POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT (REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR 1932-33.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1933 Session I, F-01

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1933. NEW ZEALAND.

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT (REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR 1932-33.

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

To His Excellency the Right Honourable Baron Bledisloe, P. 0., G.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 on the 31st March, 1933. RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS. The revenue collected during the year was less than that for the previous year by £421,298. The sum received was £3,293,932, compared with £3,715,230 for 1931-32. Payments for the year in respect of working-expenses (including interest on capital liability amounting to £546,000 and a sum of £122,818 provided out of the Depreciation Fund) totalled £2,688,120. The excess of receipts over payments was £605,812. A sum of £456,000 was paid to the Consolidated Fund during the year, SAVINGS-BANK. The deposits in the Post Office Savings-bank amounted to £16,933,176, compared with £19,463,986 for the previous year. The interest credited to depositors was £1,475,874. The withdrawals totalled £19,635,928, compared with £25,488,081 for the previous year \ and the excess of withdrawals over deposits amounted to £2,702,752, compared with £6,024,096 for the year ended the 31st March, 1932. The total amount at the credit of depositors on the 31st March, 1933, was £42,028,621, a decrease of £1,226,878 compared with the previous year. The amount accumulated in the Post Office Savings-bank at the 31st March, 1933, represented an average of £27-4 per capita for the Dominion. The Savings-bank position has shown marked improvement since January, and deposits exceeded the withdrawals for the months of January, May, June, and July of this year. In July the excess of deposits amounted to approximately £180,000. This satisfactory change has been brought about by an increase in deposits and a falling-off of withdrawals made by depositors generally, and is indicative of a return of the Dominion to normal conditions. I—F. 1.

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Concurrently with Government's conversion operation, the rate of interest on moneys deposited in the Post Office Savings-bank was reduced from the Ist April, 1933, to 3 per cent, on any amount up to £2,000, the maximum amount on which interest is payable. From the Ist August, 1933, the rate was further reduced to provide that interest at 3 per cent, should apply up to £1,000, and interest at the rate of 2§ per cent, on sums in excess of £1,000 and not exceeding £2,000. STAFF. It is again my pleasing duty to report that officers continue to render good and efficient service, notwithstanding that conditions for many are difficult and that all have been called upon to bear a fair share of the personal sacrifice inseparable from a period like the present. The efficiency of the staff and the keenness displayed in the Department's interest are gratifying evidence of the pride of officers in their Department and in the service they render to the public. It is gratifying to know, too, that the public generally gives the Post Office credit for the good work it performs, as is evidenced by the tributes that reach me as PostmasterGeneral. It is gratifying to record that the honour of C.B.E. was conferred by His Majesty the King upon Mr. G. McNamara, the Secretary of the Department, on the occasion of His Majesty's Birthday last year. COMMERCIAL BRANCH. Despite the difficult conditions prevailing, the Commercial Branch continues to perform useful service in its primary function of actively seeking to increase departmental business. In addition to helping maintain the telephone-exchange revenue and to securing advertisements for telephone directories, the work has now been undertaken of promoting a more extensive use of the mails and of bringing prominently before the public the various services of the Department and their utility. BUILDINGS AND LAND. The Department's building activity continued, during the year under review, to be greatly restricted. lam pleased to report, however, that since the close of the year it has been possible for Government to approve of the erection proceeding, as soon as the necessary preliminaries are complied with, of the new chief post-office building at Dunedin, a work of some magnitude, which should provide employment over a period for quite a number of men. The reconstruction of the Hastings Post-office building was completed in October, 1932. Except that buildings have yet to be provided at Port Ahuriri (post-office) and at Napier (telephone exchange) to replace the buildings destroyed by the earthquake and the following fire, the reconstruction of the Hastings building marked the completion of the work of restoring the buildings affected by the 1931 earthquake in Hawke's Bay. A site for a new building at Port Ahuriri has now been selected ; and it is hoped to acquire it shortly. The old site was not suitable, as it is no longer central. A site is available for an exchange at Napier. In accordance with the policy of removing clock-towers considered dangerous in case of earthquake, the towers on the chief post-office buildings at Gisborne and Timaru have been dismantled. For the same reason it was proposed to dismantle the tower of the Masterton Post-office building ; but, instead, the tower has been strengthened, the Borough Council bearing the cost of strengthening above the estimated cost of removal. In consequence of the completion and occupation of the Wellington East Post-office building, the old post-office building and site in Courtenay Place are no longer required for departmental purposes. The building has been converted into shops and offices, and leased. It is not considered opportune at present to sell the property. The maintenance of departmental buildings has been confined to the most urgent cases of renovation, &c. This is in conformity with the practice adopted during the financial stress of reducing to a minimum expenditure within the Department.

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INLAND AND OCEAN MAIL-SERVICES. Inland mail-services were maintained efficiently throughout the year. Floods and snow were responsible for several interruptions, but with one or two exceptions these were not serious. The North Island contracts expire at the end of the year, and new contracts will be let from the Ist January next. The Auckland-Vancouver and Wellington-San Francisco ocean mail-services have operated throughout the year without interruption. The contracts for the services were renewed from the Ist April for an indefinite period, subject to three months' notice of termination by either of the contracting parties. This departure from the usual practice of a definite contract was necessary on account of the unusual conditions now prevailing. AIR MAILS : PROPOSED EXTENSION TO AUSTRALIA OF UNITED KINGDOM - INDIA SERVICE. It was announced some months ago that a proposal was afoot to extend to Australia the weekly air mail-service at present operating between England and India. The proposal seems now to have assumed definite shape, it having been announced that it is hoped in January to extend the service from Karachi, the existing terminal, by way of Calcutta and Rangoon to Singapore. From Singapore extension will later be made to Australia, a section of the service which will be controlled by the Australian Government. Until the service is extended to Australia it will offer little advantage to New Zealand. A Sydney-London service would, however, be of material advantage, particularly in weeks when there is no despatch of mails from New Zealand to the United Kingdom via North America. On the information available it is estimated that the transit-time London-Sydney on the proposed extended air service will be eighteen days, making a transit-time London-New Zealand of twenty-one or twenty-two days if connection were made at Sydney on the sailing-day with the New Zealand weekly steamer. This transit-time compares with an average transittime of thirty days for New Zealand mails forwarded by land and sea to Great Britain via North America. In the direction Sydney-London it is estimated, on the assumption that the air mail would make departure for London from Sydney on the arrival of the New Zealand steamer, that the acceleration in the time of delivery of correspondence to Great Britain and Europe would vary from four days in some cases to as much as twenty days in others. It is understood that the charge for letters exchanged between Great Britain and Australia on the air service will be Is. 3d. per half-ounce (air-mail fee and postage combined), and that the same rate will apply to New Zealand correspondence. Some time is likely to elapse before the extension of the service from Singapore to Australia. In the meantime the Department is keeping closely in touch with developments. POSTAGE-STAMPS. Printed by the photogravure process, proofs of the proposed new series of pictorial stamps for New Zealand were received during the year. The reproductions, however, were not up to the standard desired for the new designs ; and it has now been decided to have the stamps printed by the intaglio process. A tender for the work has been accepted, but it cannot yet be stated when the new issue will be on sale. The droving scene proposed originally for the Is. denomination in the pictorial series is found to be unsuitable for satisfactory reproduction in a stamp ; and a new design —depicting a tui —has been adopted. A " Health " stamp of the denomination 2d. was placed on sale during the year, and resulted in a sum of approximately £820 being made available to the Minister of Health for expending on children's health camps. It has been decided not to proceed for the present with the issue of the proposed new series of air-mail stamps. 1*

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INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPH AND RADIO-TELEGRAPH CONFERENCE. The International Telegraph and Radio-Telegraph Conference, at which New Zealand was represented by Mr. M. B. Esson, formerly Second Assistant Secretary of the Department (now the Dominion's representative on the Advisory Committee of Imperial and International Communications, Ltd., London), was in session at Madrid from the 3rd September to the 10th December last. Details of the alterations effected in the International Telegraph Regulations are given at page 17 of this report. The system of week-end cable messages has been abolished ; and an alteration has been made in the method of charging for daily-letter telegrams exchanged in the international service. The restriction of the use in deferred and daily-letter telegrams of figures written in words has been lifted, and the charge for urgent messages has been reduced from treble to double rates. In addition, important alterations in the method of charging for code words in cablegrams are to take effect next year. BROADCASTING SERVICE. Control of the Broadcasting Service by the Board set up under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act, 1931, is proving highly successful. The first year's operations are reviewed in the Board's report to the Minister of Telegraphs, which is being laid on the table of the House. One of the initial important problems of the Board was to evolve methods of providing good reception over the whole of New Zealand ; and to this end it appointed a Coverage Commission to investigate reception. One of the results has been the decision to proceed with the erection of a new transmitting station on Banks Peninsula to replace the existing apparatus installed in Station 3YA, Christchurch. Action has also been taken to secure a site for the erection of a new broadcasting station at Auckland in replacement of the existing Station IYA. Both at this station and at Dunedin (4YA) the provision of modern transmitters is projected. In addition, auxiliary broadcasting apparatus has been provided for emergency use at the Wellington station (2YA), and action has also been taken to improve the existing equipment from a transmitting point of view. The report of the Coverage Commission indicated that in several parts of the Dominion reception from the Board's stations was not satisfactory. Eor this reason the Board is rendering financial assistance to eight private broadcasting stations situated in areas affected. In furtherance of the aims of the Board to provide a maximum of service to listeners, the hours of transmission at the Board's stations have been appreciably increased. The Board has also pursued a progressive policy of providing the best possible talent in arranging programmes. Proof of the wonderful development of the service of broadcasting is afforded by the great increase in the number of licensed radio listeners. On the 31st March the number of listeners was 93,489, representing an increase of some 18,500 for the year, this large increase following an increase of 12,500 listeners in the previous twelve months ; and in the middle of August the number reached the large total of 100,000. The balance-sheet of the Board, attached to its report, sets out clearly the position of the Board's finances. A feature of great interest during the year has been the number of occasions on which overseas broadcasts have been made available to New Zealand listeners. An outstanding broadcast of this nature was that arranged for Christmas Day last, when practically the whole Empire participated in a special programme in which greetings were conveyed from the Mother-country to practically all parts of the Empire, and responses made. A message from New Zealand was included, from the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. A fitting climax to the broadcast was a special message to the Empire from His Majesty the King. As the time of the actual broadcast was not suitable for New Zealand reception, a recording of the programme was made in London and broadcast for New Zealand listeners on the morning of the 26th December.

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EMPIRE BROADCASTING STATION. A matter of extreme interest in the development of broadcasting and of particular import to the Empire has been the establishment by . the British Broadcasting Corporation of the Empire short-wave broadcasting service. It need hardly be said that a regular service of broadcasting for the benefit of Empire citizens must have incalculable results in promoting and maintaining sentimental and other ties between the Mother-country and the Dominions and colonies. Unfortunately, satisfactory reception of this service is not yet assured in New Zealand ; but the British Broadcasting Corporation is making every effort by way of experiment and research to achieve this laudable end. Mr. Malcolm A. Frost, of the staff of the Corporation, recently paid a special visit to New Zealand for the purpose of furthering the reception of the Empire transmissions. WIRELESS PATENT RIGHTS. In May last the Government decided to give twelve months' notice of termination of its agreement with Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd., in respect of patent rights. The agreement will terminate on the 31st May, 1934. The agreement was signed on the 30th October, 1928, to subsist for a period of five years (and thereafter to be subject to twelve months' notice of renunciation by either party), and provided for the payment to Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd., of 3s. in respect of each radio-receiving license (to cover the use of the company's patent rights for broadcasting apparatus) and of a percentage of the revenue accruing from portion of the commercial radio traffic handled by New Zealand radio-telegraph stations. The agreement followed protracted negotiations between the Government and the company ; and its effect to absolve users and manufacturers of radio apparatus from any liability for claims in respect of the use of registered patents. An agreement on practically the same basis between the company and the Australian Government has likewise been terminated by the Commonwealth The whole question of patent rights is at present being carefully considered. TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SERVICES. On the Ist October, 1932, the new automatic telephone exchange at Lower Hutt was cut into service. The conversion from manual working was accomplished with a minimum of trouble, and shortly after the change-over a high-grade service was being furnished. . . . . . The expansion of the telephone-exchange service withm the Dominion, winch was so marked a feature of the years of prosperity, has in common with other similar services received a temporary set-back. At present, for the first time m many years, there are no exchanges in process of being converted from manual to automatic working. This is a sign of the times, but it is hoped that as industry improves there will be a resumption of the development formerly in evidence. Having regard to all the factors, the loss during the year of approximately 4 per cent, of the telephone subscribers in the Dominion cannot be regarded as serious The percentage loss indicated bears comparison with the decrease in turnover of other businesses in what can probably be regarded as the worst year of the depression. Since the peak of telephone development m this country m December, 1930, the total loss of telephone subscribers has been approximately 7 per cent. : this small loss reflects the reasonableness, even in times of stress, of the rentals charged in relation to the service given. In comparison with the rates charged in other countries, New Zealand is fortunately placed, notwithstanding that°the majority of telephone services in the world are controlled by private companies.

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LONG-DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION. The continuation of the unfavourable economic conditions necessitated a farther suspension of activities under this heading, with the result that no new works have been carried out in this particular branch during the year. Although progress has been held up on the constructional side, there has been no relaxation of effort in the direction of improving maintenance and operating methods, in consequence of which it can be stated that the efficiency of the long-distance telephone network has been raised to a still higher level during the last twelve months. The investigational work which has been undertaken with a view to providing additional telephone channels over the Cook Strait single-core unloaded telegraph cables, and which was referred to in last year's report, has been brought to a successful conclusion. RADIO TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE SERVICES. The departmental radio-telegraph and radio-telephone services continued to function efficiently and to meet all the demands made upon them. The overseas radio-telephone service could be used more freely by the public, but in view of the present economic conditions the use made of the service can be regarded as satisfactory. While the present overseas service is a high-grade one, it is hoped, as the demand grows, to considerably improve and extend the facilities available. Remarkable ranges are achieved with short-wave transmission from departmental radio-telegraph stations. The Wellington Radio Station is now frequently able to maintain contact for the whole period of the journey with liners voyaging between New Zealand and England via Panama. DETAILED REPORT. A detailed report of the Department's activities during the year ended on the 31st March, 1933, will be found in the following pages. I have the honour to be Your Excellency's most obedient servant, Adam Hamilton. General Post Office, Wellington C. 1, 21st August, 1933.

