p.—l

IV

Registered Letters. The new registered-letter system commenced in June. There is little doubt that it will prove a success. Dead Letters. The proposed improvement in the dead-letter system was carried into effect, and has resulted in a saving of staffjwithout impairing efficiency. Undeliverable Letters. The new system is working well, and is believed to be appreciated by the public. Organization, of City Deliveries. Letter-earner's deliveries throughout the Dominion are being extended and accelerated according to local requirements. It is hoped that before long it will be possible to introduce hourly deliveries in the principal cities. Sorting-cases. All new sorting-cases are being made on the upright pigeon-hole pattern, and are regarded as a considerable improvement on the old pattern. Less floor-space is required, and quicker sorting results, while the cost of the cases is less than that of the open-table pattern. Fneing-up Tables. Negotiations are now going on with the manufacturers of these tables. Abolishing Use of Envelope for Telegram. This important matter has been pushed forward, but delays have occurred owing to the necessary paper having to be specially manufactured in England. The new forms have been successfully introduced in Dunedin and Auckland, and their use will be commenced throughout the rest of the Dominion very shortly. Since the forms recommended were printed, a local inventor has submitted a form which is considered to be a still further improvement. Machinery is now being made which will enable the latter to be printed, perforated, and gummed automatically. One advantage of the local form is that it is capable of being folded by machinery. Machines are being built which will fold and close tinform. From experience in Dunedin. it would appear that the self-addressed form is appreciated by ihe public, who are fully alive to the fact that its use insures greater secrecy and quicker despatch. It is estimated that from three to five minutes is saved in the despatch of every telegram owing to the simplicity of handling. The saving in staff when the new form is used throughout the Dominion will be fully up to expectations. Office Copies of Telegrams. The abolition of office copies of telegrams intended to be concurrent with the use of the self-addressed form, but at the request of the Controller and Auditor-General the matter has been delayed until he has had an opportunity of going personally into the details of the present and of the proposed method of telegraphic accounting. Delivery of Telegrams. It has not yet been possible to devise a suitable basis on which to pay telegraph message-boys by results, owing to the great diversity of the conditions in the principal centres. The intention is to give t he scheme a trial in Auckland concurrently with the issue of the self-addressed telegram-form at that office. Other matters referred to in the Secretary's report are already receiving or are noted for attention. Staff. Comparativi Return of Officers of the Post and Telegraph Department for the Years ended 31si March. 1909, and Mst March, 1910. ' The total number of officers on the staff on the 31st March, 1909 and 1910, was as under :— 31st March, 31st March, 1909. 1910. Postmaster-General ... ... ... 1 1 Classified staff, — First Division ... ... ... ... ... 3 3 Clerical Division ... ... ... ... ...2,441 2,427 Non-clerical Division ... ... ... ... 9521 . „►, Telegraph message-boys ... ... ... ... 7021 Total, classified staff ... ... ...4,099 4,185 Permanent Non-classified staff, — Clerical ... ... ... ... ... 26 Non-clerical ... ... ... ... ... ... 56 Employees not on permanent staff, — Country Postmasters and Postmistresses ... ... 2,064 2,157 Nightwatchmen ... ... ... ... ... 3 2 Mail-cart drivers ... .. ... ... ... 2 2 Postmasters and telegraphists or telephonists who are Eailway officers ... ... ... ... 190 166 Total ... ... ... ... ... 6,358 6,594