utility of the instrument should commend it to telephone-users. A brief summary of the year's operations in regard to the development and maintenance of the telephone-exchange systems in the Dominion is as follows : — The opening of new magneto exchanges at Colville, Te Anga, and Waiotira. The conversion to automatic working of the Birkenhead telephone-exchange area. The extension of the switching equipment at ten automatic exchanges and nineteen manual exchanges.

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The laying of twenty-five miles of underground-cable ducts. The laying or erecting of 102 miles of lead-covered cable, containing 18,196 miles of wire, for subscribers' circuits. The erection of 838 miles of pole-line and 6,781 miles of open aerial wire for telephoneexchange subscribers' circuits. The reconstruction of the open-wire systems at twenty-four exchanges. The connection of 12,779 new subscribers' main stations and the disconnection of 8,575 subscribers' main stations. The installation of sixty-six public call offices. The maintenance of 157,767 telephone-stations. The installation of additional secondary batteries at the Wellesley Street, Mount Eden, Onehunga, South Dunedin, and Dunedin automatic exchanges. The installation of rectifier charging-plants at Onehunga and Blenheim. The replacement of hand-ringers by pole-changers at Kaponga and Ranfurly. The installation of frequency-converters at a number of exchanges in replacement of motorgenerator sets and pole-changers for the purpose of improving the ringing facilties at those exchanges. In addition to the work enumerated in the foregoing summary a considerable number of extensions to the switching and cabling portion of local telephone-exchange systems was commenced but not completed during the year. The length of various items of telephone-exchange plant in existence on the 31st March, 1930, and 1931, 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, 1931, are as under :— Telephone-exchange wire in underground cables . . . . , . 69 per cent. Telephone-exchange wire in aerial cables. . . .. .. 11 „ Telephone-exchange open aerial wire .. .. .. .. 20 „ TELEPHONE STATISTICS. The steady growth of the telephone system is exemplified in the following table, which shows annually since 1922 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 :—

s—F f 1.

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Cable. Wire. Pole-line, — — 3 , , v Duct Line. lJnder ,- Aerial. ground" A ° P .™ aD ground. Gable Cable - Aerial. Headings. Miles. Chains. Chains. Chains. Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. Iii existence on 31st 14,349 39,243 84,137* 45,180 351,365 59,358 102,373 513,096 March, 1930 Erected during year 839 2,015 5,397 2,766 15,031 3,165 6,781 24,977 Dismantled during year 62 .. 902 3,188 3,331 4,839 1,335 9,505 In existence on 31st 15,126 41,258 88,632 44,758 363,065 57,684 107,819+ 528,568 March, 1931 * Revised figures. f Includes 117 miles of earth-working circuit.

Number of Telephone-stations. Year. Exchange! Miles of Wire. Revenue. K', . ~ Total. p P « '°°° •Population. £ 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 1930 .. 349 513,096 1,206,714 161,323* 108-37 1931 .. .. .. 349 528,568 1,238,649 161,739* 107-04f * Includes approximately 4,000 non-exchange stations, f Decrease owing to temporary loss of subscribers due to Hawke's Bay earthquake.

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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, 1931, are shown in the following table : —

In addition to the stations shown in the preceding table there were 3,972 stations connected by private telephone-lines directly or indirectly with departmental toll stations, making a grand total of 161,739 telephone-stations on the 31st March, 1931.

The following table shows the number of telephone-stations in each engineering district on the 31st March, 1930 and 1931, respectively, and the percentage of increase in each case : —

The number of telephone stations (main and extension) connected with each of the fourteen principal exchanges on the 31st March, 1931, was —Auckland, 21,403; Wellington, 20,079; Christchurch, 12,786 ; Dunedin, 8,542 ; Wanganui, 3,843 ; Palmerston North, 3,437 ; Hamilton, 3,232 ; Invercargill, 2,915 ; Gishorne, 2,736 ; Timaru, 2,187 ; New Plymouth, 2,252 ; Masterton, 2,094 ; Nelson, i,740 ; Hawera, 1,453. The number of party and rural lines on the 31st March, 1931, was 11,257, to which were connected 44,971 main station? —an increase of 742 and 2,263 respectively on the figures for the previous year.

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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 .. 45,445 22,332 35,197 24,632 127,606 Toll and service stations .. 711 458 1,147 1,596 3,912 Public call offices .. .. 554 100 76 5 735 Extension stations— 9,156 1,682 716 99 11,653 P.B.X 7,666 3,018 2,306 871 13,861 Ordinary Telephone-stations: Class totals.. 63,532 27,590 39,442 27,203 157,767* Number of exchanges in each class 4 11 64 270 349 Percentage of new connections 42 19 21 18 made with each class of exchange during the year * The total number of telephone stations would have been 3,000 more than the figures shown had not a temporary loss of subscribers been caused by the Hawke's Bay earthquake.