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1933-

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS. The receipts and payments of the Department for the financial year 1932-33 are shown in the following account: — Receipts. Payments. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ ?• d. £ s. d. To Balance forward .. 34,716 15 6 By Salaries 1,444,120 10 1 Postages ..1,043,104 4 24 Conveyance of Money-order and ocean mails 87,622 4 11 Lnfmi'sslon 101 ! 52,596 10 8 • XndTaL ° 133,223 1 6 T-JS SJ «.«. , a rural - delivery Maintenance of «7,557 17» 64,864 4 11 Miscellaneous re- , A _ . + „ oiA 19Q 16 2 Renewals ana rePaid telegrams'.'. 273;615 9 64 placements . 122,818 4 5 Paid tolis one ex ' 397 ' 416 510 woīkshopT 14,525 13 5 change rentals 1,169,511 15 54 Miscellaneous .. 205,668 3 7 6 3,293,931 19 3J Interest on capital liability 546, 000 0 0 2,688,120 5 4 Paid to Consolidated Fund .. 456,000 0 0 Renewal and replacement of Assets Fund (investment) .. 150,000 0 0 Balance carried down .. .. 34,528 9 54 £3,328,648 14 9J £3,328,648 14 94 £ s. d. To Balance brought down .. .. 34,528 9 5J The total cash value of the transactions, of the Department, inclusive of the above, amounted to approximately £153,000,000 for the year. STAFF. During the year there was little change in policy. The system of granting time off in lieu of cash payment for overtime was continued, providing for the absorption of a large number of officers for whom work might otherwise have been impossible to find. New appointments have been kept at a bare minimum, notwithstanding that since the Ist April, 1930, the numerical strength of the permanent staff has fallen from 8,943 to 8,380—a reduction of 563 officers. During the same period the casual staff has been reduced from 698 to 71, and the temporary staff from 76 to 45 making a total decrease of 1,221 in the past three years. In the year under review the permanent staff has decreased by 205, due to resignations, retirements, &c. While it is true that a curtailment of staff should naturally follow a decrease in business, it is also true that many economies in staffing have been possible only with the close co-operation of officers themselves; and it is gratifying to record that these economies have been effected wit ou impairing the efficiency of the Service. This is much to the credit of officers. The staff generally has continued to render excellent service. Despite the difficult times, the Department is unquestionably maintaining its reputation for efficiency. _ _ It is of course, the case that the fall in business has been marked in some branches ; but it is also the case that other branches have many new duties to undertake. It has been necessary, for instance, to create a special staff of officers to perform the multifarious duties associated with the central control in Wellington of the work undertaken m connection with unemployment. Fortunately, it has not been necessary for the Department to retrench the staff m any way. Many officers have been absorbed in vacancies in the Department, while a number have been absorbed m undertaking new work and in providing for time off in lieu of overtime. Many others are on loan to other Departments, particularly the Unemployment Department.

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Comparative Return op Persons employed in the Department. The total number of persons employed on the Ist April, 1932 and 1933, was as under rv Ist April, Ist April, rermanent otan — 1932. 1933. Administrative Division .. .. .. .. 4 4 Clerical and Engineering Divisions .. .. .. 3,342 3,255 General Division .. .. .. .. .. 5,239 5,121 8,585 8,380 Temporary Staff .. .. .. .. .. 36 45 Casual Staff .. .. .. .. .. .. 83 71 8,704 8,496 Non-permanent Staff — Country Postmasters and Telephonists .. .. 1,692 1,669 Postmasters who are Railway officers.. .. .. 83 84 10,479 10,249 Health op Permanent Stafp. The following table gives the average absence of officers on sick-leave this year as compared with last: — Number Average Absence Average Absence v , tM , on per Sick for each Officer Year ended 31st March, 1933— Staff. Officer. employed Men .. .. 7,736 9-75 3-8 Women .. .. .. 644 12-08 6-86 Year ended 31st March, 1932— Men .. .. .. 7,886 9-14 3-83 Women .. .. .. 699 13-6 7-91 Twenty-four officers died during the year. Personal. Mr. H. L. Cummings, Superintending Engineer, General Post Office, retired on superannuation on the 3rd December, after completing over thirty-seven years' service. He was succeeded by Mr. J. McDefmott, District Telegraph Engineer, Wellington ; Mr. McDermott in turn being succeeded by Mr. E. H. Lawn, Telegraph Engineer, Wellington. Mr. E. C. Gage, Superintending Engineer, General Post Office, also retired on superannuation during the year. Mr. Gage, who had formerly occupied the position of District Telegraph Engineer, Auckland, for a number of years, severed his connection with the Department on the 30th November. He had over thirty-seven years' service to his credit. Reduction in Salaries. A further reduction in the salaries and wages of officers and employees of the' Department was made on the Ist April, 1932, under the provisions of the National Expenditure Adjustment Act of that year. The reduction on this occasion was on a graduated scale, the minimum being 5 per cent, and the maximum 12| per cent. Change op Control. During the year the clerical staffs of the telephone sections of the Engineers' offices at the four chief centres who deal with the telephone-exchange subscribers' accounts were transferred to the control of the respective Chief Postmasters. The system of control of this branch is now uniform throughout the Dominion. Appeal Board. The Post and Telegraph Appeal Board, under the Chairmanship of Mr. E. C. Cutten, the Senior Stipendiary Magistrate at Auckland, sat on two occasions during the year. Seventy-seven appeals from forty-two officers were adjudicated upon, with the following results : Withdrawn, six ; did not lie, four ; disallowed, sixty-seven. Sittings of the Board were held at Auckland and Wellington. DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL. Officers to the number of 701 enrolled during the year in the Departmental Correspondence School, which provides tuition for those who desire to sit for departmental examinations. Twenty-one separate instructional courses are available. Officers generally have profited greatly by the provision of facilities for study, and the value of the tuition given is reflected in all branches of the Service by an increase in efficiency.

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At the departmental examinations held during the year 545 students of the school presented themselves, and of these 73 per cent, gained passes. Non-students who sat for examination num ere 571, and the percentage of passes was 11-7. EXAMINATIONS. The number of officers who entered for departmental efficiency examinations held during the year was 1,958. The candidates that were either wholly or partially successful numbered 919. SUGGESTIONS BOARD. The number of suggestions made by officers for improving the working of the Department was 321. The number of awards was 15, the total sum awarded being £34 10s. COMMERCIAL BRANCH. While it is true that the activities of a Commercial Branch were never more needed than they are to-day it is equally true that the efficacy of such a branch could not have been more severely tested than k the case under present conditions. It is gratifying to report, therefore, that the Commercial Branch has been successful in maintaining its usefulness. The total value of business obtained during the year was £35,907 ; of this amount £19,948 is made up of telephone business, and £15 959 of advertising business and miscellaneous services. The revenue for the preceding year was £36,679, and f ° r of fostering the use of the mails was taken over by the Branch. This work has been successfully dealt with in addition to the other duties of promoting the use of the telephone-exchange service and of securing advertisements for telephone directories. But the value of the Commercial Branch is not only to be assessed m terms of increased revenue the service it performs in advising and assisting the public in many post and telegraph matters is of the greatest value in maintaining the prestige and usefulness of what so aptly is sometimes called " The People's Service." 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 and the value of stocks held at the end of the year. For the purpose of comparison the particulars for the previous year are shown also : —

The total value of orders placed during the year was £130,276. Of this amount £96 i OO represented the cost of stores for supply from within the Dominion, including £37 444 for stores purchased under contracts arranged by the Stores Control Board. The total value of orders placed the Post ,».1 Telegraph Department on «count of other Departments under the Stores Control Board Regulations are set out hereunder, the figures for the previous year being shown also : —- . r ī i " . .

The purchase was arranged during the year of fifty-seven motor-vehicles for other Departments and of forty-five motor-vehicles for the Post and Telegraph Department. The figures for the previous year were forty-two and two respectively.

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1932-33. 1931-32. Receipts.* Issues.* Recel P ts -* Issues.* 31at March, 1932. £ £ £ £ £ £ A n J 02 025 100 446 121,212 129,752 134,894 129,633 S2SL* :: 2:<S «38 ™: s ».» ».u» ».« tv j* 9A qoa 31 092 55,202 40,010 oy,0/4 Wellington 164',280 163',452 279,707 240,546 242,760 278,879 Dominion totals .. 326,294 341,568 535,694 468,571 472,330 550,968 * Excluding transfers within storekeeping districts.

Value of Items purchased. Year ended Requisitions. Items. ~ — — | On Indent. Locally. Total. 31st March, 1933 .. 3,«5 13,560 13,361 40,247 53,608 31.tM.idi, 1932 ., 2,825 12,381 21,139 31,743 52,88, . i • 1 e il T"\ x i-~

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Sale op 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 £3,183 18s. 9d. This sum includes the value of scrap lead, copper, and other metals. 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 £36,664. WORKSHOPS. The various departmental workshops throughout the Dominion continue to render efficient service. As was the case last year, the activities of the principal workshops—those situated at Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin—were confined to a very large extent to work of a maintenance character, and the reconditioning of telegraph and telephone equipment to avoid expenditure in the purchase of new equipment from overseas. The maintenance work undertaken was comprised chiefly of repairs and attention to motor-vehicles, typewriters, and other mechanical office-appliances, telegraph and telephone instruments, office furniture and equipment, and general electrical repairs. The Department's subsidiary workshops at Whangarei, Hamilton, Paeroa, Wanganui, Napier, Gisborne, Masterton, Palmerston North, Greymouth, Timaru, and Invercargill are equipped for undertaking motor-repair work only, and were fully occupied during the year. The workshops at Hamilton, Wanganui, Palmerston North, and Invercargill are equipped to undertake all classes of repair work to motor-vehicles, while the activities of the other subsidiary workshops are confined to running repairs. The operation of these subsidiary workshops has resulted in a high standard of maintenance of the Department's motor fleet and in considerable saving in expenditure. The total value of the work performed in the various workshops during the year amounted to £77,098, of which £7,563 represents the value of services rendered to other Government Departments. BUILDINGS AND LAND. The erection of new post-office buildings at High Street (Christchurch) and Westport, the reconditioning of the Napier Chief Post-office building, and the reconstruction of the Hastings Post-office building were completed during the year. The clock-towers on the chief post-office buildings at Gisborne and Timaru were found to be defective ; and, as they constituted an earthquake hazard, they were removed. The clock-tower on the Masterton Post-office building was strengthened, the local authority bearing the cost above the estimated cost of removal. The top floor of the Napier Chief Post-office building was fitted for occupation by the Department of Lands and Survey and the Lands and Deeds and Stamp Duties Departments, that portion occupied by the latter Departments being made fireproof by the provision of a concrete floor and steel partitions, &c. The Departments mentioned took occupation of the accommodation in February. The old post-office building at Courtenay Place, Wellington, was converted into shops and offices and leased to a private tenant. The post-office buildings at Papahaoa, St. Bathan's, and Wellington North were no longer required, and were disposed of. The remaining buildings on the former radio-station site at Awanui have now been disposed of. The station itself was closed in 1929 ; and the engineer's residence was sold for removal in 1931. Areas of land were acquired as follow : Clydevale, site for post-office building ; Mataura, extension of post-office site ; Ngatea, extension of storage-site. Areas of land no longer required at the following places were disposed of : Ahaura, Awanui, Buckland, Clydevale, Gorge Road, Napier, Owaka, Patetonga, St. Albans (street widening), St. Bathan's, Sydenham (street widening), Wellington North, Whatawhata. The Wellington North property was transferred to the Police Department. DEPARTMENTAL MOTOR-VEHICLES. There has been little change under this heading. Twenty-eight new §-ton trucks for general utility purposes in the maintenance of telegraph and telephone lines were purchased and put into commission in June. They replaced worn-out vehicles which were either past economical repair or had reached a stage beyond which it was not safe to use them. Due to the exacting conditions of working of many of the vehicles at country stations, several are showing signs of hard wear, and a number are soon to be replaced. Because of the restriction of expenditure on new purchases, a number of motor-vehicles has during the last few years been retained in commission longer than would otherwise have been the case ; and this has had the effect of providing work for mechanics throughout the Dominion, both within and without the Department. There is, however, a limit beyond which this practice cannot be carried, even in the present difficult times. The Department's purchases of motor transport are confined to vehicles manufactured in Great Britain. The number of departmental motor-vehicles in commission at the close of the year was 537, comprising 441 lorries, trucks, and vans, 93 cars, and 3 motor-cycles. The number of miles traversed by the fleet during the year was 3,862,439. Forty-eight vehicles were withdrawn from service, representing a net fleet reduction of 20.

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POST OFFICE. REDUCTION IN POSTAGE-RATES. On the Ist June postage rates and charges were reduced as under, as a contribution by Government Wards a lowering of costs for the community generally . , ■ ī i _

Inland Mail-services. With few exceptions, all services have been maintained throughout the year with reguiarity and efficiencv The North Island contracts expire at the end of 1933, and the preliminary action necessa y tothelnviting of fVesh tenders for the services has been commenced. Appreciable work l +tin ( r nf the kind With a view to spreading the work, it was arranged some time ago to Sort"2nd in I differed p.Aon, is now to be carried further, it being the intention to provide at this years reletting that halt ol tne North Island contracts be for a term of two years, and half for a term of three years. in reletting the mail contracts will then be spread fairly evenly over each year, the usual period COnt So Ct fa b r e throp^tion r of the Transport Act has had very little effect on mail-services generally due no doubt, to the provision made in the Act for " automatic licenses for those °P erators who had been running on a route for a specified period before the coming into the case of North Island services, however, these licenses elapsed on the 28th lebr y. tractors who carry passengers must obtain a renewal each year of their passenger-carrying licenses. Already £ahave been refused, and mail contractors have had to abandoni the* contracte In such cases no penalty has been inflicted by the Department. In one case the Department was involved in a considerable increase in subsidy m securing a new contractor Since the 3rd December a daily express-train service has again operated between Invercargill making unnecessary the twice-weekly road mail-service to Invercargill from Dunedin, a Sablisted tosnpplement the mail-service by tain dur.ng the per,ode of snspens.on $££ r times of departure of the " Limited " and ordinary express trams, which used to take departure o Wellington at 7 and 7.40 p.m. respectively. Although the express tram now arrives at Wellmgt 742 a m correspondence connects with the postmen's deliveries commencing soon after 8 a.m.

