Postal Progress

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1922, Page 3

Postal Progress

- HEAVY DROP IN TKI.KG It AMS,

WELLINGTON. July ! InsL'itli of CXjlClldillll e exceeding 101 vonm- by JL’KIOO. the Lost and Telo- | graph Department last year was able ; It) improve the position, showing a credit of L'.'l7>9.:l(i I. A detailed atialyj sis el' its accounts indicates that tole- ■ phone and telegraphic services showed ; ti loss of Cl't.'Ki, hut this was more than i covered by a balance of receipts over i payments on the postal side of ; C.'llll.MOO. There was tin increase of i 2,"Jib,Oil!) in the number of letters ami 1 other articles posted, but a decrease of i Kid,ooo in post cards and 118,597 in ' the number of parcels handled. .Money order business decreased both in num- . bars ami amounts, while Lost Ollice J Savings Hank deposits totalled I C 29.125,997, and withdrawals j C90,29(1,291, the total balance remain- ] iilg aL tile end of the year cxecoeding I {.*10.900.000. Telephone revenue inj creased bv fcSO,SB2. Ordinary telegrams rellec* the result of increased charges by showing a decrease of 993,509, equalling Id per cent, the revenue declining C 17.71-1. Lrgent tel - : prams declined by '29 per cent showing j a revenue drop of C 12,998. • The report shows that the number j of new telephone subscribers, 92759, ! was a record, and .a considerable I amount of telephone extension has been j provided for the Imokblooks. 1 ; 1! I'T li KNfTIMF.NT. j Consequent upon the falling off in ! the Department’s business, it became j necessary during the year to dispose of I surplus officers. Approximately 199 ! officers voluntarily retired on super- ; annuation. The services pf .‘l9 officers ; who were regarded as the least efiii eient, were terminated on the eompleI tion of three months' notice. On ac- ' count of (heir being returned soldiers j or married men, 4.9 offieers who were reported upon as being among the least . efficient, were offered inferior positions for which they were considered more suitable than for those which they oci copied. In order that the services of approximately 100 officers migh! he i retained, officers were granted time oil ■ in lieu of cash nay 'cut lor overtime i performed. The Department’s staff ' shows an actual decrease of 351 offp : cers. ! A nothci- rneitsvirq of economy men.

ij-li-d in the n port is that the Government decided toward.' Lit' end id I!r!| that all molur-vehieles in use by ('overiniicnt Departments in the clue! centres, with the exception of police ears, were to he controlled by the Post ain't Telegraph Department. which would issue them as required on application by the permanent Leads ol Departments. The scheme, which involves much rearrangement, is gradually being brought ahutl. ami at presh it working very satisfactorily. Concentration of vehicles under one control i already showing distinct economy. This will he more noticeable as the scheme progresses, motors and spares being standardised. Referring to the new rural mail delivery regulations, which originally met with strong opposition il is stated that on the position being hotter understood Ihe opposition disappeared, and on March 31, 1)157 rural delivery boxes were being attended to.