Number of Telephone Stations on 31st March, Engineering District, 1931, p er . j ; centage Main Extension m . , Main i Extension . , T Stations. Stations. ° a ' Stations, j Stations. I a " ncrease. Auckland .. .. 40,089 7,148 47,237 41,750 7,459 49,209 4'2 Wellington .. .. 54,041 11,041 65,082 52,147 10,358 62,505 3'9* Canterbury .. .. 19,533 4,406 23,939 20,272 4,531 24,803 3-6 Otago .. .. 17,725 3,040 20,765 18,084 3,166 21,250 2:3 Totals .. 131,388 25,635 157,023 132,253 25,514 157,767 0*5 * Decrease.

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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-iine stations, on the 31st March, 1931: —•

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE - EXCHANGES. Christchurch Metropolitan Area. The new automatic telephone-exchange system installed at Christchurch has now been in operation for some eighteen months, and during that time has met all the demands made upon it. The new system is a decided improvement on the old mixed manual and automatic system, and is much appreciated by the Christchurch public, particularly the business community. During the year the switching equipment at Christchurch was extended by two thousand lines, and with this addition the plant should be capable of meeting normal demands for telephone service for some years. Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin Districts. The automatic telephone exchanges in the Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin districts have given satisfactory service during the year, and no special comment is called for. Extensions, representing a total of 2,280 lines, were added to exchanges in these districts in the twelve months. Conversion to Automatic Working of the Birkenhead Telephone Exchange Area by CONNECTION TO AUCKLAND AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SYSTEM. The residents of Birkenhead and Northcote have been provided with automatic telephone-exchange service by connecting them to the Ponsonby Automatic Exchange by means of a submarine cable crossing the harbour. This cable will enable up to three hundred subscribers in the BirkenheadNorthcote area to be connected with the Ponsonby Automatic Exchange, which will give them access to the whole of the subscribers in the Auckland metropolitan area. Conversion to Automatic Working of Marton and Whangarei Telephone Exchanges. The switching-apparatus for the new automatic telephone exchanges at Marton and Whangarei has been received in the Dominion, and good progress is being made with the installation of the Marton equipment. After the installation at Marton is completed the work at Whangarei will be undertaken. When the two exchanges mentioned are converted to full automatic working, both towns will possess high-grade automatic telephone-exchange systems, capable, with extensions from time to time, of providing service for many years. Details of the equipment to be provided at Marton and Whangarei were given in last year's report. Conversion to Automatic Working of Hastings Telephone Exchange. As a result of the partial destruction of the manually-operated central-battery telephone exchange at Hastings the installation of the 2,300 lines of step-by-step automatic equipment which was in progress at the time of the Hawke's Bay earthquake is being accelerated. Although efficient service is being obtained from the present temporary switching arrangements at Hastings, the early completion of the automatic system is desirable, and it is anticipated that the work will be completed and the conversion to automatic working effected at an early date. Conversion to Automatic Working of Lower Hutt Telephone Exchange. A contract for the equipment required to convert the Lower Hutt Telephone Exchange to automatic working was placed in 1930. The equipment is now coming to hand, and the installation will be proceeded with as soon as the building is available. Details of the equipment to be provided at Lower Hutt were given in last year's report. Destruction of Napier Automatic-switching System. The Napier automatic telephone exchange, which comprised 2,200 individual lines and one hundred two-party lines, and which was brought into service oil the 28th August, 1927, was totally destroyed by the fire which followed the Hawke's Bay earthquake on the 3rd February. The steps taken to restore the telephone-exchange service are detailed in this report at page 13.