11

Item. j 01d Rate - New Rate ' Letter. and letter-cards for inland »LJ« tot oz and Id. for each LLfordir.. oz. and id. for each letter-cards addressed 2d. for first oz„ and Id. for each li te M oz, and Id. fo, each to places within the Empire, additional oz. additional oz. United States, and certain other places , A Late fee M •• W- -- Id. for each 4 oz. up to 1 lb., Jd. for each 2 oz. up to 2 lb., and Inland packets . addit i on al lb. 2d. for each additional lb. up upto5lb. to 5 lb. Registered magazines (inland) .. Each copy 2d. for each 8 oz. .. Each copy Id. for each 8 oz. PafceMinknd) '' Not exceeding 1 lb. ,"ed. ; not Not exceeding lib., rarceis (ml ) exceeding 2 lb., Is. ; for each each additional lb up to 10 lb additional lb. up to 11 lb., 3d. ; 2d. ; for each additional lb. maximum weight, 11 lb. ; up to 14 lb., Id. ; maximum maximum size, 6 ft. in length weight, 14 lb. ; maximum size, and girth combined 6 ft. in length and girth combined. Parcels , (inland) (except those 3 s. 3d. for 11 lb. or less .. lb. «to» ; to each containing fishing-rods, goilclubs, and parcels not exceeding 1 in. in thickness) exceeding 4 ft. 6 in. length and girth P arc els (inland) containing fishing- Not exceeding 3 lb., 2s. 6d. ; NotexceedingS lb., jfc for each rods and golf-clubs exceeding for each additional lb. up to additional lb. up to 11 lb., 3d. 3 ft. 6 in. but not exceeding 11 lb., 3d. 4 ft. 6 in. in length

F.—l,

The Stratford-Okahukura Railway, connecting the Taranaki with the Main Trunk district, was completed during the year. Although the newer sections of the line are still operated by the Public Works Department, goods-trains are being run and are carrying mails. This route, when it is taken over by the Railway Department, will provide a very convenient mail-service connection between the Auckland and Taranaki Provinces. For a few days at the end of April and the beginning of May heavy rain interrupted the NapierGisborne and Napier-Taupo services and a number of minor services in the vicinity. In August severe floods in the Wairarapa district interfered for short periods with a number of services. A severe earthquake on the 16th September caused slips on the roads and interrupted the Wairoa—Ruakituri and Gisborne—Tiniroto mail-services. For some weeks the latter service was undertaken with difficulty. In January heavy floods in the Blenheim, Nelson, and West Coast districts caused minor suspensions of services, but no appreciable delay to mails was occasioned. Following torrential rain on the night of the 21st March, train services on the Main Trunk Railway in the vicinity of Taumarunui were disorganized to such an extent that a week elapsed before normal running was resumed. The main line was affected for a distance of approximately twentythree miles between Okahukura and Owhango, and, in addition, extensive damage was occasioned to the Okahukura-Stratford Railway between Okahukura and Matiere, in the Ohura distiict. Roads in this district and, consequently, mail-services were also seriously affected. During the period of the interruption of the Main Trunk line a reduced train service was provided by the Railway Department, normal running not being resumed until the 28th March. The blockage of road and rail was so effective that in the first few days the Department was able to arrange for the transhipment of few mails apart from letter mails. On the 25th March, however, the position had improved to the extent that it was possible from then on to transfer all mails over the damaged portion of the line. To dispose of the early accumulation of second-class mail-matter and parcels it was necessary to effect despatches of mail by sea. Despatches to Auckland were made on the 24th March from Wellington by the " Waipiata" and from Napier by the " Waimea"; while a despatch from Wanganui to Onehunga was made by the " Hauturu "on the 25th March. In the opposite direction, a despatch from Auckland to Wellington by the " New Zealand " was made on the 24th March! Notwithstanding the long hours and trying conditions, excellent service was rendered by the responsible for the transferring of the mails, transfers which were effected expeditiously and without delay to trains. Officers in other branches also rose to the emergency in coping expeditiously with the appreciably increased volume of work. Fortunately, telegraph and telephone communication was not interfered with. It was not until the 23rd March that communication was re-established with the Ohura district, mails being sent by road (instead of by rail as usual) and then the mails had to be transferred by cable and cage across the Otunui Stream, on the Wanganui River Road. In this way the mails reached Ohura in two stages, and from there were forwarded to adjacent offices not served en route. From the 30th March it was possible to arrange an improved daily road service Taumarunui-Ohura via Ongarue ; and this service continued until the resumption of the branch line train setvice on the Bth May following. The floods were responsible also for the interruption of three rural deliveries operating from Taumarunui, bridges being swept away in a number of cases. OVERSEAS MAILS. The contracts for the Vancouver and San Francisco ocean mail-services were renewed from the Ist April for a further term of twelve months at the existing subsidies. From the Ist April, 1933, the services are to be further renewed for an indefinite period, subject to three months' notice of termination by either of the contracting parties. The services were regularly performed over the whole year, the average times of transmission of mails being as follow : — Auckland to London via Vancouver .. .. .. 31-3 days. London to Auckland via Vancouver .. .. .. 31-16 days. Wellington to London via San Francisco . . .. .. 29-08 days. London to Wellington via San Francisco .. . . .. 32-46 days. The Vancouver service was maintained by the " Niagara " and the " Aorangi." On the San Francisco route the " Makura " and the " Monowai " were the contract steamers at the commencement of the year. The " Monowai " was withdrawn from the service in November and transferred to the trans-Tasman service, being replaced on the San Francisco run by the " Maunganui." In May and June the Matson steamers "Sonoma," "Ventura," and "Sierra," engaged in the San Francisco - Auckland - Sydney trade, were withdrawn and replaced by the steamers " Mariposa " and Monterey,'' the service being altered in frequency from once every three weeks to once every four weeks and extended to Melbourne. On the Ist December the "Monowai " (Union Steamship Co.) took up summer running in the trans-Tasman service, while on the 20th January the " Wanganella " (a new Huddart Parker steamer replacing the " Zealandia," which vessel some months previously had replaced the " Ulimaroa ") commenced in the same service, each of these vessels also making a monthly extension of the service to Melbourne, the " Monowai " from Auckland and the " Wanganella " from Wellington. The advent in the trans-Tasman service of faster steamers has resulted in a reduction on occasions to three days in the time taken in the transit of mails between the two countries.

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With the new time-table operating, a vessel of the Matron line now regularly takes departure from Auckland for San Francisco in the week following the sailing of the contract steamer for Vancouver This has resulted in increasing use of the Matson steamers for specially addresse correspondence for North America and Great Britain and Europe. On the all-sea route between New Zealand and England a number of steamers have continued to make passage via Cape Horn and this route is now principally used for the despatch of second-class matter and parcels to Great Brit The a " withdrawn in April from the Fiji-Tonga-Samoa service and was replaced by the " Waipahi " a slower steamer. The " Morinda " was withdrawn from the Auckland-Norfolk Island-New Hebrides - Lord Howe Island service in January; and it has since been necessary for corresDondence for the islands named to be forwarded via Sydney. T , +T , Te new mission vessel "Southern Cross," which left Auckland for the Solomon Is lands on the 25th October, became a total wreck at Aneityum on the 31st October, despatched by the vessel were lost: Auckland-Yamkoro (Solomon Islands), o bags , Auckland Vureas Franksrinds)! 2 bags; Auckland-Vila (New Hebrides), 2 bags; Papeete-Vila (New Hebrides), 1 bag. Exchange of Parcels with United States op America. A new agreement, replacing one entered into in 1900 was executed during the year to govern the exchange of post parcels between New Zealand and the United States of America . h An important feature of the new agreement, which became effective on the Ist Octoberis that provision is made for the exchange of insured parcels, the limit of insurance being £20 m respect of any individual parcel. Prior to the execution of the new agreement parcels exchanged between the two countries could be registered but not insured, and the maximum amount for which compensation for loss or damage could be claimed was £2. Export of Gold by Post. The provisions of the Export Licenses Order of 1931 were revoked on the 30th June, so that a license from a Collector of Customs is not now required for the export of gold by post. Bullion : Special Charge eor Postings to Australia. To meet the cost of providing strong-room accommodation on the conveying steamers a special charge at the rate of 3d. an ounce avoirdupois, m addition to postage and insurance fee has been levied since the 4th November on all post-packages containing bullion addressed to Australia. AIR MAILS. Occasional special air-mail flights continue to be made. The Westland Aero Club conveyed mails on a special flight from Hokitika to Okuru via Waiho Gorge on the 28th September, and on the «■> th, following day. Th, u.ual ,i,-m.il charge of 3d. a. ou„c, proceeds, less the 1\ per cent, deduction to meet departmental costs being expended on the Western Aero Club's behalf in an alteration to the telephone-lmes at the Hokitika aerodrome. On the 24th December the New Zealand Air League arranged a series of flights similar to those undertaken by the League on the previous Christmas Eve. The routes were— (1) Gisborne-Hastings-Palmerston North, and return; (2) Wellington - Palmerston North- Wanganui-Hawera- New Plymouth Auckland , (3) Palmerston North - Wellington - Blenheim - Christchurch - Timaru - Oamaru Dunedm Invercargill. The total number of articles carried on these Christmas flights was 6,729, as compared with 17,027 in the previous year. The postage revenue received was paid to the Air League, less a dedU The n nu f mbt P of letters posted in New Zealand during the year to connect with overseas air mails was 7,361. POSTAGE-STAMPS. Proposed Series of New Zealand Pictorial Stamps. Unforeseen difficulties have delayed the issue of the new series of pictorial postage-stamps for the Dominion designs for which were adopted towards the end of 1931. It was stated m last year s report that tenders had been invited in England for the production of the stamps by the photogravure process. Quotations were duly received, and a tender accepted. However upon the arrival of the proofs in New Zealand it was found that they failed to reach the standard of excellence desired, and it was decided to abandon the photogravure process of production m favour of the intaglio or line-engraved process. Negotiations for the production of the stamps m Ln g la nd y the latter process are almost completed, but it is not yet possible to state when the stamps will be aVan Thl e design originally selected for the Is. denomination of the proposed new series (a droving scene) has been found to be unsuitable for reproduction as a postage-stamp. It has therefore been replaced by a design depicting a tui in a natural setting of New Zealand scenery.

13

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Air-mail Stamps. It lias been decided not to proceed for the present with the proposal to issue a new series of airmail stamps, competitive designs for which were invited by the Department. While many attractive designs were received, it was not considered that any of them were of sufficient merit to justify their adoption to supersede the existing series of air-mail stamps. " Health " Stamps. A " Health " stamp of the denomination 2d. (Id. postage, Id. health) was on sale from the 18th to the 28th February, inclusive. In previous years the stamp has been designated a Charity stamp ; but, as the proceeds of the appeal have always been expended on and were again this year devoted to children's health camps, the name " Health " stamp was adopted to clearly indicate the object served. The stamp was of a design depicting " Hygeia," the goddess of health, reclining on a pedestal, and was the work of Messrs. W. J. Cooch and R. Ē. Tripe, of Wellington. The stamp was printed at the Government Printing Office by the intaglio process from two coppersurfaced plates made by Mr. H. T. Peat, of Wellington. The number of stamps sold was 237,504, the gross value being £1,979 45., as compared with a gross return of £2,035 for the previous year, when two denominations of stamps were on sale. Overprinting of Postal Stationery. Ihe reduction in postage-rates effective from the Ist June, 1932, necessitated the overprinting of post-cards, letter-cards, and registered-letter envelopes held in stock. The overprinting of supplies held at post-offices was effected by means of rubber stamps, post-cards being overprinted " Halfpenny," letter-cards One penny, and registered-letter envelopes " Fourpence." The bulk supplies held by the Stamp Duties Department were overprinted in the same amounts at the Government Printing Office. DIVISION OF AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON INTO POSTAL DISTRICTS. Arrangements were completed during the year for the division of the Auckland and Wellington metropolitan areas into postal districts. The new scheme was announced on the sth September. The system aims at speeding up the sorting and delivery of correspondence. Taking the case of Wellington : probably few members of the public realize that a great deal of correspondence is received in Wellington already sorted for delivery. It is by reason of this arrangement that the large volume of mail-matter received from the South each morning by the ferry steamer and from the North by the express train arriving at 7.42 a.m. is able to connect with the main deliveries by postmen commencing at 8 o clock, or soon after. This result is achieved by having in the main centres, on the Main Trunk express trains in both Islands, and on the Pacific mail-steamers officers who are familiar with the Wellington sorting, making it possible for correspondence immediately on arrival in Wellington from the services mentioned to be sent direct to the delivery-point. The same procedure applies in Auckland. With postal-district indicators, the public is provided with an easy means of denoting the delivery area ; and when it is availed of any sorting officer in any centre will find it simple to accurately sort Auckland or Wellington correspondence, a condition which is not possible when correspondence is directed to a suburb only, as generally suburban boundaries are not defined. In this way it will be possible to obviate the expenditure incurred in bringing outside officers to Auckland and Wellington to learn the circulation. Another important advantage gained under the postal-district scheme is that it enables decentralization to be effected in the delivery of correspondence. The deliveries in Auckland and Wellington were to some extent decentralized before the postal district scheme was launched ; but in Auckland it has now been possible to extend decentralization to Remuera and Ponsonby. Decentralization is also to be extended to other areas in Auckland at an early date. In Wellington the time is not yet opportune to further decentralize deliveries. The scheme of decentralizing deliveries provides for the local post-office to become the local delivery office, instead of deliveries being made from a chief office sometimes many miles removed from the area served. In this way savings have been made in expenditure on staff and on transport, and congestion in the chief post-office has been relieved. From the public point of view it will be of advantage to a suburban resident to be able to deal with a nearby suburban post-office in matters concerning the delivery of correspondence instead of with a chief post-office some distance away. For the success of the postal-district scheme, and, it follows, for the success of the decentralization scheme, the Department is dependent on the full support of the business community and the public generally in providing that the address, complete with postal indicator, is shown whenever a letter is being written from or despatched to an address in the Auckland or Wellington metropolitan areas. The Department feels that this support will be increasingly forthcoming. INSPECTION. During the year 1,320 visits of inspection to post-offices were made by Inspectors. On each occasion the values were audited, and in no instance was a serious discrepancy disclosed. This is most gratifying, particularly when it is remembered that the cash advances held at post-offices throughout New Zealand amount to over a quarter of a million pounds, that the value of advances of postal-notes, British postal orders, and stamps is in excess of a million pounds, and that the total cash value of the transactions handled by departmental officers during the year was no less than £153,000,000. With such a turnover, the regular and thorough audit and inspection of offices is a necessity.

