29

F.—l

NEW EXCHANGES, EXTENSIONS, ETC. Inquiries continue to bo made respecting the establishment of new exchanges, but. wherever practicable, intending subscribers are being urged to join witli the nearest existing exchange, the advantages regarding hours of attendance and the extended range of subscribers with which communication may be obtained without the payment of toll fees being impressed upon them. Telephone Development in New Zealand, 1905-25. Graph. showiwi the Number of Telephones in New Zealand per 100 Population each Year since 1905.

Telephones per 100 population

The number of telephones per 100 population in the English-speaking countries on Ist January, 1923, was as follows: Unit id States of America, 13-1; Canada, 10-4; New Zealand, 8-1 ; Australia, 4-6; Great Britain, 2-3; South Africa, o'B. Among other operations, the year's work included — The opening of new manual exchanges at Albany, Brightwatcr, Dip toil West, Granity, Hampden, Herekino, Hikutaia, Hyde, Maungakaramea, OneWhcro, Pokeno, Rangiwahia, Ruawai, Sheffield, Silverdale, Springburn, Tarras, Te Uku, Waharoa, Waitahuna, Whakapara ; The conversion to automatic Working of the Auckland exchange system (comprising Wellesley Street, Ponsonby, Mount Eden, Remuera, and Onehunga exchanges) ; The extension of the switching equipment at thirty-five manual and five automatic exchanges ;