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Class I Class II Class III Class IV Dominion Percentage of Exchanges. Exchanges. Exchanges. Exchanges. Percentages. Business stations .. . • 36 32 27 19 30 Residential stations .. .. 64 68 73 81 70 100 100 100 100 100 Individual-line stations .. .. 90 75 53 32 Party- and rural-line stations .. 10 25 47 68 100 100 100 100 100

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Automatic Private-branch Exchanges. There is a steady demand for the installation of automatic private-branch exchanges in the larger business houses where the "interphone" key-box system does not meet requirements. A though it was not until 1926 that private automatic branch exchanges were introduced into the ominion, there are at present sixty-five such exchanges in operation, while an additional sixteen are under order or are m course of installation. PARTY-LINE TELEPHONE RENTALS. Adjustments of rentals consequent on the addition of subscribers to or the withdrawal of subscribers from party or rural telephone lines are now made from the first day of the month succeeding e change instead of, as in the past, from the date on which the next six-monthly rental payment is due. It is considered that the new procedure will be more suitable to the wishes of subscribers generally. PUBLISHING OP TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES. With a view to effecting a saving in the_ cost of printing and publishing telephone directories, it has been decided, as a temporary measure, to issue telephone directories yearly instead of half-yearly. The change will result m a saving of from £5,000 to £6,000 annually. The longer period during which the telephone directories will be m use has been provided for by a better quality of paper for the cover. In view of the longer intervals between the publications of the directories, six-monthly lists of additions, <xc., have been arranged for each directory. TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SERVICE : TERM OP CONTRACT. īn view of the new system under which telephone subscribers are enabled to pay telephone rental on a monthly basis, it has been decided to reduce, in ordinary circumstances, the term of contract from one year to one month. Previously, subscribers were obliged to enter into contracts to hold service for a minimum period of one year. The term of contract for one month applies only to subscribers situated within base-rate areas of exchanges. In respect of new connections beyond base-rate areas, e term or contract is to be for one year, except that where nominal installation expenses are incurred the contract is not required to exceed one month. In cases where heavy construction charges are involved beyond base-rate areas, the term of contract is to be extended by one year for approximately every £200 of capital expenditure involved, with a maximum term of five years. TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE CONNECTIONS : REDUCTION OF SERVICE-CONNECTION FEE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. In many cases telephone-exchange subscribers who vacate their premises and who do not desire to continue telephone service fail to notify.the Department of their intention to relinquish their connections. Under the regulations any incoming tenant who desires to take over such a connection has either to pay a transfer fee of ss. and assume liability for the rental from the beginning of the next rental period, or to pay a service-connection fee of £1 and assume liability for rental from the date he occupies the premises. Approval has been given for reduction of the service-connection fee from £1 to ss. in all cases in which service for a new subscriber can, without complications, be established by the use of wires and an instrument already in place, provided that no change is required in the type or situation of the instrument. SPECIAL TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE ATTENDANCE ON SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS DURING 1 SUMMER MONTHS. During the period 2nd November, 1930, to 26th April, 1931, the Sunday and holiday attendance usually observed at a number of the smaller exchanges—viz., 9to 10 a.m. and sto 6 p.m.—has been extended to run from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The question whether such attendance is to be extended as a permanent arrangement will depend upon the demand for the facility as indicated by the traffic results. FIRE-ALARM TELEPHONE CIRCUITS : LISTING BY TELEPHONE AUTHORITIES. The charges made by the Department in respect of fire-alarm telephone circuits leased by fire authorities have been reviewed. As a result it has been decided in the case of those lines which were in existence prior to the Ist October, 1923, and which have been erected at the cost of fire authorities, to reduce the annual charges from £4 per mile to £2 10s. per mile for metallic circuits, and from. £.3 per mile to £1 10s. per mile for earthworking circuits. The reduction took effect from the Ist October, 1930. LOUD-RINGING EXTENSION BELLS. It has been found that there is a considerable demand on the part of telephone-exchange subscribers for the installation of loud-ringing extension bells in positions where the ordinary extension bells would not be audible. Applications for such equipment are now acceded to. Ordinary extension bells are installed upon payment of an installation charge of 12s. 6d. and a rental charge of 7s. 6d. per annum, or Bcl. per month. In the case of applications for loud-ringing bells, the same installation charge (12s. 6d.) is applied, and the rental charge has been fixed at 10s. per annum, or at lid. per month.

36

p.—l

APPENDIX.

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.

Drawn on the Dominion.

37

"Where payable. Com- __ _—_—_ _____ —_ _ _ Total Year " SVTd. fr"»""-**"»- united foreign Countries^ No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount £ • £ £ £ £ £ 1863 1,057 2,201 9,614 4,740 21,944 4,645 24,145 .. .. n, 58 6 55,703 1873 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 91,634 14,113 46,940 .. .. 172 556 541133 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 1« 1924 28,542 580,569 4,113,813 57,175 232 436 75 743 312 624 8 024 34 056 m HI tlHo 1925 28,843 610,972 4,406,461 64,777 259,439 72 519 278 050 18 421 33280 766 689 ' ' 1926 24,746 635,078 4,453,878 67,570 273 758 70 774 270 065 9 688 35 426 793 HO 5oll'm ofl M5 6 f' 889 4 > 416 ' 182 69 > 764 2 76,747 73 021 265 752 20 807 36 409 803481 4'995'oJo 928 24,884 642,136 4,406,187 69,366 266,072 73,786 267 411 22 597 37 852 807 885 4 977 522 929 25,673 664,049 4,609,226 70,540 274,672 76 230 263 929 24 539 39 726 835 358 Smll 1930 35,603 669,484 4,497,547 61,611 251,730 80,303 283,973 22407 lt,l?9 833 505 HU'm ' 1 ! I '__'_

