THE NEW TELEGRAPH FORM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 897, 17 August 1910, Page 8

THE NEW TELEGRAPH FORM.

■ r f— —■ —. ITS ADVANTAGES. On Monday next the Telegraph Department will adopt u new received telegraph form, which appears to be n distinct advance in the right direction. Under the present conditions obtaining in telegraph offices many officers can, if they so desire, read messages which arc received. Such telegrams are sent into I.lm messengers' room, where they are addressed and placed in an envelope, so chat there is delay in addressing envelopes, and, there is always danger of telegrams being placed ill wrong envelopei.. When the new system is in" proper working order all this will be done away with. The operator will address the telegram at the instalment, when, it will bo folded in a machine and given, to a message boy to deliver. The Uepartmeut claims three advantages for thp .new form, viz.:— (1) Much greater ■ secrecy, since practically only.the operator reads the telegram. -.•_■' (2) Saving of (en minutes or more in delivery. (3) The risk o! the telegram being placed iu another .person's envelope is abolished, there being no envelopes. The new arrangement is certainly more economical, but that aspect has not been considered-by the officials so much us the advantages accruing to the commercial community in . quicker delivery, more secrecy,', and no errors in addresses. The seal at the back of the message, should always be intact on delivery. The local head of the department would be obliged if all .instances of broken seals are brought ■ under his notice by i the addressees.

It may.- here be remarked that envelopes for telegraph' vrort are out of date ■ in- tlje majority of the most advanced countries In the world. Thej are not in use in Canada, or Europe,' and their abolition is under consideration in England. It is also- understood that the Government .of the Commonwealth 1 has written to the New Zealand post and telegraph authorities, asking information about the new system! . So far the new system is .'in vogue at Dunediii, Ghristchurch, Auckland, and some of the other centres. . : The system by which the form is .'at present: being folded with, a brass folder and the ends, doubled back and fixed with an official sticker has already been described in these column's. Later on it is hoped that a machine, riow being designed at.Petone, will displace.the hand folder, and so effect a further saving in labour. ' . The general. public are requested by the Telegraph Department* to break the seal at the back when, opening their telegrams. If the seal is broken tho telegram unfolds without' tearing'., . .