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Although the work of auditing the accounts forms a most important duty of Inspectors the inspection is not restricted to an audit proper. The whole range of activities of subject of scrutiny by the Inspectors, who thus assist m maintaining a proper standard of efficiency and co ordination in all branches of the work of the office. BURGLARY OF POST-OFFICE PREMISES, ETC. During the year the number of burglaries of post-office premises was not excessive. In most cases the oflenders were arrested and dealt with according to law. The total amount stolen was comparatively small, the Department always taking the precaution of pranging for cash and values held overnight at post-offices to be restricted as much as possible. The offices usually broken into are those situated in country centres in general-store or other premises which are not the prop y ° f fromstreet posting-boxes and from public call offices (coin-in-the-slot telephones) assumed serious dimensions during the year. Offences of this kind offer a very poor return to the offender, but they cause a great deal of trouble to the Department, and involve it m considerable expense, particularly in the case of telephone call offices, in restoring service and m making good damage to apparatus. 7 And a most serious aspect of offences of the kind is the inconvemence caused to the public due to delay to or destruction of letters and the temporary absence of facilities for making telephone calls. Fortunately, the public appears to be well aware that letters containing anything of value should be registered at a post-office, as the amount lost m the stolen letters was suipnsi g y small. ARTICLES DELIVERED. During the year 1932 the estimated number of articles delivered in the Dominion, including those received from places overseas, compared with the number in 1931, was as under 1932. 1931. per Cent ; Tpttpr , .. ' .. 128,139,784 137,046,678 6-49 Post-cards " . .. 3,™,990 4,152,807 9-96 TW P i s .. .. 1,475,612 1,817,988 18-83 All other articles 89,216,910 97,440,505 8-44 Totals .. •• •• 222,571,296 240,457,977 AVERAGE NUMBER OF LETTERS POSTED PER UNIT OF POPULATION. 1932, 77-48. DEAD LETTER OFFICE. 1932. 1931. Letters returned to senders in New Zealand . . •• 372,665* ,537f Other articles returned to senders in New Zealand .. 192,166 218,D1 f Letters returned to other Administrations .. •• '""S Other articles returned to other Administrations .. .. 03, ill « ' Letters destroyed (senders unknown and contents of no value) 19,232 t'aw Letters and letter-cards posted without addresses.. . . 8,784 9, »1/ Letters imperfectly or insufficiently addressed .. •• 18,201 i»,ujd Letters intercepted addressed to persons and firms on prohibited list •• •• 3 > o °o Letters intercepted on account of libellous addresses .. 6» Newspapers received without addresses .. •• •• ->412 a,i»z Other articles received without addresses _ .. ■ J'™ a snnfi 1 Newspapers returned to publishers as undeliverable . . 3b, 048 109 Articles bearing previously used stamps The proportion of undeliverable letters to the total number of letters delivered was 0-33 per cent. In 1931 the proportion was 0-40 per cent. PROHIBITED CORRESPONDENCE. As a result of the large increase in the number of overseas lotteries art unions, sweepstakes &c the volume of correspondence intercepted in the post for addresses which have been prohibited has'more than doubled in the last few years. The number of letters intercepted at present exceeds tllTC The°actk)t taken l by the Department in these cases is dictated by the P rovlslon made m Post and Telegraph Act for the prohibition of the issue of money-orders and the transmission of postal correspondence in the Dominion for any person or organization engaged m conducting ot carrying out a lottery, scheme of chance, or unlawful game. Art unions authorized m New Zealand by the Minister of Internal Affairs are, of course, not affected by the legislation, but the ban, once imposed, applies to all correspondence for the person or firm concerned.

* Including 17,645 registered. f Including 23,183 registered. J Including 490 registered. § Including 653 registered.

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MISSING POSTAL PACKETS. During the year 1932 4,832 complaints of non-delivery of postal packets of all kinds were investigated by the Department. In 2,460 cases, or 53-6 per cent, of the total number, the articles were traced or accounted for satisfactorily. These cases may be summarized as follows : — Sender responsible for delay .. .. .. .. .. 701 Addressee responsible for delay .. .. .. .. .. 851 Post Office responsible for delay . . .. .. . . 226 No delay or responsibility not fixed .. .. .. . . 682 In 2,372 cases the manner of disposal of the packets could not be determined. A comparison of this figure with the total number of articles posted shows a percentage of 0-0011 of cases in which the inquiries made had no satisfactory result. MONEY-ORDERS. During the year 648,951 orders were issued, of a value of £3,335,552. This represented a decrease compared with the previous year of 65,527 in number and of £657,483 in value. POSTAL NOTES. The postal-note service was more freely used this year than last. The sales were 2,686,648 postal notes, of a value of £958,373, against 2,884,654, of a value of £952,444, during the previous year. The commission totalled £23,902 9s. Id., an. increase of £1,198 os. sd. on the commission earned in the previous year. The decrease in the number of postal notes sold is accounted for by the fact that the new series, comprising thirty-nine denominations, was on sale during the whole of the year. If the demand for postal notes had been met by the issue of postal notes of old denomination, the number issued would have been approximately 1,250,000 more than it actually was. BRITISH POSTAL ORDERS. British postal-order business fell away to some extent, 100,568 orders, of a value of £54,200 14s. 4d., being sold, as against 126,899, of a value of £70,644 4s. 2d., for the previous year. The number of orders paid was 28,603, of a value of £15,409 195., compared with 30,084, of a value of £17,029 145., paid during the previous year. SAYINGS-BANK. The deposits in the Post Office Savings-bank amounted to £16,933,176, and the withdrawals to £19,635,928, an excess of withdrawals of £2,702,752. The interest credited to depositors was £1,475,874, and the total amount at the credit of depositors at the end of the year was £42,028,621. Savings-bank ledger offices were established during the year at Dargaville (Ist September), Wairoa (Ist September), Te Kuiti (16th September), Taumarunui (Ist October), Levin (17th October), Waipukurau (Ist November), and Whakatane (24th November). Under section 25 of the Finance Act, 1932, the provisions of the Unclaimed Moneys Act, 1908, were applied to the Post Office Savings-bank. As a result, all accounts in the Post Office Savingsbank which had not been operated upon for twenty-five years or more were reviewed with a view to tracing the depositor or the next-of-kin. POST OFFICE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES. Post Office Investment Certificates were temporarily withdrawn from sale on the 28th February. The certificates were first placed on sale on the Ist September, 1927. The total sales since then amounted to £3,336,946, of which certificates costing £488,808 were sold during the year under review. WORK PERFORMED FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS. The Department continues to undertake a vast amount of work for other Departments. The total sum handled in this respect during the year amounted to approximately £29,000,000. Motor Registration. A great deal of work continues to be undertaken by the Department in connection with motor registration, the Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, being the Registrar of Motor-vehicles under the Motor-vehicles Act, and permanent Postmasters acting as Deputy Registrars. The volume of work involved is indicated by the following : Notwithstanding that the registration of 12,872 vehicles lapsed on the Ist June owing to the licenses not having been renewed in the two previous years, the total number of motor-vehicles (cars, commercial vehicles, and cycles) licensed as at the 31st March was 193,844, of this number 123,573 being in use in the North Island and 70,271 in use in the South Island. In addition, 1,175 demonstration-plates were issued to dealers. The fees collected by the Department in respect of the registration and/or licensing, &c., of these vehicles totalled £371,053 ; while the premiums collected in terms of the Motor-vehicles Insurance (Third-party risk) Act, 1928, amounted to £234,267. During the year 53,869 notifications of change of ownership were dealt with, and 7,496 duplicate certificates of registration were issued. Under this heading can also be mentioned the duty undertaken by the Department of making refunds of Customs duty on motor-spirits used other than in licensed motor-vehicles. The number of claims has increased progressively each year, the number handled in 1932 being 45,986 and the amount refunded £137,387. Much inquiry work is involved in connection with certain of these applications.

16

F.—1.

A new duty delegated to the Department during the year is that of collecting mileage-tax in accordance with the provisions of section 19 of the Finance Act, 1932-33 (No. 2), on motor-vehicles not propelled exclusively by means of motor-spirits. Notwithstanding the vast amount of work that is involved in the licensing of motor-vehicles, particularly at the annual relicensing periods, the business is handled smoothly and efficiently by the departmental organization. The convenience of the public is admirably suited, too, as business of this kind may be transacted at almost any post-office in the Dominion. Details of the work undertaken by the Registrar of Motor-vehicles appear in the report of the Transport Department. Unemployment. The volume of work undertaken on behalf of the Unemployment Board increased during the year, and has now reached high proportions. Under the Unemployment Amendment Act, 1932, the tax on salaries and wages and other classes of income was increased from Id. in every 6s. Bd. to Id. in every Is. Bd., and the liability previously imposed on women was extended to embrace every woman whose income other than salary or wages exceeded £20. Remembering that a great many of the transactions are in small amounts, the following particulars of the sums collected during the year give some indication of the work involved : — (a) Quarterly instalments of the general unemployment levy collected amounted to £435,390. (b) The sales of unemployment relief stamps, which are used mainly for the payment of wagestax, amounted to £1,284,660. In addition, wages-tax amounting to £941,820 was paid in cash to the Post Office. (c) An amount of £883,870 was paid through the Post Office in respect of income other than salaries and wages. (d) Under some of the unemployment schemes the relief workers obtain payment of their wages through the Post Office. The wages which are paid by local bodies to men engaged on. relief works are refunded to the local bodies through the Post Office. Wages vouchers paid during the year totalled £3,194,767. In addition, the failure by some taxpayers to furnish declarations of income when due or to promptly pay the emergency unemployment charge necessitated numerous inquiries and added very substantially to the volume of work. In a number of instances the inquiries led to prosecutions for failure to comply with the law. Postmasters continue to render valuable and efficient service as certifying officers and as Government representatives on local Unemployment Committees. TELEGRAPH AND TOLL SERVICES. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TELEGRAPH AND RADIO-TELEGRAPH QUESTIONS. An International Conference to consider, in accordance with the International Convention, telegraph and radio - telegraph matters met at Madrid on the 3rd September, the deliberations extending until the 10th December. A number of amendments to the regulations governing the acceptance of cable messages were decided on, the principal of which are as follows : — Effective from Ist April, 1933 — I. The system of week-end cable messages is abolished. 11. (a) The charge for daily letter-telegrams to be at the rate of one-third of ordinary full rate per word ; and (b) The minimum payment to be equivalent to that for a message of twenty-five words, each additional word to be charged at the rate of one-third of ordinary full rate per word. 111. The requirement that figures and commercial marks must not exceed one-third of chargeable words in text and signature to still apply to deferred and daily lettertelegrams ; but figures written in words not to be included in the restriction. IV. The charge for urgent messages to be reduced from treble to double rates. To take effect from Ist January, 1934— V. The undermentioned alterations in the conditions under which code words will be accepted for transmission in cable messages : — (а) Code words must not comprise more than five letters, which may be formed without restriction in respect of vowels. (б) Messages containing code words to be charged at the rate of 60 per cent, of ordinary full tariff per word. (c) The minimum charge to be equivalent to that for a five-word message. 2—F. 1.

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It was decided at the Conference to combine the International Radio-telegraph and International Telegraph Conventions in a single Convention, to be known as " The International Telecommunications Convention." New Zealand was represented at Madrid by Mr. M. B. Esson, the Dominion's representative on the Advisory Committee of Imperial and International Commnnications, Ltd., London. ALTERATION IN RATE FOR CABLE MESSAGES TO AUSTRALIA AND SUVA. Consequent upon the decision of the Madrid Telegraph Conference to increase (from twenty to twenty-five) the minimum number of chargeable words in daily-letter and night-letter cable messages, the rate for night-letter messages to Australia and Suva (Fiji) was altered as under from the Ist April: — Australia — From 3s. for 20 words and 2d. each additional word .. To 3s. 9d. for 25 words and 2d. each additional word. Suva (Fiji)— From ss. lOd. for 20 words and each additional To 6s. 3d. for 25 words and 3d. each word additional word. CLOSING OF WELLINGTON CABLE STATION. As a result of the merging (in the company known as Imperial and International Communications, Ltd.) of the interests of the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Co., the Pacific Cable Board, and other Empire communications organizations, the Wellington station of the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Co. was closed on the 31st May. From that date all cable traffic to and from New Zealand has been handled by the Auckland station of the Pacific Cable Board, associated with Imperial and International Communications, Ltd. The closing of the Wellington cable station is an event of importance in the history of telegraph communication between New Zealand and the outer world. It is interesting to note that, prior to the year 1876, New Zealand had no outward means of telegraph communication ; but following negotiations between the New Zealand Government and the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Co., Ltd., a cable connecting New Zealand with Australia was opened for business on the 21st February, 1876. This cable was laid from La Perouse, in New South Wales, to Wakapuaka, near Nelson, which was established as the terminal station in New Zealand of the company. When the service commenced the charge for messages to the United Kingdom was lis. 4d. a word, and there were no cheap rates. To-day the full-rate charge is is. Bd. a word, with much reduced charges for other classes of messages. In 1889 the business of the colony had so far developed as to warrant the company in duplicating the single cable. This work was completed in May, 1890. It was not until 1902 that the Pacific Cable commenced to operate from New Zealand. The situation at Wakapuaka of the terminal station of the Eastern Cable involved a good deal of transmission, and in 1917 the company found it expedient to transfer the terminal station to Wellington. The closing of the station and the concentration of all cable traffic at Auckland obviates the need for the maintenance of two sets of .cable staffs. The change has proved satisfactory to the Department. Adequate arrangements have been made for the expeditious handling of cable traffic to and from all parts of New Zealand. While the severance of relations between the pioneer cable concern and the Department is to be regretted, it is recognized that the organization still has a world-wide function, although now merged in the wider Imperial combination of cable interests. The relations existing between the company and the Department were always of a most harmonious nature ; and it is acknowledged that the company was ever ready to co-operate and to assist in meeting any emergency. MAINTENANCE OF TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION. It is again pleasing to report that, due to sound construction methods and to efficient organization, the Department has been able to maintain, often under adverse conditions, a high standard of telegraph and telephone service throughout the Dominion. The elements of nature caused major disruption of service on a number of occasions, but the prompt and effective steps taken to restore communication resulted in a minimum of inconvenience to the public and the smallest possible loss of revenue to the Department. It is of interest to record that major disruptions of service due to storms were confined to the Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury Districts —Otago and Southland apparently escaping the severe weather experienced in other parts of the Dominion. A fairly severe earthquake was experienced in the Wairoa district at about 1.25 a.m. on the 16th September. As a result of the visitation, telegraph communication between Napier and Gisborne was severed for some hours, but the two offices mentioned established two-way communication early per medium of the emergency radio sets that were oil owing the Hawke's Bay earthquake of 1931. The most serious feature of the earthquake was that service to 450 subscribers connected with the Wairoa exchange was interrupted, due to damage to the old bridge across the Wairoa River, which accommodated the lines in question.

