ANNUAL REPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1928, Page 1

ANNUAL REPORT

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT. REVENUE UP, EXPENDITURE DOWN. WELLINGTON, Aug. 14. A substantial increase in revenue and side by side with it a substantial decrease in expenditure is reported by tiie Postmaster-General in his annual report on the Post and Telegraph Department for the past year. In two years tho total revenue has increased by £229,115 and the total expenditure has decreased by £109,-. 985. Growing capital charges, interest on money borrowed from the Public Works Fund and depreciation on assets will absorb a large portion of this excess, but it is anticipated that, the year’s operations will yield a net profit of approximately £20,000. The Department aims at conducting its affairs as a business man would eonduct bis. and judging by results,” states the report, “it is not falling far short of its goal. I'be results achieved are even more remarkable when it is borne in mind that the year just passed was not a particularly good one ior certain sections of the business community. The. staff has been reduced during tho year by 499 officers, but notwithstanding that reduction the Department has undertaken a larger volume of work than in any preceding year and has done so in such a way that expressions of appreciation throughout New Zealand arc general. It is expected that with gradual increase in business the return to payment in cash for overtime worked will not ho long deferred.” OPTIMISTIC BANKING REPORT. At the end of the year there were 804,725 depositors with a total of £47,758,726 at their credit in the savings bank. Despite Hie fact that withdrawals exceeded deposits by £2,973,931 the amount standing to the credit of depositors was only £1,226,775 less than in the previous year. In view of the general trade recovery it is anticipated that not only will there lie an increase in the amount of deposits but the balance at credit itL the end of tho current year will be greater than on any previous occasion. The number of depositors lias increased by 20,505. The sum of £541,789 had been invested in Post Office investment certificates up till the end of the year. TELEPHONES.

In common with other countries New Zealand is finding that the great advance in telephonic communication is having a prejudicial eflect upon the revenue of tho telegraph branch, but there can tie no doubt that for long distances the telegraph will maintain a, predominant position as a reliable means of communication. It is particularly gratifying that tho waiting lists of prospective telephone suhscriho*rs have disappeared, The waiting list is now a thing of the past, and it is hoped not to be necessary to reintroduce it. Now Zealand stands high in the world’s list of telephones, the number at the end of the yeai 1926 ‘ being >9.2 per hundred against 14.8 in the United States of America and 12.2 in Canada. We now have 9.40 telephones per 100. Auckland and Christchurch with 9 pci- 100 are the lowest on the list of towns, Gisborne leading with 17 per 100. ERECTION OF LINKS BY CONTRACT.

It has been suggested that telegraph and telephone lines can la* erected more cheaply by contract than hy the department’s officers. The truth of this has to ha tested, and it has been arranged to call for tenders for the erection of new lines in suitable cases. A comparison will he made afterwards to ascertain whether the contract system should be continued. For works performed under contract material will be supplied by the department, the contractor providing labour and appliances. AYorks for which tcndois will he invited will he confined to new telephone poles, lines and reconstruction works involving the erection of an entirely new line clear of the woiking lines. It is considered that the erection of wires on existing polos and reconstructing and rearranging of working lines by other t.v- ''opartmental officers is impractical... AAVANUI AIAY CLOSE.

Prior to the inauguration’ ’of the short wave service between Apia and New Zealand Radio Awariui handled all Pacific Island traffic'on high power, using a wave length of 200!) metres. Since the advent of the new system traffic has been handled by Radio AYellington. In consequence of the diversion tho hours of operation of Radio Awanui have been curtailed from continuous to 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and the question of closing the station will receive consideration. In the meantime a. listening service for inward traffic only is being observed. As a residt of investigations made regarding t]ie reception of long wave signals from Rugby, a service which is carried out at Radio Awarua, a trial was recently made to determine ’tlie relative suitability of Radio Awnliui for such reception. The result was such as to render a change unwarranted.