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Minimum Salary of Married Officers. The minimum remuneration for married officers twenty-one years of age and over was reduced from the Ist July, 1922, to £209 1.55. per annum. Appeal Board. During the year Mr. R, H. Brown replaced Mr. H. I. Bennett as representative of the Telegraph Branch of the Department on the Post and Telegraph Appeal Board. The Board sat on four occasions during the year, the period covered being three weeks. Approximately 120 appeals were dealt with, of which seven were allowed. Departmental Correspondence Technical Classes. The facilities afforded by the departmental correspondence classes were availed of by 340 students during the past year. As 77 per cent, of the students obtained passes in the departmental technical examinations, it is obvious that a high standard of instruction is being maintained. Students in the classes who pass a competency technical examination in order to qualify for an increase of salary now obtain a refund of the fee paid for the course in the classes taken prior to the passing of the examination. Examinations. During the year 1922-23 the number of officers who sat for efficiency examinations was 1,750, of which number 870 were either wholly or partially successful.

Rates and Charges : Reductions. Owing to its improved financial position the Department found it possible to reduce from the Ist February, 1923, certain rates and charges. The schedule below shows the principal changes.

Reconstitution of Westport Postal District. The Westport Postal District, which on the Ist January, 1922, was merged into the Greymouth District, was reconstituted a separate district from the Ist September, 1922. Post and Telegraph Amendment Act, 1922. The Post and Telegraph Act was amended in 1922 as under : — Authority is given for a Customs clearance fee not exceeding 6d. to be charged on a postal packet from abroad containing dutiable goods, and for such fees to be credited to postal revenue. Authority is given to lay under streets pneumatic tubes required for the convenience of the Department. It is made an offence for a nuisance to be committed in a telephone-cabinet. For the purposes of sections 87, 91, 92, and 99 of the principal Act, the definition of " postal packet " is extended to include a telegram, whether transmitted by post or by electric line. It is made an offence for any person to personate or falsely represent himself to be an officer of the Department.

Item. Old Bate. New Hate. Letters and letter-cards for inland delivery.. Letters and letter-cards addressed to the United Kingdom and British possessions, the United States of America, and all other places to which Postal Union rates (minimum 2«Jd.) do not apply Post-cards for inland delivery Inland packets 2d. up to 2 oz. 2d. for first ounce lj-d. up to 2 oz. lnjd. for first ounce. lid. lfd. for first 4 oz. Id. Id. not exceeding 2 oz. ; ljd. exceeding 2 oz. and not exceeding 4 oz. id. Newspapers for inland delivery Pee for private bag— (a.) Carried by mail contractor.. (b.) Taken delivery of at post-office Telegrams— fa.) Ordinary (b.) Urgent Night letter-telegrams Id. £2 10s. per annum £1 10s. per annum £2 per annum. £1 per annum. Is. for first twelve words 2s. for first twelve words Is. Od. for first thirty-six words and Jd. each additional word 9d. for first twelve words. Is. 6d. for first twelve words. 9d. for first twenty-seven words and Id. for each additional three words. Savings-bank telegrams— (a.) Ordinary .. ... (b.) Urgent Money-order telegrams— (a.) Ordinary . . ' ... (b.) Urgent Weather telegrams (from and for farmers) . . Is. .. 2s. .. 9d. Is. Od. Is. Od. for each order .. 3s. for each order Is. Od. for message of twelve words and reply of twelve words Is. for each order. 2s. for each order. Is. for message of twelve words and reply of twelve words. Multiple telegrams— (a.) Ordinary (b.) Urgont ... Od. for each address after first .. Is. for each address after first .. 4|d. for each address after first. 9d. for each address after first.