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Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1921, Page 2

teiton Times, we hazarded the opinion that these were likely to prove more than the traffic could stand, aim the result would be some curtailment ■ of the business handled by the Post and Telegraph Department. The returns for the December quarter afford a test as to whether this result has been experienced in only two categories, ’ those of telegrams and bureau quotaLons, where the number of messages . dispatched and calls is given. The com- | parison with the corresponding quirter j in the previous year is instructive. The I number of ordinary telegrams j has fallen from 1,937,837 to j 1,570,692, a decrease of nearly 19 per j cent. The revenue therefrom has risen 1 frome £82,909 to £100.203, an inures,e \ of nearly 21 per cent. The numbe- of j urgent telegrams shows a still more decided falling off, from 148.022 to 79,287, 1 a decrease of over 46 per cent while revenue has risen from £10,833 to £11,069, an increase of only two per cent. This is a case in which increased charges have had practically no effect save to frighten away business. The number of bureau communications Vas 1

When the new postal telegraphic and telephonic charges were introduced few months ago, comments the Lyt-

fallen from 1,717,682 to 1,707,717, a rle- , crease of less than 1 per cent, but sf ;, i n decrease, while the revenue has risen j from £54,066 to £67,925, an increase of nearly 26 per cent. To what extent, if , any, the additional postal charges have j depressed traffic has yet to be revealed, i We have not heard of the Department . reducing staff or otherwise adjusting its outlay to the decreased business, j hut manifestly it will not reap the full ! benefit of the increased charges .until it does so. !