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The wilful breakage of insulators has for some time been a matter of concern to the Department in its efforts to maintain a high standard of communication, and during the year some thousands of insulators were broken by acts of vandalism, involving the Department in considerable expenditure in replacements. The Department views very seriously the wilful breakage of insulators, and actively co-operates with the police with a view to obtaining convictions in every possible case. Due to motor-vehicles colliding with telegraph and telephone poles an increasing number of interruptions to the communication service, in some cases serious, occurred throughout the Dominion during the year. Most of these collisions are caused by negligence on the part of motorists, and in such cases the Department claims from the responsible parties the cost of restoring communication. MACHINE-PRINTING TELEGRAPHS. The start-stop machine-printing telegraph apparatus has continued to give very satisfactory service. During the year the system was extended by the opening of teleprinter circuits between Gisborne and Napier, Gisborne and Wellington, and between Hastings and Wellington. The benefits of the greater traffic-carrying capacity of the system were evident during the Christmas period, when the traffic was dealt with expeditiously, and it was unnecessary to take over for telegraph purposes wires which are normally used for telephone toll traffic. Machine-printing apparatus is now installed at the following offices : Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne, Hastings, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wanganui, and Wellington. BATTERY MAINTENANCE. During the year the universal battery system, operated on the full-float principle, was installed in the telegraph offices at Gisborne, Napier, and Westport, resulting in greater efficiency and a substantial reduction in the cost of maintenance. A similar system operating direct from small motorgenerators was installed at Hastings. SUNDAY TELEGRAPH ATTENDANCE. With a view to better providing for the public convenience on Sunday evenings it was decided during the year to alter to 6.30-7.30 p.m. the evening attendance at telegraph offices opening on Sundays. The change took effect from Sunday, the 16th October, and has proved to be satisfactory in operation. Previous to the change the hour of opening was 5-6 p.m., an extension of the 5-5.30 p.m. opening which applied from the early days of Sunday telegraph attendance. TOLL SERVICE : IMPROVED METHODS OF OPERATION. The existing facilities for the direct dialling of toll-calls by operators have functioned excellently during the year, and toll-dialling circuits have been provided between a number of additional exchanges. The provision of toll-dialling facilities enables a much more rapid and efficient toll service to be given, and, by lightening traffic loads formerly handled on a wholly manual basis, tends to reduce the operating staff required. In addition, toll-dialling circuits facilitate the use of the " Demand " method of operating referred to in the next paragraph. Increasing use is being made of the " Demand " method of operating, the aim of which is to complete as many toll calls as possible while the calling subscriber remains at the telephone. Concurrently with the opening of the Lower Hutt automatic-telephone exchange, this method of operating was brought into use between Wellington and Eastbourne, Upper Hutt, Plimmerton, Porirua, Paekakariki, and vice versa. The " Demand " method has also been applied initially or its use increased at various other exchanges. CARRIER-CURRENT TELEPHONE SYSTEMS AND VOICE-FREQUENCY TOLL REPEATERS. In last year's report it was stated that voice-frequency repeaters would probably be installed on a number of open aerial trunk-lines in various parts of the Dominion during 1932-33. Equipment of this type can be used to considerable advantage for increasing the speech volume on certain sections of the long-distance telephone network, but lack of funds prevented the Department from giving effect to any proposals for improvements in that direction during the year. It is proposed, however, to extend the application of the toll repeater and the carrier-current system as soon as circumstances permit, so that subscribers connected with the smaller exchanges in such districts as North Auckland, Central Otago, Southland, and the West Coast of the South Island will obtain a greater share in the benefits derivable from the use of this equipment. The precise determination of the full extent to which the Cook Straight single-core unloaded telegraph cables will lend themselves to the application of modern methods for the establishment of additional telephone outlets between the North and South Islands is a subject which has been referred to in previous reports, and one which has occupied the attention of the Department's Engineers over various periods during the past two or three years. It is now seven years since the Cook Strait telephone cable was laid, and. in view of the uncertainty as to the duration of the further period of uninterrupted service that might reasonably be expected of it, the Department considers it desirable that provision be made in the way of standby facilities, using the single-core cables, so that the inter-Island toll service 2*

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may not be disorganized in the event of partial or total interruption of this important line of communication. Telephonically, the efficiency of ordinary telegraph cables of the type and length in use across Cook Strait is very low, and falls off considerably as the frequency range of transmission is extended — a feature which presented technical difficulties of some magnitude when it came to the matter of designing suitable systems to provide foi the simultaneous operation of telegraph and telephone channels over the same cables. Notwithstanding these difficulties, however, it can now be stated that the Department has succeeded in the development of equipment that will provide for the establishment, at reasonable cost, by way of these single-core cables, of the required number of additional telephone channels. The provision of four channels by way of the single-core cables will enable the Department, without unduly restricting the facilities available for the handling of telegraph traffic, to tide over any period during which the telephone cable may be temporarily out of commission. EXTENSION OF TELEGRAPH AND TOLL SYSTEMS. With a view to keeping at a minimum expenditure on new works, and at the same time effecting essential or desirable improvements in the telegraph and toll services, the Department again concentrated on improving existing facilities wherever practicable. This was accomplished in some cases by rearranging lines and in others by undertaking general reconstruction work. In a few cases requirements could not be met except by the erection of new lines. The following are the places between which the efficiency of existing circuits was improved, or between which new circuits were erected : — Auckland Engineering District: Kaitaia-Herekino, Kawakawa-Ohaeawai, Ohaeawai-Okaihau, Ohaeawai - Waimate North, Waimate North - Kerikeri, Kiripaka-Ngunguru-Matapouri, Waiuku - Manukau Heads, Hamilton-Morrinsville, Hamilton-Otorohanga, Raglan -Te Akau, Tauranga - Te Puke, Raglan-Kawhia, Pirongia - Hauturu Junction, WhakataneTaneatua, Taneatua-Waimana, Owhango-Raurimu, Kaukapakapa-Glorit, Tauranga - Mount Maunganui, Auckland-Whitford, Auckland-Waiheke, Henderson-Karekare, Ho wick-Auckland. Wellington Engineering District: Gisborne - Tokomaru Bay, Waipawa-Hastings, WaipawaDannevirke, Palmerston North - Marton, Marton-Wanganui, Gisborne - Tolaga Bay, New Plymouth - Opunake, Opunake-Hawera, Okato-Opunake, Wellington - Upper Hutt, Wellington-Eastbourne, Wellington-Wainuiomata, Blenheim-Picton. Christchurch Engineering District: Conway-Kaikoura, Greymouth-Runanga, Hororata - Lake Coleridge, Christchurch - Pigeon Bay, Fairlie-Hermitage, Ashburton-Timaru. Dunedin Engineering District: Albert Town - Hawea Flat, Cromwell-Pembroke, RanfurlyHyde, Balclutha - Kaka Point, Winton - Dipton West, Winton-Dipton-Caroline-Lumsden. In addition to the foregoing, 367 miles of toll- and telegraph-pole line were reconstructed during the year. This work involved the replacement of 1,'357 miles of wire. Other improvements to the plant and equipment used in connection with the toll and telegraph services included the following : — The installation of amplifying apparatus on the toll board in the telephone-exchange at Auckland. , The installation of Creed teleprinter apparatus at Napier, Hastings, Gisborne, and Wellington, and the installation of Morse telegraph apparatus at Napier. The installation of the universal battery system at Napier. Provision of new lead-in toll- and telegraph-lines at Napier, Hastings, Gisborne, Blenheim, Seddon, Upper Moutere, New Plymouth, Stratford, Taihape, and Ohakune. The installation of new telegraph test-boards at Nelson and Dunback. The conversion of Paekakariki to a testing-station. The installation of dry rectifiers at Wellington and Ohakune for charging the batteries associated with the carrier-current equipment. The installation of " Demand" system on the toll-boards in the telephone-exchanges at Wellington, Gisborne, and Dannevirke. The replatal of the battery at Wellington-Radio. The provision of facilities for toll-dialling between Waipu and Auckland, Waipu and Whangarei, Auckland and Whangarei, Dargaville and Whangarei, Kaikohe and Whangarei, Kawakawa and Whangarei, Maungakaramea and Whangarei, Whakapara and Whangarei, Hikurangi and Whangarei, Upper Hutt and Wellington, Rongotea and Palmerston North, and Levin and Palmerston North. POLES AND WIRE. During the year 83 miles of pole-line and 1,391 miles of wire were erected for telegraph and telephone (toll) purposes, while 154 miles of pole-line and 846 miles of wire were dismantled, or, in localities where no longer required by the Department, sold to settlers for use as private telephone-lines. The lengths of pole-line and wire in use for telegraph and telephone toll purposes on the 31st March, 1932 and 1933, respectively, were as follow : — t- , j txt- Year ended Year ended Pole-line and Wire. 31st March, 1932. 31st March, 1933. Miles of pole-line .. .. .. .. .. 12,486* 12,415 Miles of wire .. .. .. .. .. 63,676* 64,221

* Revised figures.

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Tlie telegraph and telephone wire in use on the 31st March, 1933 viz., 64,221 miles is classified as under :— Miles. Used exclusively for telephone toll traffic .. .. •• •• 6,826 Used exclusively for telegraph traffic .. .. •• ■■ 8,153 Used simultaneously and (or) conjointly for telegraph and telephone toll traffic .. • • • • •• • • • • .. 49,242 The total length of wire that may be used for telephone toll traffic is 56,068 miles ; the total length that may be used for the transmission of telegrams, 57,395 miles ; and the length of telephone tolllines over which telegrams may be transmitted by telephone, 23,222 miles. The total length of Morse circuit derived from the superimposing of telephone circuits is 13,289 miles, and the total length of additional telephone toll circuit improvised from the existing wire by the use of subsidiary apparatus associated therewith (so-called phantom working) is 7,369 miles. In addition, 3,674 channel miles of telephone toll circuit have been obtained from the application of the carrier-current telephone system to telephone trunk lines. NEW ZEALAND SUBMARINE CABLES. COOK STRAIT CABLES. With the exception of No. 1 Oterongu Bay - White Bay single-core telegraph cable, the Cook Strait submarine cable circuits have functioned satisfactorily throughout the year. The £*0. 1 Oterongu Bay-White Bay cable went out of action in August. At that time the trouble was diagnosed as an earth fault', but it has since developed into a total break approximately half a nautical mile from the Oterongu Bay cable hut. As the other cables across the Strait are sufficient for present traffic requirements, it is proposed to hold over repairs until a second cable goes out of commission. FOVEAUX STRAIT CABLE. The submarine cable between Stewart Island and the mainland has remained in good working order throughout the year. The short-wave radio link between. Half-moon Bay (Stewart Island) and Awarua-Radio which was used when the cable was out of action in 1931 is being maintained as an emergency channel of communication. RADIO TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE SERVICES. OVERSEAS RADIO TELEPHONE SERVICE. The facilities for telephoning to Australia and Great Britain, and to a number of other countries via London, continue to be used as well as can be expected in view of the present economic conditions. Under favourable circumstances communication is excellent, and experience proves that the only limitation to the service becoming as reliable and effective as a land-line connection could be overcome by the provision of more powerful transmitters to counteract unfavourable atmospheric conditions. While the present service is a high-grade one and the restricted hours adequately meet existing requirements, it is hoped as the demand grows to considerably improve and extend the service Under present conditions the available hours of service are not nearly fully occupied, and the existing equipment is capable of carrying a considerable increase in business and social calls between New Zealand and overseas countries. _ The service lias been extended to Ceuta (North Africa), Gibraltar, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain, making it available to most of the European countries. DEPARTMENTAL RADIO-STATIONS : OPERATION. The departmental radio stations gave uninterrupted service during the year. Auckland-Radio . For the past three years a temporary receiving station remotely controlled from AucklandRadio has been located on private property at Takapuna. In view of the very satisfactory reception obtained in this locality the Department proposes to acquire a site of approximately 2 acres near Brown's Bay and to erect a permanent building thereon to house the receiving equipment which will be transferred in the near future. As in the case of the temporary station, the apparatus will normally be unattended.

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Wellington-Radio . The remarkable range of short-wave transmissions, even with only medium power, is shown by the fact that on a number of occasions recently the Wellington radio station has been able to keep in constant touch with liners during their journeys between New Zealand and England via the Panama Canal. The power employed by the Wellington apparatus is approximately 500 watts (aerial rating), the maximum distance worked being in the vicinity of 11,000 miles. lhe advantageous position of the Mount Crawford (Wellington) radio-telephone receiving station for overseas reception has resulted in its frequent use for the reception of important broadcasts for relaying by land line to the New Zealand broadcasting stations. In order to obviate interruption to the normal radio-telephone service on these occasions, an additional radio receiver has been provided, and two further line connections have been made from the receiving station to the Wellington telephone exchange. Awarua-Radio. At Awarua reception of the British official wireless news has been successfully carried out since the inception of the service. The number of words received from that source during the past year was approximately 290,000. The power of the short-wave transmitter at" this station has been increased from 100 watts to 250 watts (aerial rating) with a consequent improvement in range. Situated as it is almost at the antipodes of the chief European centres, it is significant that Awarua-Radio has always been one of the most efficient long-distance radio terminals. Although the power employed is very low when compared with that used by other stations engaged in long-distance services, this station continues to maintain its reputation, particularly as regards short-wave communication with the world's shipping, and also in its consistent reception of signals from European stations. EMERGENCY RADIO STATIONS. The emergency radio stations established last year have proved themselves amply justified, as they create a feeling of security in the event of the loss of the usual telephonic and telegraphic channels. Although there was no interruption of-main lines for any considerable time during the year, a number of short interruptions occurred, and in certain cases the emergency radio stations were brought into service. Regular tests are carried out between the various emergency stations to ensure that contact with other stations can be obtained when necessary. RADIO-TELEGRAPH SERVICE WITH SMALL COASTAL VESSELS. The regulations governing the carrying of radio apparatus on New Zealand ships require only vessels of over 1,600 tons gross tonnage or which carry more than twelve passengers or nineteen persons to be so fitted. Such vessels use the international wave-length of 600 metres. There is, however, a tendency on the part of owners of smaller ships to fit such ships with radio apparatus of a somewhat more simple and compact type than that required for participation in the general communication service if by so doing the ships are enabled to keep in touch with their headquarters during their voyages. _ The Department has recognized this, demand, and, as the result of experiments carried out recently, is prepared to consider the establishment of such a service according to prearranged schedules, on waves in the vicinity of 60-100 metres, from the low-power apparatus situated at various centres primarily for emergency purposes. The indications are that this arrangement will be availed of in certain cases in the near future. OPENING OF COMMERCIAL RADIO-TELEGRAPH STATION AT PORTLAND ISLAND. A commercial radio-telegraph station was opened at Portland Island on the 23rd May. The station holds daily schedules with Wellington-Radio, and is conducted by the lighthouse-keeper. REVISION OF RADIO REGULATIONS. Consequent upon the rapid advance made in radio practice, it has been necessary to make a comprehensive revision of the various regulations for the control of radio transmissions. The revised regulations were issued in July, and embodied in a single volume the sets of regulations that had been in force previously covering separately (a) ship stations, (b) broadcasting services, (c) the sale of radio apparatus, and (d) amateur radio activities. Many amendments have been incorporated in the new regulations. The most important are (a) The introduction of special examinations for certificates for the operation of broadcasting stations. (This is a new provision, and is intended to provide that persons entrusted with the operation of broadcasting stations shall be specially qualified.) (b) The raising of the standard of the examinations for radio signallers, the designation applied to the operators of the radio equipment on the smaller vessels. (It has been considered necessary to increase the scope of these examinations in order to include more modern types of transmitting apparatus. The speed required for the telegraph operating portion of the examination has been raised from ten to twelve words per minute. This higher speed qualification is deemed to be necessary in view of the general advance in radio-telegraphy.)

