19

F.—l

The following table shows the distribution of telephones in the Dominion and the four chief bentres :—

Telephone-exchange Plant. The development of both pole line and wire has been well maintained, the increases for the year being 888 miles and 22,353 miles respectively ; 77 miles of telephone-exchange cables of various sizes, containing 19,956 miles of wire, were run out, and 39 miles of cable, containing 4,442 miles of wire, were dismantled. The total length of telephone-exchange cable of various sizes in existence on the 31st March, 1.923, was 868 miles, and this length of cable contains 175,827 miles of conductors. In addition to the telephone-exchange wires contained in cables, 7,747 miles of open aerial wire for subscribers' circuits were erected and 907 miles dismantled during the year. Telephone Facilities toe Baokblocks. Country settlers are availing themselves of the opportunity of obtaining from the Department on the time-payment system materials for the erection of private telephone-lines. The business being done in this respect has proved the innovation to be a progressive one, and of much assistance to the settlers in the baokblocks desirous of obtaining telephone connections at a minimum of cost. The Private Telephono-line Regulations gazetted, in March, 1922, prescribing now conditions under which private telephones can be connected with departmental telephone-offices, are working smoothly. Although the regulations were not retrospective, the great majority of the owners of private telephone-lines connected with bureau offices have elected to comply with the new regulations and pay the prescribed maintenance fees. Where practicable, privately-owned telephone apparatus in bureau offices has been taken over by the Department at valuation ; in other cases departmental apparatus has been installed. Supply of Materials. During the year considerable 'difficulty was experienced in obtaining supplies of poles and arms in sufficient quantities to enable the Department to keep pace with the demands throughout the Dominion for new telephone-exchange connections. The difficulty in obtaining deliveries of poles was due principally to strikes, lack of shipping, and fires in the Australian bush areas. The Department had also, to compete with Power Boards and other local authorities who have purchased poles extensively during the past few years for electric-power reticulation purposes. Every effort was made to obtain sufficient supplies of rata timber for telegraph and telephone arms. In the Auckland District rata is obtainable in sufficient quantities to meet local requirements, but in the Wellington District (which is the only other source of supply of suitable rata) this timber is obtainable only in small quantities. Considerable inconvenience and delay have been caused as a result of the failure of suppliers of rata in the Wellington District to effect deliveries within specified times, and the position became so acute towards the end of the year that the Department was obliged to place orders for the supply of Australian hardwood. This timber is now coming forward, and will be delivered in New Zealand at approximately the same price as is being paid for rata. Automatic Telephone Exchange Installations. Auckland Metropolitan Area. The auxiliary automatic switching apparatus installed in the Auckland Exchange area, and serving to temporarily supplement the existing manual plant pending the cut-over to the Western Electric full automatic system, was increased during the year by the installation of 500 lines at Mount Eden. This additional equipment was immediately taken up ; and, as further extensions are impracticable, no additional subscribers can be connected until the new plant is cut into service. The auxiliary apparatus at Auckland now consists of 1,900 lines at Fort Street, 600 at Remuera, and 500 at Mount Eden. The receipt of regular supplies of automatic equipment has allowed of steady progress being made with the installation of the permanent automatic switching system for the Auckland Exchange area. Strenuous efforts are being made to have this equipment ready for use early in 1924, by which time it is expected that the necessary reconstruction of the outside plant will also have been completed, in readiness for the automatic system. Wellington Metropolitan Area. . ' The automatic system in the Wellington Exchange area has been further extended by the installation at Courtenay Place, Wellington South, and Kelburn of equipment for 200, 160, and 4-00 lines respectively ; also by the opening of a satellite exchange at Khandallah, which is now equipped for 200 party lines. The automatic equipment installed in the Wellington Exchange area now consists of 4,860, exclusive and 400 party lines, the number in actual use being 4,634 exclusive and 135 party lines. The conversion to full automatic in the Wellington Exchange area is dependent upon the completion of the Central Exchange building at Stout Street now in course of erection, and the installation therein of automatic equipment for at least 4,000 lines. While it is not expected that full and adequate provision can be made for Wellington requirements until this equipment is installed, it is considered that the mixed system (partly manual and partly automatic) will meet normal requirements in the meantime.

Population. Telenhone« Inhabitants per .telephones. Telephone. Dominion Auckland Wellington .. Jhristchurch Dunedin 1,325,310 160,750 109,428 106,972 75,230 107,036 11,449 12,106 8,838 6,408 12 14 9 12 12