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PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL CIRCUITS Twelve-channel carrier-telephone systems were provided on each of the following routes: Auckland-Whangarei, Auckland-Hamilton, Wellington-Palmerston North, Wellington-Napier, and Wellington-Christchurch. In addition, fifteen three-channel and seventeen single-channel carrier-telephone systems were installed 011 other routes throughout the Dominion. The total of 122 additional long-distance circuits made available as a result of these installations has resulted in a marked improvement in the toll service both as regards the grade of transmission and the speed of service. TOLL EQUIPMENT As a means of reducing the delay on toll traffic, additional operating positions are being provided at the following automatic exchanges : Location. Capacity. Expected Date of Completion. Auckland .. 14 positions .. .. June, 1947. Wellington .. 14 positions .. .. .. Partly in use already, June, 1947. Christchurch .. 8 positions .. .. .. Partly in use already, June, 1947. Oamaru .. New switchboard of 4 positions.. August, 1947. PUBLIC CALL OFFICES At the 31st March there were 1,456 public call office (coin-in-the-slot) telephones installed in New Zealand. The total collections amounted to £107,813. (See'also Table No. 6 in Appendix.) RADIO SERVICES CONTROL OF AERADIO STATIONS By agreement with the Air Department, the operation and maintenance of aeradio stations are to become a function of that Department, except that at the Musick, Wellington, Awarua, Rarotonga, and Apia stations, where the aeradio service is operated in conjunction with the Post Office service, the present arrangement will continue. The control of Suva Aeradio has already been handed over, and also the operational side of the service as far as the remainder of the inland stations are concerned. It is anticipated that the technical maintenance of these.inland stations will be transferred to the Air Department at an early date. Post Office engineering and installation service will, however, be available to the Air Department, as formerly. OPENING OF RADIO-STATIONS AT ISLANDS OFF MAINLAND During the year radio-stations were opened at Motiti Island, Little Barrier Island, and Rakino Island for communication with the mainland. RADIO-TELEPHONE SERVICES Considerable use has been made during the year of the radio-telephone service to Australia and to the United States of America. Owing to technical difficulties and the necessity for calls to be relayed by Australia, the service to the United Kingdom has not been entirely satisfactory, and negotiations are proceeding with a view to obtaining equipment to provide a direct radio-telephone channel to Great Britain. On the Ist January, 1947, the radio-telephone service was extended to Eire and France.

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