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(c) Fees have been fixed for broadcasting-station licenses. (It is considered reasonable that licensees should pay & fee.) ~ (d) Provision has been made for '•multiple" receiving-station licenses to meet the-/equire-ments of hotels, clubs, &c„ in which numbers of receivmg-pomts are required, (lhis (e) Provision is made for hcenses for private commercial stations ; that is, for the exchange of correspondence for commercial purposes between fixed non-Government stations. (This also is a new provision.) The combining of the regulations in one comprehensive volume is found to be a great convenience to all concerned, and a facility in the handling generally of radio and related subjects. BROADCASTING SERVICE. The broadcasting service continues to be efficiently controlled by the New Zealand Broadcasting Board under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act of 1931. The operations of the Board for its first year of control (1932) form the subject of a "report which will be presented separately to Parlia men Shortly after taking controlfon the Ist January, 1932, the Board appointed a commission (Mr A Gibbs, Chief Telegraph Engineer of the Post and Telegraph Department, andDr M. A F. Barnett, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research) to ™p°rt °n tlu? oest avaikble means of providing an efficient broadcasting service for all localities throughout New Zealand As a " of the Commission's recommendations, the Board is already erecting near Chnstchurch a modern broadcasting station complete with new transmitter to replace the existing station , it is expected that the new station will be operating towards the end of 1933. In Wellington, an auxi ia y station has been provided for emergency purposes. This station (2YC) transmits dinner music o week days between 7 and 8 p.m. upon a frequency of 1,010 kilocycles, providing listeners wAm alternative to 2YA's 7to 8 p.m. news and reports session. In addition, proposals are in tram for erection at Auckland of a modern station complete with new transmitter ; and it is also intended to the Bo.ri » .ut.ffizi.g eight casting stations which operate in areas not deemed to be adequately served by the Board s station . Advisory Council. The following gentlemen have been reappointed for a period of one year to the Advisory Council provided Cm the B Broadcasting Act: Mr. A. B. Chappell, Auckland, Mr. J. S. Anchor, Hamilton, Mr F T Davis, New Plvmouth, Mr. W. A. Waters, Palmerston North, Mr J. H. Owen, Wellington, Mr'. C.' r'. Russell, Chnstchurch, Mr. H. Booth, Dunedin, Mr. A. W. Jones, Invercargill. Growth of Receiving Licenses. The number of radio-receiving licenses in force on the 31st March was 93,489. Of these, 38,492 were held in the Wellington Engineering District, 27,241 in the Auckland District, 15,727 m the Canterbury District and 12 029 in the Otago District. Included in the total are 272 licenses issued ree o m persons' The figures represent a gain of 18,500 listeners in twelve months-a most satisfactory increase indeed conditions, listeners have been provided with the facility of paying their licence fees in half-yearly instalments. This no doubt has been appreciated by many people who find it a hardship to pay the full license fee at the beginning of the year. Operation of Unlicensed Sets. The Department's Inspectors have been active in detecting the operation of radio-receiving apparatus which is not licensed. During the year, 929 persons were convicted of operating unlicensed sets, the fines inflicted totalling £748 ss. 6d. Electrical Interference with Radio Reception. With the increasing number of radio-broadcast listeners in New Zealand, the number of complaints of interference caused by the operation of electrical apparatus of various types has also increased. Since the inception of broadcasting, the Department has undertaken the duty of locating and endeavouring to eliminate interference at its source, but the increase m the number of cases reported nf late has necessitated the reorganization of this section of the radio branch. _ , Additional battery-operated receivers of the portable type have been supplied to Radio Inspectors, 1 further officers have been trained in the detection and elimination of electrical interference. mJ°tewhave been mad, „v,i!.ble for the « of Kadio Inspector,, th. Where nec "7 gervice to be given . Additional statutory power to require owners of interfering equipment to take the necessary remedial measures is desirable, and legislation for this purpose is proposed.

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A classified record of the oomplaints of interference received by the Department over a period of some months shows that m a very large number of cases the disturbance was due to faults in the receiving apparatus itself, and in other cases to aerials being erected in a more or less haphazard manner without regard to such factors as proximity to electric-power lines, &c. While the Department is anxious to do all that is possible to eliminate interference, and to this end investigates all complaints received, it cannot reasonably be expected to be responsible for pointing out defects in the receiving apparatus of individual listeners. Complaints to the Department should, therefore be made only after tests have proved that the disturbance is received over the air from a source beyond the receiving station. J Private Broadcasting Stations. The number of private broadcasting stations now in operation is 30. Amateur Transmitting? Stations : Suspension of License. Because of a breach of the regulations in regard to the acceptance of private messages for delivery to a third party, it was found necessary to suspend for a period during the year the license issued for an amateur transmitting station. . ncense Broadcasting Station Wave-lengths. In the new radio regulations issued by the Department it is required that the waves used bv broadcasting stations shall at all tames be within 100 cycles of the assigned frequency (wave-length) With a view to the periodical checking of the waves used by the stations, the Department is taking steps to improve the standard of its monitoring equipment. It is hoped that this will enable broad casting stations to be kept on their correct frequencies, and thus provide a maximum of service with a minimum of interference with the transmissions of other stations. Empire Broadcasting Service. Following discussions which took place at the Imperial Conference of 1930 the British Broarl casting Corporation arranged for the establishment of a modern short-wave broadcasting station at Daventry, England, for the purpose of communicating with all parts of the Empire The station commenced operations on the 19th December, and special arrangements were made in New Zealand for the reception of the transmissions and for their rebroadcast to New Zealand listeners. Unfortunately reception m the Dominion was not satisfactory, and the rebroadcasts were discontinued after a short period of trial. The British Broadcasting Corporation is making every effort to improve the service Test transmissions are being continued at varying hours on different wave-lengths with a view to determining the most suitable conditions for reception in New Zealand. It is confidently anticipated that the ultimate result will be uniformly reliable reception at suitable times of the Empire broadcast Special Broadcasts. During the year many notable overseas transmissions were rebroadcast to New Zealand listeners Many of the transmissions were arranged over the overseas radio-telephone channel and in some instances by means of the Empire Broadcasting Service. A broadcast of major importance was the Empire Broadcast arranged by the British Broadcasting Corporation on Christmas Day, when greetings from notable people in various parts of the EmS were transmitted to London by radio-telephony, broadcast from the British Broadcasting Corporation's station, and retransmitted by radio-telephone to all parts of the Empire for broadcast there The broadcast culminated m a personal message to the Empire from His Majesty the King Although conditions m New Zealand were not suitable for the reception of the transmission at the original broadcast, a record of the proceedings was made m London and rebroadcast for New Zealand listeners on the morning of the 26th December. Included in the special broadcast was a message from New Zealand s Prime Minister, the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes. Other overseas broadcasts of note were the Armistice Day Commemoration Service at the Cenotaph London, the unveiling of the Anzac Memorial at Port Said, and the speech of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at the inauguration of New Zealand Day in London 7 During the period of the Olympic Games at Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., special transmissions were made from Station KFI Los Angeles, of the results of the various events. ArrangemeTwere made as far as possible to eliminate interference from local stations at the time of transmission of these broadcasts, which were uniformly well received. Transmission ot , In , addition > many other happenings overseas, both of general and sporting interest were rebroadcast during the year by the New Zealand stations. 1 g mterest > were TRANS-TASMAN AIR FLIGHTS. īneomeetion with the flight from Australia to New Zealand, undertaken on the 11th January by Sir Char es Kmgsford Smith in the aeroplane " Southern Cross " and on the occasion of the reton journey on the 24th March, special arrangements were made for a continuous watch to be kept at the Department s radio stations. The public was kept informed of the progress of the flights by messages transmitted from the aeroplane through departmental stations to the Broadcasting Board m6SSageS At the Bell Block Aerodrome New Plymouth, the terminal of the Australia-New Zealand flight special telegraph and toll facilities were provided on the day of landing of the aeroplane and special telegraph arrangements were made at the Ninety-mile Beach (North Auckland) on the occasion of the departure of the Southern Cross "on its return journey.

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TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SERVICES. DEVELOPMENT OF TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEMS. The effects of the economic situation on the telephone business have continued in evidence during the financial year under review, but not to the extent that might have been anticipated. he relinquishments of telephones for the year have exceeded the new connections by approximately 5 300 representing 4-10 per cent, of the paying main-station telephones in use at the beginning of the veal- ' In December 1930, the Department had reached the peak of development regarding the number of subscribers connected, and since that date the loss of subscribers has been only 6-84 per cent. Compared with other businesses this small loss is a cause for congratulation and indicates that the rentals charged are reasonable. . , , ~, 7W Tf , The total number of departmental telephone stations at the end of the year was 151,757. It to this number is added the private-line telephones connected with toll stations and non-departmental exchanges (3,803), the number of telephones in service on the 31st March was 155,560. The following is a brief summary of the year's operations in regard to the development and maintenance of telephone-exchange systems in the Dominion The extension of switching equipment at two automatic exchanges and three manual exchanges ; and the conversion of the manual exchanges at Whangarei and Lower Hutt to automatic working. The laying of approximately 3 miles of underground cable ducts. . The laying or erecting of 68 miles of lead-covered cable containing 6,809 miles of wire tor subscribers' circuits. . . The erection of 114 miles of pole-line and 1,286 miles of open aerial wire for telephoneexchange subscribers' circuits. The reconstruction or partial reconstruction of open wire systems at fourteen exchanges. The installation of a motor generator at Kelburn automatic exchange. The renewal of the secondary battery at Devonport automatic exchange, the replacement of the existing batteries at Wanganui and Dunedin automatic exchanges, and the replatal of the batteries at Christchurcli and. Palmerston North automatic exchanges. The provision and installation of ladders in the switchroom of the Lower Hutt automatic exchange for the purpose of facilitating inside maintenance operations. The installation of air filtering equipment at the Lower Hutt, Courtenay Place, and Miramar automatic exchanges. . , .. C( T . ~ The installation of register spark quench circuits at Chnstchurch, Dunedin, South Dunedin, and Roslyn automatic exchanges. . The installation of new rectifiers of the copper-oxide type for the purpose of charging the exchange switchboard batteries and the 24-volt battery at the Nelson Telephone Exchange. The removal of the Westport Telephone Exchange to the new building. _ The installation of one pay station and six public call offices, including the restoration at Napier and Hastings of three public call offices destroyed during the earthquake. The length of various items of telephone-exchange plant in existence on the 31st March, 1932, and 1933, 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, 1933, are as under : Telephone-exchange wire in underground cables .. .. .. 70 per cent. Telephone-exchange wire in aerial cables .. .. •• ''on " Telephone-exchange open aerial wire .. • • • • .. 20 „

25

Cable. Wire. Pole-line. !' ; * Duct me. rjiider- • 11 n(^er " in Aerial Open Under all around Aerial. ground Cable. Aerial. Headings. s ' Cable. [ | | Miles Chains. ' Chains. Chains. Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. In existence on 31st 15,263 43,020* 93,131 44,411 390,992 57,195 108,548 556,735 March, 1932 Erected during year 114 228 4,654 797 5,960 848 1,286 8,094 Dismantled during year 21 3 693 1,216 2,417 1,308 1,214 4,939 In existence on 31st 15,356 43,245 97,092 43,992 394,535 56,735 108,620f 559,890 March, 1933 fi • '■ . * Revised figures. t Includes 145 miles of earth-working circuit.

p.—l.

TELEPHONE STATISTICS. The steady growth of the telephone system is exemplified in the following table, which shows annually since 1924 the number of exchanges, the total wire-mileage, the revenue, and the total number of telephone-stations, together with the number of telephones for each 1,000 of population of the Dominion :—

The manner in which the exchanges are classified, the number of exchanges in each class, and the number of stations connected therewith on the 31st March, 1933, are shown in the following table :

In addition to the stations shown in the preceding table there were 3,803 stations connected by private telephone-lines directly or indirectly with departmental toll stations, making a grand total of 155,560 telephone-stations on the 31st March, 1933. The following table shows the number of telephone-stations in each engineering district on the 31st. March, 1932 and 1933, respectively : —

26

Number of Telephone-stations. Year " Exchanges. Miles of Wire. Revenue. " Total. p Per Jropulation. £ 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 1932 .. .. .. 349 556,735 1,218,072 160,779* 105-45 1933 .. .. .. 349 559,890 1,169,512 155,560* 101-21 * Includes approximately 4,000 non-exchange stations. *]■ Decrease owing to temporary loss of subscribers due to Hawke's Bay earthquake.

! Class I. Class II. Class III. Exchanges or Net- Exchanges or Net- Exchanges or Net- ! works observing works observing works observing Class IV. Continuous Continuous Continuous Exchanges I Attendance and Attendance and Attendance and or Networks Dominion j 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 conj nected therewith, nected therewith. nected therewith. Subscribers' main stations .. 42,343 23,913 28,403, 25,852 J 120,511 Toll and service stations .. 768 533 925 1,756 3,982 Public call offices - .. .. 562 121 61 6 750 Extension stations — P-B.X. •• •• 9,597 2,146 748 101 12,592 Ordinary .. .. .7,502 3,356 2,117 947 13,922 Telephone-stations: Class totals 60,772 30,069 32,254 28,662 151,757 Number of exchanges in each class 4 13 62 270 349 ___ i

Number of Telephone Stations on 31st March, Engineering District. 1932. ■ 1933. 1 Percentage Main Extension T . , Main Extension „ , . ! Decrease. Stations. Stations. ' ' Stations, i Stations. iotal. | I | - . Auckland .. 40,967 7,626 48,593 1 39,495 7,650 47,145, 2-9 Wellington .. 52,173 11,058 63,231 49,769 11,160 60,929 3-6 I • Canterbury .. 19,860 4,585 24,445 ! 18,980 4,578 23,558 3-6 Otago .. 17,535 3,168 20,703 16,999 3,126 20,125 2-8 Totals .. 130,535 26,437 156,972 125,243 26,514 151,757 3-3

F.—l.