Where issued. Year. In the Dominion. United Kingdom * Australia and other Foreign British Possessions. Countries.t Ha Amount - No - Amo ™t- No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. ' 1863 2,067 9,169 415 1,824 558 i .. £ . 3 ,040 lf,071 1873 34,288 142,642 1,482 6,626 1,668 7,689; 37,438 156,957 1883 132,232 402,559 3,725 15,553 5,697 23,300 I .. .. 141,654 441,411 1893 146,133 576,359 8,746 32,617 10,679 40,929 j .. .. 165,558 649,905 1903 273,535 1,108,067 13,035 49,181 17,777 68,340,1 .. .. 30 4,347 1,225,589 1913 516,536 2,821,624 12,693 70,084 31,450 110,487 I 5fi0 679 a nn9 1cm 1923 545,605 3,849,423 11,042 63,313 26 042 123 703 ] 8r3 8 669 5845ol I'Zl'mt 1924 580,569 4,113,813 8,310 60,862 28 543 127 350 2348 10309 «IB'770 I'w'JSS 1925 610,972 4,406,461 9,857 69 098 27 318 lll'Ms 2 140 8*39? 650*28? 4«of oft 926 635,078 4,453,878 10,047 70,948 28 935 124 952 2 334 10 326 M«'fltl HXl 1927 639,889 4,416,182 11,646 80,015 32 791 136 763 2 428 9 301 flSfi AM t'^'lm 1928 642,136 4,406.187 10,607 70 151 32 650 138068 2636 b'S68 68s'o29 1*$?'2£I 929 664,049 4,609,226 10,953 68,273 32 973 129 798 2 923 10 875 no'898 t'tm if 1930 669,483 4,497,547 10,046 J 62,6!7 J»! 778 126,051 til K nlfi * Includes foreign offices to year 1915. f In previous years included in United Kingdom and foreign offices.

F.—l.

Table No. 2. 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, 1931.

