F—l

INTER-ISLAND VERY-HIGH-FREQUENCY RADIO-TELEPHONE LINK Developmental work has been continued on the very-high-frequency radio-telephone link between Wellington and Seddon and has indicated the possibility of transmitting up •to twelve carrier-current channels over the link. In the near future three such channels will be brought into use experimentally as part of the normal inter-Island telephone facilities. The extra channels thus available represent a valuable addition to communication resources across Cook Strait. RADIO-RECEPTION INTERFERENCE Owing to staffing difficulties during the war it was necessary to reduce the number of officers employed on the detection and elimination of radio interference, with a consequent deterioration in some localities of radio broadcast reception. As conditions return to normal, it is the Department's intention to strengthen its staff again to enable this work to be undertaken. RADIO-RECEIVING LICENSES The total number of radio-receiving licenses current at the 31st March, 1946, was 393,054, as against 379,242 in 1945. The percentage of households with a licensed radio set is 93-2.

APPENDIX Table No. 1. —Receipts and Payments for the Years 1944-45 and 1945-46 1944-45. 1945-46. £ £ Balance forward .. . . .. .. .. 39,664 44,321 Receipts .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,694,901 7,068,397 Payments for working-expenses .. .. .. 5,205,969 5,697,409 Balance of receipts over working-expenses payments .. 1,488,932 1,370,988 Other disbursements — Depreciation Fund investment, including expenditure on renewals and replacement of assets .. .. 770,000 664,000 Contributions to Post and Telegraph Officers' Sick-benefit Fund .. .. .. .. .. 5,475 8,574 Interest on capital liability .. .. .. 708,800 712,973 Balance .. .. .. .. .. .. 44,321 29,762

POSTAL SERVICES Table No. 2. —Postings

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Year ended 31st December, Number posted. Postage Receipts. Letters, Letter-cards, Post-cards. Accounts, Packets, Newspapers. Parcels. Total Articles posted. 1939.. 158,587,000 124,307,000 4,663,000 287,557,000 £ 1,420,545 1941.. 142,996,000 113,090,000 5,784,000 261,870,000 1,430,071 1945.. 140,355,000 89,852,000 6,637,000 236,844,000 1,769,275