The number of telephone-stations (main and extension) connected with each of the fifteen principal exchanges on the 31st March, 1933, was: Auckland, 20,832 > 'fnoi) .Tnvercarmll' 12 247 • Dunediii 8 066; Wanganui, 3,382 ; Palmerston North, 3,134 ; Hamilton, 3,020 , Invercargill, 2,771 ;'Gisborne,'2,4BB ; Hastings, 2,476 ; New Plymouth, 2,115 ; Timaru, 2,010 ; Masterton, 1,938 ; Na The l Ser N rural lines on the 31st March, 1933, was 11,608 to which were connected 44,962 main stations-an increase of 255 and a decrease of 234, respectively, on the figures for the pievious teble ghowS) for eacll clagg 0 f exchange, the respective percentages of business and residential stations, also the respective percentages of individual- and party-line stations, on the 31st March, 1933 . — 1 " i T I I

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. Lower Hutt Exchange : Conversion to Automatic Working. The installation of the automatic switching equipment to replace the „+ T n wfT TTntf was completed during the year, and was cut into service on the Ist October. iUe new automatic equipment provides for (a) combined service—i.e., connection to and from any subscriber in the Wellington area as well as to and from any subscriber m the Lower Hutt area, and (6) local service i.e. connection to and from any subscriber m the Lower Hutt area, but not to and from Wellington subscribers outside the Lower Hutt area except through the medium of the toll service. A special rate is charged for the combined service, and this apparently proved satisfactory to subscribers as a big majority elected to take advantage of the combined service rather than the local service In order to provide the combined service the automatic equipment was required to form nart of and work in with the Wellington metropolitan automatic telephone-exchange system, _ m addition to serving the requirements of the subscribers who elected to take the Lower Hutt service The new exchange, therefore, is required to fulfil somewhat unusual requirements so far as New Zealand is concrrned and is the first of its kind to be installed in the Dominion. For a limited period various technical difficulties were encountered ; but these were successfully overcome, and shortly after the change-over the equipment was functioning to the entire satisfaction of subscribers and the Department. Whangarei Exchange : Conversion to Automatic Working. On the 3rd April the new automatic switching system comprising 1,100 subscribers' lines was cut into service at Whangarei. The conversion was accomplished with a minimum of Rouble, and faults developed beyond those usually associated with an undertaking of this nature. The new system SSSSSaSLI, »»e a. flange-over and should, with perhaps nunor ex.— from tan. to time, provide Whangarei with a high-grade telephone service for many years. Installation of Air-conditioning Plants in Automatic Telephone Exchanges. Owing to the delicate nature of automatic switching equipment and its susceptibility to dust and moisture in the atmosphere, it is necessary to maintain the am m the ew.toh.room m,, ele at a certain relative humidity, and at an even temperature throughout the year, -tor tins purpose, air conditioirhig and filtering plants are necessary. During the year installations were completed at the Whangarei, Courtenay Place, Miramar, and Lower Hutt exchanges, and are functioning satisfactorily. Automatic Private Branch Exchanges. During the year one new automatic private branch exchange was installed—namely, a 70-lme unit in the Christchurch Public Hospital.

27

Class I Class II Class III Class IV Dominion Percentage of Exchanges. Exchanges. Exchanges. Exchanges. Percentages. oq <52 27 1 9 30 Business stations • • • • 00 Residential stations .. • • 62 "Too 100 100 100 100 Individual-line stations .. • • 88 74 4J 31 Party-and rural-line stations .. 12 I 26 51 69 37 100 100 100 100 100 -

F.—l.

APPENDIX.

Table No. 1. Receipts and Payments for the Years 1881-82, 1891-92, 1901-2, 1911-12, 1921-22, and Following Years.

Table No. 2. 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.

28

Other Disbursements. Balance of — — Vp „ r Balance 1? . , Payments for Receipts over Depreciation Fund' Payment to forward. Receipts. Working- Working- Investment, ttiWpq* on Consolidated Balance. expenses. expenses including Expendi- ln tereston Fund Payments. ture on Renewals, T - f-i-J and Replacements vacuity. of Assets. 1881-1882 .. .. I 234,529 233,291 1,238 * 1891-1892 .. .. 320,058 268,343 51,715 " " " * 1901-1902 .. .. 488,573 465,756 22,817 " * 1911-1912 .. .. I 1,087,710 988,911 98,799 " " * 1921-1922 .. .. 2,811,535 2,451,571 359,964 " " " + 1922-1923 .. .. 2,687,768 2,114,994 572,774 .! " I 1923-1924 .. .. 2,688,954 2,120,584 568,370 " j 1924-1925 .. .. 2,889,450 2,416,257 473,193 " " i 1925-1926 .. .. 3,100,396 2,409,556 690,840 " " j 1926-1927 .. .. 3,220,666 2,346,274 874,392 " " " I 1927-1928 .. .. 3,329,511 2,299,571 1,029,940 j J928-1929 .. .. 3,445,545 2,445,068 1,000,477 550,000 428 000 ' 22 477t 1929-1930 .. 22,477 3,641,620 2,560,199 1,081,421 570,000 48l'000 52*898 + " 52 ' 898 3 ' 707 ' 420 2,642,400 1,065,020 558,248 !55*670 1931 1932 .. 55,670 3,715,230 2,164,538 1,550,692 80 029 550 000 941 616*5 34 717 1932-1933 .. 34,717 3,293,932 2,019,302 1, 272,8Ī8 456,000* H'M * Revenue paid to Consolidated Fund. f Revenue paid to Consolidated Fund and utilized in payment of working-expenses interest ™ Act' 1™?'- . liabili t ty ' . J F ° st ««"e separated from CoZliltedTund 19M P '§ Sertion 4 Finance Act, 1931 (No. 2), Depreciation rates revised and adjustment made in amount paid to Consolidated Fund.

Where payable. Com- ~~ ~ Total Year ' received. I" Pominhm. United Kingdom.» Foreign Countries^ No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. £ £ f L863 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 j 91,634 14,113 46,940 .. .. 172,556 541,133 1893 10,249 146,133 576,359 29,616 86,545 35,208 88,025 .. ,. 210,957 750,929 1903 15,882 273,535 1,108,067 63,309 157,790 59,468 150,368 .. .. 396,312 1,416,225 1913 16,872 516,536 2,821,624 100,634 336,992 73,575 199,158 .. 690 745 3 357 774 1923 28,357 545,605 3,849,423 54,461 223,143 68,044 284,778 16,869 32'si5 684 979 4 390 159 1924 28,542 580,569 4,113,813 57,175 232,436 75,743 312 624 18 024 34 056 731 511 4 692 929 1925 28,843 610,972 4,406,461 64,777 259,439 72,519 278!050 18 421 33 280 766 689 4 977 230 1926 24,746 63o,078 4,453,878 67,570 273,758 70,774 270,065 19,688 3ō'426 793'llO 5'o33'l27 \ 9 2l M® 639 ' 889 4 > 416 > 182 69,764 276,747 73!o21 265!752 36 409 803 481 4'995'ran fnon o 'n 642,136 4,406,187 69,366 266,072 73,786 267,411 22,597 37,852 807'885 4 977'522 1929 25,673 664,049 4,609,226 70,540 274,672 76,230 263,929 24 539 39 726 835'358 5187^53 1930 35,603 669,484 4,497,547 61,611 251,730 283,973 221107 36!379 lllfol s'oX'S Inoi 608 > 706 3,667,683 36,938 159,347 54,191 143,136 14,643 22,869 714'478 3'993'o35 193- 31,6w9 562,930 3,130,928 30,675 94,800 J 43,005 92,012 12,341 17,812 64s'951 3'33s'552

F— 1.

Table No. 2-continued. Table showing the Number and Amount of Money-orders issued, etc.-continued. Drawn on the Dominion.

Table No. 3. Table showing the Number and Weight of Parcels exchanged with other Countries during the Years 1931 and 1932.

29

Where issued. - — -j Total. Australia and other I Foreign I Year. In the Dominion. United Kingdom. British Possessions. j Countries.! | No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount, j No. | Amount.| No. j Amount. 1863 2,067 9,169 415 1,824 j 558 .. 1 3,040 14,071 1873 34,288 1 142,642 1,482 6,626 j 1,668 7,689 .. •• 37,438 156,957 1883 132,232! 402,559 3,725 15,553 | 5,697 23,300 .. .. 141,654 441,411 1893 146,133 576,359 8,746 32,617 1 10,679 40,929 .. .. 165,558 649,905 1903 273,535 1,108,067 13,035 49,181 ! 17,777 ] 68,340 .. .. 304,347 1,225,589 „13 516,536 «1,624 12,« JO.OM j 31, g | .»,«7 ggj 1923 545,60o 3,849,423 cHI, j <,o'ao i 12 7 350 2 348 10 309 619,770 4,312,334 1924 580,569 4,113,813 8,310 60,862 fc.28,543 27,350 2 348 10 309 1925 610,972 4,406,461 9,857 69,098 27,318 1 , , 676,394 4,660,104 1926 635,078 4,453,878 32'79] 136763 2*428 686,804 4,642,261 1927 639,889 4,416,182 11,646 80,015 ; 32,791 | 13b, 763 ,«» a,au , 4 623,764 1928 642,136 4,406,187 10,607 70,151 : 32,650 . 138,068 2,636 688,0.9 1929 664,049 4,609,226 RO'pit qo'776 ' 126'o51 2'650 9 270 712,955 4,695,485 1930 669,483 4,497 547 0,046 62,617 30,776 126,0a 2 b50 J W 3 838,829 \Z 8,068 60,479 j ll'S j «ft 2 ;806 16>3 . in United Kingdom and foreign offices.

Beceived. Despatched. ,,,,,, X932 1931. 1932. Places. 1981. Number. Weight. Number.) Weight. Number. Weight. Number.] Weight. Great Britain and Northern 98,479 811!440 79,728 612 17,773 70,m 15,383 65,288 Ireland and foreign coun32,393 184,121 20,441 .09,Ml >,024 13,771 2,878 10,141 possessions 114 097 7 448 87,240 1,634 6,241 1,434 5,271 Canada • • •• 9,838 114,097 7.44» 0 New South Wales .. 25,-54 , 16;956 Victoria •• •• lj.846 59,625 li,«l |07| 2,884 Queensland .. 1,131 2,-dd g 1;375 587 1,763 South Australia .. •• 819 422 096 623 | , 661 582 1,398 Western Australia .. 398 1,0 . 612 1,751 588 1,618 Tasmania .. 300 96 259 662 ] ,530 663 1,920 Norfolk Island .. •• 84 4g? 376 455 1,410 Union of South Atrica .. 969 -.,111 143 2 8 98 Egypt .. •• • • ■ 6*319 781 6,243 .. •• •• Aden •• •• •• 9'}'o78 3 116 22,704 865 4,234 837 4,463 India 3,090 m m 452 Ceylon .. •• 419 , 2 30g 1>234 242 1,124 Straits Settlements .. 652 2,215 5 540 502 2,175 622 2,833 Hong Kong .. •• 1,498 10,707 Sbs qo lg M4g Kji ''In 108 417 1 098 5,319 747 3,604 Tonga 121 £11 iu l 176 1,257 Tahiti 80 ./ 20 99 34 156 Uruguay •■ • • " " i .. 14 49 40 124 Others .. • • • • • • I ' ' ' " Xotals .. 1189,220 1,330,243 151,436 I 999,035 45,629 163,685 42,432 | 157,629

Table No. 4. POST OFFICE SAVINGS-BANK.— GENERAL STATEMENT. Table showing the Business of the Post Office Savings-bank in the various Postal Districts of New Zealand during the Year ended 31st March, 1933.

30

F.--1.

® s c 2 I — ■ge I A ■ | 7 pOo»« Number Average , * tig's | Deposits Total Amount ofeadf »' Amount Excess of Excess of Number Number ToM Amount Ammmt Postal Districts. received of Deposits Deposit drawals w °, f , e , ach , S?5® s j ts over Withdrawals Interest Accounts Accounts Accounts ?J ng if during received during received , Withdrawals Withdrawal Withdrawals ! over Deposits for the ooened rinsed remain- n™ a l the Credit g~.5| o the the Period. during d ™g dunng the Period. during during i during Period 55! I SS™ open Open Accounts, ot each Period the 8 the the Perfod. | the Period. Pen ° d ' at Close T '?^» s f 1T t e „ 0 ' Open AcSocccsPh • Period Period. Period. j -r, of the Interest to the count at g I Penod - : Penod - Period. Cl0se of the Period- Close oi —- 1 1 ! ' the Period. Auckland .. .. 180 HM» MW» » i .! A 1 256,4« »,2,1,01 \ & & J J „ J <>„ « J * ***" " " 15 12 '' 8 ' "•••"»»»»» "- 068 211,6,3.7.0 12 8« .. 30,301 7 2 19,357 1, 4 .74 2,0« 10,1«, «2.7311«,, Christehurch .. 73 .8,,,58 2,«„,»28 2 1 14 3 11 245,847 3,060,401 6 1 12 , 0 .. 3.3,473 4 0 245,080 7 2 7,607 J „8,558 58 4 4 50 0 0 Dimedin .. .. 80 76,005 1.18», 635 1 5 15 13 4 ,02,25. 1,41», 142 0 7 .3 .5 7 ., 218,50« „ 2 120,1,1 .5 6 4,00« .5,082 63,0« 3,653,002 .2 „ 57 1, 7 G " b ™ " ' 26 2 '- 2!0 8M ' 812 *>«»* »•» «M»» « 14 4 2 1 .. 88,716 6 7 34,185 10 , .,52» 3,2» 20,812 ' 070,103 .8 0 4, .2 3 Greymouth .. 25 198,680 6 6 14 7 1 17,273 246,011 7 11 14 4 10 .. 47,331 1 5 25,374 13 6 1,008 3.018 1 12,501 707,977 9 2 56 12 8 Hamilton .. .. 90 80,084 1,097,674 6 6 13 14 1 80,920 1,232,550 19 0 15 4 7 .. 134,876 12 6 74,238 8 3 7,889 7,22, 48,467 2,154 346 18 5 44 9 0 Invercargill .. 39 28,020 371,790 6 10 13 5 4 36,071 468,559 16 3 12 19 10 .. 96,769 9 5 50,355 2 7 2,079 4,427 : 29,076 1,411,161 16 0 48 10 8 NaP1<3r " 42 S9 ' 806 96 °" 511 5 10 16 1 2 73,826| 1,088,032 7 6 14 14 9 .. 127,521 1 8 71,135 0 0 5,421 8,880 39,144 2,027,395 2 11 51 15 11 NelS011 - - 31 23 ' 7 " 352 ' 8 ° 3 17 6 14 16 6 29 ' 2 ° 5 » 8 41311 0 - 42,997 10 10 32,947 16 9 1,350 3.274 17,431 932 451 12 8 53 9 11 New Plymouth .. 37 46,515 606,911 9 11 13 0 11 49,720 742,803 18 10 14 18 9 .. 135,892 8 11 53,322 2 9 2,998 32,398 !,52*733 19 11 47 0 8 0amarU " - 12 13 ' 304 : 218 ' 025 13 11 * 9 1 10 13 18 6 .. 24,718 7 11 21,722 6 2 772 1,516 10,117 615,393 14 3 60 16 7 Palmerston North ... 38 67,901! 935,104 7 2 13 15 5 75,200 1,094,546 13 3 14 11 1 .. 159,442 6 1 73,385 7 0 4,942 4,577 38,20. 2,086 951 18 8 54 12 5 ThameS - - 41 29 ' 7 1 449 ' 182 18 7 15 1 9 29 < 114 491,636 12 8 16 17 9 .. 42,453 14 1 33,178 12 9 3,820 6,318 23,252, 963,253 14 1 41 8 7 T ~ 18 31 ' 844 517 ' 16 ° 31016 4 10 42 ' 284 610,087 18 11 14 8 7 .. 92,927 15 1 50,900 17 2 1,854 3,645 23,546 1,433,586 14 3 60 17 8 WanganU1 " "| 39 43,556 627 ' 073 6 9 13 15 3 56 '° 97 739 '° 8412 413 3 6 - 112,011 5 7 56,163 12 11 2,857 7,073 33, J 1,603,343 9 11 47 16 11 WelIingt ° n - 1 61 266,446 3 ' 214 ' 698 9 412 1 3 304 ' 212 3 ' 726 ' 053 2 0 12 5 0 .. 511,354 12 8 262,424 16 1 10,329 29,585 136, 7,421.210 0 «! 54 7 5 WeStPOrt - - 18 4,954 80,814 19 4 16 6 2 7 ' 8 ° 5 121 ' 295 13 1 15 10 10 - 40,480 13 9 11,472 10 2 355 1,491 5,963 313,248 13 j 52 10 8 Western Samoa .. 2 2,163 26,323 3 7 12 3 4 1,967 24,083 9 2 12 4 10 2,239 14 5 .. 1,245 3 5 227 155 1,570 38,533 1 3 ,4 10 11 Rar0t0nga " '• [—1 967 11,078 13 11 11 9 0 1,179 11,969 1 0 10 3 0 .. 890 7 1 770 5 4 130 53 ,,210 22 449 19 3 18 2 , T °31st 1,214,10516,933,176 8 1 14 0 11,475,07919,635,928 4 9 13 6 3 .. T tstMaVh, a i r 93 e 2 d6d | 418 ' 250 19 ' 463 » 985 10 6 13 14 61,535,36825,488,081 4 0 16 12 oj .. 6,024,095 13 61,611,047 13 4 | 78,674 79,627 877,090^3, 255, 499 0 lllTTi