38

' ~ M ffl - ffl j © o Average S§§C w.imhpi- Average dumber Average Number Number dumber Total Amount Amount 1 -*S Der Amount of Amount Excess ol Excess of of of , °L standing to the standing to £"ās Tlennsits Total Amount of each with _ Total Amount of of each Deposits over Withdrawals Interest Accounts Accounts remain Credit of aU the Credit received of Deposits Deposit drawals Withdrawals Withdrawal Withdrawals over Deposits (or the opened closed " °■" Open Accounts, of each Postal Districts. o«iO X',™ received during received duri during the Period. during during during Period. during during inclusive of Open AcJjbjo th? the Period. during th ° tbe the Period. the Period. the the nf the Interest to the count at Period. Pe^ 0 e d . Period. Period. Period. Period. Close of the Period, ê I i l 1 £ s d £ s d £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Auckland .. .. 183 | 265,743 3,964,694 1 6 14 18 5 261,920 4,632,633 15 5 17 13 9 .. 667,939 13 11 278,359 14 2 15,400 13,604 145,933 7,553,992 0 4 51 15 3 Blenheim .. .. 16 j 16,987 250,648 17 2 14 15 1 15,762 287,523 9 7 18 4 10 .. i 36,874 12 5 22,227 17 5 1,116 809 11,493 596,348 17 7 51 17 9 Chris tchureh .. 73 I 266,618 3,903,253 6 4 14 12 10 248,395 4,361,633 16 4 17 11 2 .. '458,380 10 0 289,721 11 1 11,565 7,928 130,764 7,809,371 18 8 59 14 5 Dunedin .. .. 79 114,333 1,688,212 19 8 14 15 4 100,491 2,089,308 17 3 20 15 10 .. j 401,095 17 7 157,061 5 8 6,520 5,279 75,143 4,134,453 11 6 55 0 5 Gisborne .. .. 26 37,418 520,440 13 1 13 18 2 32,769 591,238 19 0 18 0 10 .. 70,798 5 11 40,611 7 2 2,248 1,781 22,509 1,110,242 4 9 49 6 6 Creymouth .. 25 21,855 316,959 5 10 14 10 1 15,145 354,466 16 8 23 8 1 .. ! 37,507 10 10 30,377 12 5 1,647 1,090 14,550 819,279 2 11 56 6 2 Hamilton .. . 92 102,678 1,416,102 8 3 13 15 10 79, 523j 1,565,808 19 3 19 13 10 .. 149,706 11 0 88,367 0 4 8,272 5,634 46,904 2,428,208 8 0 51 15 5 Invercargill .. 38 39,316 565,339 14 7 14 7 7 34,971 723,830 0 6 ! 20 14 0 .. 158,490 5 11 61,109 3 1 3,240 2,333 31,652 1,593,688 10 5 50 7 0 Napier .. •• 42 74,548 1,185,125 15 6 15 18 0 66,694 1 1,352,797 16 5 20 5 8 .. ! 167,672 0 11 81,232 19 5j 4,816 4,003 41,796 2,218,759 18 4 53 1 9 Kelson .. .. 31 477,593 0 5 14 16 6 26,47oj 556,010 14 11 21 0 1 .. 78,417 14 6 38,507 1 4 2,296 1,331 19,101 1,028,089 19 4 53 16 6 New Plymouth .. 37 66,684 962,115 17 4 14 7 8 50, 45sj 1,155,110 0 8 22 17 11 .. 192,994 3 4 65,881 8 8 5,419 3,440 34,216* 1,780,688 10 7 52 0 10 Oamaru .. .. 12 18,299 320,982 7 5 17 10 10 17,397 358,226 16 7 20 11 10 .. 37,244 9 2 24,383 4 9 1,338 865 10,810 663,150 6 6 61 6 11 Palmerston North .. 41 88,222 1,306,775 11 4 14 16 3 70,659 1,522,428 16 11 19 17 9 .. 215,653 5 7 87,832 18 0 5,708 3,730 37,542| 2,380,833 12 10 63 8 4 Thames .. .. 43 34,971 491,284 5 6 14 1 0 23,583 600,888 14 3 25 9 7 .. 109,604 8 9 39,407 3 0 2,975 2,272 25,283 : 1,051,596 13 5 41 11 11 Timaru .. .. 18 42,405 759,927 3 1 17 18 5 39,611 912,511 16 10 23 0 9 .. 152,584 13 9 60,315 11 4 2,440 1,857 25,210 1,598,975 0 2 63 8 6 Wano-anui .. 41 63,049 886,496 19 9 14 1 3 53,215 1,050,550 10 4 19 14 10 .. 164,053 10 7 67,090 1 0 3,598 3,130 37,769 1,814,226 16 7 48 0 8 Wellington.. .. 61 396,735 5,324,248 18 9 13 8 5 319,600 5,722,100 17 11 17 18 1 .. 397,851 19 2 314,472 9 1 18,496 13,077 157,499 8,641,672 10 4 54 17 5 Westport .. ■ . 19 10,357 147,598 11 2 14 5 0 7,563 173,191 10 5 22 18 0 .. 25,592 19 3 14,548 1 11 839 569 7,279 383,794 8 2 52 14 6 Western Samoa .. 2 1,792 29,271 1 10 16 6 8 1,657 36,299 5 10 21 18 2 .. 7,028 4 0 1,462 6 7 241 204 1,475 38,954 1 10 25 4 11 Rarotonga .. .. 5 918 14,498 2 9 .15 15 11 1,247 16,776 10 11 13 9 1 .. 2,278 8 2 856 0 10 124 76 1,115 22,220 8 10 20 0 8 Totals for year ended 884 1,695,143 24,531,569 1 3 14 9 51,473,02728,063,338 6 0 19 1 0 .. 3,531,769 4 91,763,824 17 3 98,298 73,012 878,043|47,668,547 1 1 54 5 931st March, 1931 ; ! !

1.

Table No. 3. 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 Year ended 31st March, 1931.

39

Number of . Nnrnhpr ' Average Branches „ t Average Averace Number Number i,|m " oer Total Amount Amount 0f 0fflce 0St Deposits ° ofWith* Total Amount ol Am , 0 w C th ° f i Accounts Accounts Ac00u "te s ® tte Credit Year - Sa°®ngs- during De P° s « Withdrawals Smwlfs o™eSosUs "ear"' °P med closed i~n Open Accounts, of each bank open ,, du " n6 the Year received during during the Year. arawai witnaiawais over ueposits the Year. during during inclusive of Open at, the Close the Year ' * ear - during the the Year. theYeJV 8 during tlae Year. the the at Close i nter est to the Account at of the Year. Year - Year. Year. Close of the Year. Close of the Year. £ p. d. £ s. d.j £ s. d. £ s, d.| £ s. d. £ s. d.l £ s. d.| £ s. d.l £ s. d. Year ended 31st Mar., 884 1,695,143 24,531,569 1 3 14 9 51,473,027 28,063,338 6 o! 19 1 0 1 .. 3,531,769 4 91,763,824 17 3 1 98,298 73.012 878,043 47,668,547 1 1 ! 54 5 9 1931 ! j I : i Year ended 31st Mar., 882 1,700,460 28,561,854 4 10 16 15 11 1,342, 11329,575,993 16 10 22 0 9' .. 1,014,139 12 01,806,414 0 1 97,932 73,471 852,757 49,436,491 8 7 57 19 5 1930 j i 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 2 1,224,764 30,149,628 17 3 24 12 4 .. 693,245 14 8 1,767,426 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 1 1,197,985 32,602,505 17 2 27 4 3 .. 768,884 7 9 1,731,577 17 2104,447 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 1,261,14129,598,372 4 8 23 9 41,075,037 29,510,320 19 6 27 9 0 88,051 5 2 .. 1,649,976 4 8 92, 73.098 710,157 46,098,420 11 4 64 18 3 1924 Year ended 31st .Mar., 840 1,175,10426,682,426 11 4 22 14 2 1,081,300 27,769,262 16 3 25 13 8 .. 1,086,836 4 111,605,525 1 10 78,490 66,630 690,790 44,360,393 1 6 64 4 4 1923 Year ended 31st Mar., 831 1,227,59129,125,997 10 0 23 14 6 1.119,662 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 7j 64 11 6 1922 «Fifteen months ended 819 1,664,206 44,302,852 5 4 26 12 5 1,458,00841,162,486 9 10 28 4 83.140,365 15 6 .. 1,818,534 5 2152,930 118,894 664,819 43,352.030 19 0 65 4 2 31st March, 1921 Totals for 1919 .. 794 1,289,16129,758,448 9 7 23 1 8 994,247 25,962,378 2 6 26 2 33,796,070 7 1 .. 1,178,935 6 6118,109 77,531 630,783 38,393,130 18 4 60 17 4 1918 7 86 1,213,35318,101,104 18 1 14 18 4 727,729 14,938,841 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 SO,133 57,829 342,077 12,159,293 18 1 35 10 11 !S98 .. 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 18SS •• 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 1878 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 13,00ō' 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 16 6 87,440 14 3 .. 4,880 7 3 3,282 ! 1,186 4,252 163,518 15 7 38 9 1 fTotals 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 ] .. 1,241 5 0 2,520: 364 2,156 71,197 14 1 33 0 5 31st Dec., 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— i.

Table No. 4. 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 31st December, 1930.