p.—l.

Table No. 5. POST OFFICE SAVINGS-BANK.— GENERAL STATEMENT. Table showing the Business of the Post Office Savings-bank in New Zealand, by Ten-year Periods, from 1868 to the 31st December, 1918, and Yearly Periods thereafter to the Year ended 31st March, 1933.

31

„ . Average ' Number Number Total Amount Amount Number of Average Average of of . t _ standing to the standingto Branches Number of Amount of Number Amount of Excess of Excess of Accounts Accounts Credit of all the Credit of the Post ne-oosits Total Amount each of With- Total Amount of each With- Deposits over "Withdrawals Interest for opened closed • „ „ Open Accounts, of each Office received of Deposits Deposit drawals Withdrawals drawal Withdrawals over Deposits the Year. during during ™FpRse inclusive of Open Savings- during received during lece ived duriDg during the Year. during during the Year, during the Year. the the of the Interest to the Account at bank open the Year the Year. during the the Year. the Year Year. Year. -ypnr Close of the Year. Close of at the Close *eai. * ear - the Year, ol the Year. r j 1 -P s d ' ■ £ s. d. £ s. d. Year ended 31st Mar., ! 873 1,214,10516, *1.176 8 "l it 0 "l 1,475,07919,631,928 4 % 13 6 *8 * .. * 2,702,751 16 81,475,873 10 5 72,538 152, 531 1 797,097 42,028,620 14 8 52 14 7 31st Mar., i 882 1,418,25019,463,985 10 6 13 14 61,535,36825,488,081 4 0 16 12 0 .. 6,024,095 13 61.611,047 13 4 78,674 79,627 877,090 43,255,499 0 11 49 6 4 Year'ended 31st Mar., 884 1,695, 14324,53! ,569 1 3 14 9 51,473,027 28,063,338 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 9 Year^ended 31st Mar., 882 1,700,460 28,561,854 4 10 16 15 11 1,342,113 29,575,993 16 ,0 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 31st Mar., 879 1,618,656 27,252,381 9 0 16 16 9 1,285,256 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 31st Mar., 870 1,570,493 27,611,066 5 1 17 11 7 1,274,906 30,584,997 14 4 23 19 10 .. 2,973,931 9 3!,747, 155 13 9 93,331 72,433 804,725 47,758,726 2 1! 59 6 11 Yesufeiided 31st Mar., 875 1,509,909 29,456,383 2 7 19 10 2 1,224,76430,149,628 17 3 24 12 4 .. 693,245 14 81,767,426 2 8 97,713 72,041 783,827 48,985,501 18 5 62 9 11 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 81,440 758,155 47,911,321 10 5 63 3 11 31st Mar., 855 1,371,009 29,582,897 2 9 21 11 71,108, 29130,413,609 3 ,1 27 8 10 .. 830,712 1 21,680,919 10 10 95,595 70,604 735,148 46,948,628 1 0 63 17 3 Year'ended 31st Mar., 846 1,261, 14129,598,372 4 8 23 9 4 1,075,037 29,510,320 19 6 27 9 0 88,051 5 2 .. 1,649,976 4 8 92,465 73,09. 710,157 46,098,420 11 4 64 18 3 Yearned 31st Ma,, 840 1,175,10426,682,426 11 4 22 14 21,081,300 27,769,262 16 3 25 13 8 .. 1,086,836 4 11 1,605,525 1 10 78,490 66,630 690,790 44,360,393 1 6 64 4 4 Ye^fended 31st Mar., 831 1,227,59129,125,997 10 0 23 14 61,119,662 30,236,231 6 5 27 0 0 .. 1,110,233 16 5 1,599,907 2 0 89,859 75,748 678,930 43,841,704 4 7 64 11 6 *Kfteen months ended 819 1,664,206 44,302,852 5 4 26 12 51,458,008 41,162,486 9 10 28 4 83,140,365 15 6 .. 1,818,534 5 2 152,930118,894 664,819 43,352,030 19 0 65 4 2 794 1,289,16129,758,448 9 7 23 1 8 994,247 25,962,378 2 6 26 2 33,796,070 f 1 - 11,178,985 • «"8,10* 77,531 630,783 38,393,130 18 4 60 17 4 I 786 1,213,35318,101,104 18 1 14 18 4 727,72,14,938,841 10 0 20 10 73,162,263 8 1 !l,059, 471 17 8 76,869 53,015 590,20533,418,125 4 9 56 12 5 593 706,101 9,674,075 4 0, 13 14 0 484,672 9,417,820 10 3 19 8 8 256,254 13 9 379,808 6 7 80,133 57,829 342,077 12,159,293 18 1 35 10 11 409 281,749 3,279,611 7 5i 11 12 10 196,764 3,194,893 16 7 16 4 9 84,717 10 10 j 128,128 16 6 37,265 26,628 169,968 4,957,771 290 145,355 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 10 147 69,908 762,084 !2 0 10 18 0 42,746 742,053 14 3 17 7 2 20,030 17 9 .. 31,664 12 9 13,005 9,634 32,132 819,071 8 2 25 9 9 •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 t Totals from 1st Feb. to 46- 6,977 96,372 7 lo! 13 16 3 1,919 26,415 18 9 13 15 3 69,956 9 1 .. , 1,241 5 0 2,520 364 2,156 71,197 14 1 33 0 5 HI 2867 , TermInation o( savings-bank year alt ere d from 31st December to 31s t March, with eflect from 31st March, W t The Post Office Savings-bank was established in the Dominion in February, 1867.

p.—l.

Table No. 6. Table showing the Estimated Number of Letters and Letter-cards, Post-cards, Book-packets, Newspapers, and Parcels posted and delivered in the several Postal Districts of New Zealand during the Year ended 31st December, 1932.

32

Postal District. Delivered in the Dominion. • Doginlo n _ LeUeTcarfs. | Post-cards. | Books, &o. J Newspapers. Parcels. Postcards. Books, &c=Newspapers. Parcels. | Post-cards. Books. &c. News- P( ,_ lo ' papers. SSS2 ::fKRB IS "'IS 4 'fl!S 2 ī;Si-fSi M "« 3 «-S "S® l-SHS htfS **>"> "»•» Christ church .. 13,431,229 622,024 13,868,458 1,295,737 174,434 16,935,425 768'o92 10 24o'l78 2 086' 110 l 412 ' 009 39 ,442 Dunedin . 9,556,707 372,385 6,899,459 1 346 755 120 887 10 177 518 354 094 6 022 380 1 568 060 K fi'JS 8 ' 886 381 * 847 317 ' 356 Gisborne . 2,755,516 20,666 927,320 317,954 23 244 2 740 608 59 449 1406 886 wf'lT? 5o'o«q 'If'" 726,479 12,921,839 2,914,815 246,623 Greymouth .. 1,505,308 30,082 16 688 1 743 466 53 781 723'm lll'llt fAm I'fl'lf* f®*"® 2,334,206 1,091,129 73,333 Hamilton .. 8,785,799 215,098 3,359,016 666,231 38,779 8 499 426 303'732 5 343' 000 1 195'"27 1 f J' 1,300,181 569,348 57,889 Invercargill .. 6,159,564 138,450 2,698 717 485 181 34 541 5 670 340 144 716 2 894 983 753OT0 70 'f?I 8 > 702 > 016 1,861,958 151.346 Napier .. 5,980,848 107,900 2 682 724 535 478 29 198 6 2 7 484 39 932 S'606' 164 ' «?'™f 2®H°« 5,593,700 1,239,051 104,715 Nelson .. 2,315,543 56,836 11006 916 206;i05 24 609 2 445' 027 55 276 1 381 250 £l'VA VAA l2 AfAll 247,832 6 ' 187 ' 888 i,529, 250 96,759 New Plymouth 4,166,879 84,851 2,284,275 466,813 24,427 4'49s'o91 16l'876 3'l47'859 75->'674 at'ml q'S'™ 2 ' 388 ' 166 621,819 81,458 Oamaru .. 1,245,426 34,060 529460 145,m 6,448 1 303 744 52 923 '903 TO8 I'SS'™ *fAH 5 > 432 ' 134 1,219,487 88,439 Palmerston N. 5,273,540 107,445 2,774 309 491 009 36 868 5 523 180 iqs'723 '! 7<m\vic. oik'cqq cS'oSo 2,549,170 86,983 1,432,868 381,215 22,204 Thames .. 2 768 185 77 922 1 083 441 219 480 16 809 8 221 «2 10 ' 796 ' 72 0 246,168 6,498,315 1,306,642 104 091 Timaru .. 2,827,727 62l 9 85 275,978 18 577 2 986 MS 84'osl AmIw VA'fA Mf ī'lfA% 2 ° 4 ' 529 3 ' 230 ' 196 «91,965 M'TOS Wanganui .. 4,562,700 110,838 1.845,551 447,299 4'663 '698 177'l77 2'466's03 73q'l4? o'ow S 147,069 2,898,133 690,327 55,939 Wellington .. 20,984,096 379,065 14,988,805 3,172,305 363,448 21 *896' 101 406*985 9 m' 6*5 3 »02'857 202'oil J>'ssn'?a? 4,312,054 1,186,440 77,831 Westport .. 653,861 9,230 144,288 98 241 8 099 966 082 26 668 389 7m HAĀI 786 ,«50 24,854,430 6.375,162 565,462 Rarotonga .. 39,384 498 1 608 1 824 1 236 65 122 '324 lo'Iel TAtl Alt 533 ' 989 333 ' 684 27 > 573 Western Samoa 75,000 108 2,796 fit \l'$ kS S|Sn 3 § 96 \\S \t'Z I'Z Totals .. 118,255,346 3,088,022 76,545,444 14,856,485 1,298,804 128,139,784 3,738,990 70,663,023 18,553,887 1,475,612 246,395, 130~6,827,0l7 147,208,467 33,410,372 2,774,416 Previous year 126,587,274 3,457,157 | 7 6,850,013 17,534,022 1,597,566 137,046,678 4,152,807 75,519,555 21,920,949 7,609,964 151,369,568 39,454,977 3^17^ ! I 1

3—F. 1

F.—l.

Table No. 7. 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, 1933 and 1932.

33

Telegrams. Toll Communications. Total. ended Ordinary. Urgent. Press. Letter. Marine. 1 j&8s« • ■ ;j-"- —.— — :— : —, ,— k Number. Value. Number. Value. Number; j Value, j Number. Value. Number. Value. Number. Value. Number. £ £ £ £ I £ £ A 31st March, 1933 .. 3,403,177 336,273 73,244 8,680 443,636 51,816 201,281 12,041 ; 32,209* 8,984,219 397,416 13,137,766 806,226f 31st March, 1932 .. 3,829,947 359,083 95,369 10,399 459,017 50,750 229,213 13,492 ] 33,450* 9,519,407 417,794 14,166,403 851,518$ *No payment received. t Deduct £135,194 paid to other Administrations in respect of cable and radio messages. t Deduct £137,148 paid to other Administrations in respect of cable and radio messages.

F.—l.

Table No. 8. Table showing Cable, Radio-telegraph, and Radio-telephone Business transacted during the Year ended 31st March, 1933, as compared with the Year ended 31st March, 1932. Cable Messages.

Radio-telegrams.

Radio-telephone Calls.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,185 copies), £49.

Authority : G. H. I .one Y, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 933.

Price Is.]

34

International. Australian. —_— :— 7 Total. Forwarded. Received. Forwarded. Received. Year ended ' ... Revenue j 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. I r £ j £ £ £ £ 31st March, 1933 .. 146,607 ; 7,817 132,526 16,589 110,036 3,160 108,840 3,437 .498,009 21,003 31st March, 1932 .. 151,411 7,987 136,987 16,726 112,328 3,161 110,431 3,367 ! 511,157 21,241 Press Messages (included in above totals). 31st March, 1933 .. 2,482 227 4,744 438 3,878 I 393 6,204 1 709' 17,308 1,767 31st March, 1932 .. j 2,635 231 4,050 374 3,713 j 354 5,393 j 606 15,791 | 1,565

Forwarded. Received. Total. Vaai» prided -a 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, 1933 .. .. 8,591 1,973 14,543 2,689 23,134 4,662 31st March, 1932 .. .. 8,888 1,944 16,865 3,150 25,753 5,094

Outward. Inward. Total. Period. r — : Number of Revenue earned Number of Revenue earned Number of I Revenue earned Calls. by New Zealand. Calls. by New Zealand. Calls. ; by New Zealand. £ £ £ 31st March, 1933 .. .. .. 98 140 127 181 225 321 31st March, 1932 .. .. . . 83 128 123 203 206 331