40

Posted in the Dominion. Delivered in the Dominion. Total posted and delivered in the Dominion. Postal District. * I T T1 ~ j i j Letter-cards. Post ~ cards * Books, &c. Newspapers. j Parcels. Letter-cards. Post " cards - Books, &c. Newspapers.; Parcels. LeUer-cards. ! Post -cards. Books, &c. 1 plrL Parcels. Auckland .. 31,255,018 988,923 20,698,397 5,374,617 843,869 33,668,960 945,646 16,464,266 j 4,311 ,099 542,854 64,923,978 jl,934, 569 37 162 663 j 9 685 716 1386 723 Blenheim j 1,904,926 I 27,690 536,678 264,602 19,539 1,935,167 56,121 722.488! 503,555 65,949 3,840,093 ! 83,811 1 259 166 '768' 157 ' 85'488 Christohuroh .. 17,963,251 836,706 13,235,654 1,642,721 417,911 20,315,581 971,945 jlO,996, 453 ! 2,697,994 332,670 38,278.832 1,808,651 24 232 107 4 340 715 750' 581 Dunedin .. 11,988, 706 504,816 7,411,712 1,838,917 300,430 12,109,318 569,712 8,804,603 j 1.990,365 289,172 24,098,024 1.074.528 14 216' 315 3'829'282 589*602 Gisborne .. I 3,349,028 40,664 1,083,889 583,316 43,316 3,803,527 56,797 | 2,042,001 1 1,216,618 102,375 7.152,555 j 97,461 3 125 890 1*799 '934 145*691 Greymouth .. ; 1,860,754 39,273 570,713 291,577 34,684 2,185,625 64,051 824,031 I 503,984 82,277 4,046,379 103,324 1 394 7*4 '795*561 116*961 Hamilton .. 10,533,698 325,468 3,141,459 1,076,585 92,729 10,463,830 428, 935 5,504, 928 1,974,687 273,026 20,997,528 754,403 8 646 387 3 051'272 365' 755 Invercargill .. 7,314,201 202,553 3,400,825 679,978 72,358 6,806,358 247,299 3,465,180 | 1,193,296 142.376 14,120,559 449,852 6 866 014 l'873 *274 2u'734 Napier ..7,203,818 129,454 2,917,759 774,171 72,384 7,484,789 171,951 ' 4,006,197 1.423,942 173.784 14,688 607 301,405 6,923.956 2 198' 113 246*168 Nelson .. 1 2,766,173 128,102 869,439 258,906 46,735 3,115,879 110,721 1,430,728 663,767 117,754 5,882,052 j 238.823 2 300 167 922 673 ! J64'489 New Plymouth I 4,986,529 139,555 2,496,541 630,629 59,943 5,801,185 170,716 , 3,332,290 ; 1.097,876 157,768 10.787,714 310,271 5 828 831 1 7?8'ō05 1 917*711 Oamaru ..1,550,292 41,158 609,937 147,901 17,771 1,801,839 ' 102,570 | 1,033,565 382,486 44,096 3,352.131 143,728 1 643 50" '.530 387 61*867 Palmerston N. 6,472,415 139,659 3,138,171 693,964 79,391 7,232,966 215,046 4,432,597 1.253,278 174,473 13,705,381 354,705 7 570 768 3 947 242 253*864 Thames .. 3,329,780 64,870 1,280,456 378,040 34.086 3,977.922 165,295 2,287,363 813,111 121.810 7,307,702 230.165 3 808 332 1191151! 155'896 Timaru .. 3,714,993 90,090 1,334,877 394,750 38,142 4,136,054 130,715 2,527,876 654,264 86,398 7,851,047 220,805 3 622 240 l'049 014 i 124*540 Wanganui .. 6,209,438 154,297 2,571,346 750,165 73,905 5,604,560 190,489 3,219.684 1,109.537 152,776 11,813,998 344,786 5,791,030 l'859 702 226*681 Wellington .. 28,747,220 473,254 17,794,734 5,176,223 864.822 28,914,007 610,099 12,429, 716 j. 4,076,266 401,789 I 57,661,227 1.083,353 30 224 450 9 252 489 1 266 611 Westport .. 804,895 10,842 104,582 118,677 15,106 1,261,234 29.419 438,048 345,540 51,220 2,066.129 40,261 542 630 '464*217 ! ' 66'326 Rarotonga .. 46,698 972 2,016 546 1.494 46,956 492 11,430, 13.686 1,578 93,654 1.464 13,446 14 232 \ 3'072 Western Samoa 150,432 2,724 3,156 19,434 738 330.036 4,920 4,260 I 323,028 3,696 480,468 7,644 7 416 342*462 ! 4*434 ! 1 ' ' Totals j152,152,265 4,341,070 83,202,341 21,095,719 3,129,353 160,995,793 5,242,939 81,977,713 26,548,379 3,317,841 313,148,058 ;9,584, 009 165,180,054 47,644,098 6,447.194 Previous year 149,184,516 ,4,158, 472 79,274,134 21,590,580 3,279,551 '159,977,587 |5,244, 459 78,691,984 '27,067,890 3,601,476 '309,162,103 ;9,402. 931 157,966,118 48,658,470 6,881,027

F.—l.

Table No. 5. The following table shows the number and weight of parcels exchanged with other countries during the years 1929 and 1930: —

6—F. 1.

41

Beceived. Despatched. Places. 1929. 1930. 1929. 1930. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. Number. Weight. Number, j Weight. lb. lb. lb. lb. Great Britain and Ireland and 207,740 1,807,448 145,351 1,257,156 27,779 130,510 23,261 105,344 foreign countries via London United States of America and 65,787 425,580 52,295 317,411 4,736 19,147 4,634 18,535 possessions Canada .. .. .. 15,338 151,223 16,015 191,160 2,005 6,603 1,799 6,443 New South Wales .. 38,484 155,013 32,993 142,509 12,244 39,754 11,368 36,427 Victoria .. .. .. 18,191 80,954 16,429 75,352 5,631 18,049 5,214 15,953 Queensland .. .. 1,482 2,989 1,529 3,016 1,239 3,684 1,433 4,050 South Australia .. .. 919 2,578 915 2,917 807 2,578 699 2,313 Tasmania .. .. 459 1,231 380 1,086 703 2,001 650 1,758 Western Australia.. .. 732 2,059 540 1,527 846 2,269 779 2,144 Union of South Africa .. 1,089 2,368 1,088 2,301 566 2,050 522 1,589 Egypt .. .. .. 307 2,051 294 1,982 72 439 64 336 Aden .. .. .. 1,487 10,714 1,530 11,060 India .. .. .. 4,591 34,350 4,558 35,529 1,121 6,537 1,148 6,072 Ceylon .. .. .. 505 2,315 596 2,650 135 435 118 441 Straits Settlements .. 689 1,941 661 2,036 466 2,159 441 1,971 Hong Kong .. .. 2,170 16,723 1,836 12,727 614 3,166 689 3,542 Fiji .. .. .. 954 2,071 977 2,142 2,241 7,248 2,149 7,603 Tonga .. .. .. 79 288 108 395 1,486 7,801 1,408 7,455 Tahiti .. .. .. 183 1,549 226 2,016 242 1,521 236 1,345 Norfolk Island .. .. 65 157 61 152 639 2,092 605 1,848 Uruguay .. .. .. .. .. .. 68 311 36 197 Others " .. .. .... .. .. .. 9 30 23 90 Totals .. .. 361,251 2,703,602 278,382 2,065,124 63,649 258,384 57,276 225,456

p.—l.

Table No. 6. Table showing the Number of forwarded, and the Revenue derived from, Paid Telegrams and Toll Calls (including Cable and Radio Messages and Overseas Toll Calls) during the Years ended 31st March, 1931 and 1930.

42

Telegrams. Toll Communications. j Total. Y ear ended Ordinary. Urgent. Press. Letter. Marine ; j ' Number. Value. Number. Value. Number. Value. Number, j Value. Number. Value. Number. Value. Number. £ £ , £ £ £ £ 31st March, 1931 .. 5,286,912 442,846 186,585 17,895 561,166 77,345 351,782 16,090 37,018* 10,798,999 466,995 17,222,462 l,021,171t 31st March, 1930 .. 5,694,886 491,423 219,314 21,524 580,867 80,528 404,444 18,048 43,418* 11,404,175 482,571 18,347,104 1,094,094$ * No payment received. f Deduct £177,187 paid to other Administrations in respect of cable and radio messages. J Deduct £205,919 paid to other Administrations in respect of cable and radio messages.

P.—l.

Table No. 7. Table showing Cable, Radio-telegraph, and Radio-telephone Business transacted during the Year ended 31st March, 1931, as compared with the Year ended 31st March, 1930. Cable Messages.

Radio-telegrams.

Radio-telephone Calls.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,190 copies), £62 10s.

Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l93l.

Price Is.]

43

International. Australian. -.. — _ __—__ Total. Forwarded. Received. Forwarded. Received. Year ended . % , .__„„___ .___^__ Revenue i Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Number of earned Number of earned Number of earned Number of earned Number of earned Messages, by New Messages, by New Messages, by New Messages, by New Messages, by New Zealand, Zealand. Zealand. Zealand. Zealand. £ £ £ £ £ 31st March, 1931 .. 180,070 9,411 160,562 7,824 142,457 4,185 136,125 4,232 619,214 25,652 31st March, 1930 ., 195,468 110,288 167,028 8,115 154,675 4,567 149,658 4,638 666,829 27,608 Press Messages (included in above totals). 31st March, 1931 . .1 3,542 385 4,714 410; 4,683 477 5,532 666! 18,471; 1,938 31st March, 1930 .. 3,117 275 4,065 378 J 5,189 519 5,563 709 | 17,934 \ 1,881

Forwarded. Received. Total. ended .Number ."Revenue Number Revenue Number Revenue of earned by of earned by of earned by Messages. New Zealand. Messages. New Zealand. Messages. New Zealand. _____________ ___„ __________ ______ ________ £ £ £ 31st March, 1931 .. ..! 12,959 2,689 23,130 I 4,331 36,089 7,020 31st March, 1930 .. ..! 13,921 2,932 24,282 j 4,526 38,203 7,458

(Service inaugurated 25th November, 1930.) Outward. Inward. Total. Number of OsI'«i Revenue earned wnmher of fall» Revenue earned wi.mbor nf folio Revenue earned Nuir.Deroruujs. by New Zealand. Number of Calls. by New Zealand. Number of Calls. by New Zealand. £ -p f 59 87 117 260 176 347