POST AND TELEGRAPHS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9619, 12 October 1909, Page 7

POST AND TELEGRAPHS.

ANNUAL REPORT The xeport of the Post and Telegraph Department contains particulars of the revenue —details of which have already been announced in a ganeral way—for the year ended 31st March, 1909. Tne revenue of the Department has more than doubled in the last ten years, having lijen

from £455,770 to £913,995. The expenditure has increased in the same period from £1590,197 to £807,652. The balance of revenue for the year stands at £106,342. The results are described as altogether satisfactory, and it is stated that of necessity the expei.diture in such a service, unless the rates remain fixed, must bear a. clostr relationship to the volume of business than to the value thereof, for the increase of work is proportionately greater than the increase in revenue. However, the expenditure has by no means kept pace with-the volume of business. /

Last year 321 officers were added to the permanent classified list. The main increase in expenditure is due to the higher cost of conveyance of rrails by railway and sea. , For the year tne revenue exceeded ' expenditure by £91,356. I The Postmaster-General says it should suffice if the department was j only paying its way. j As a result of a trip abroad by the j

secretary of the fost Office, important suggestions for the more efficient conduct of the service are being considered. "The adopting of these," Sir Joseph Ward states, "will bring about desired reforms, and lead to a considerable saving in the cost of administration." No less than 89,089,871 letters, 7,643,881 postcards, 4,420,009 miscellaneous articles, and 930,267 parcels were posted in New Zealand, and received from abroad during the year. Money orders totalling 488,084

were issued, and 371,244 paid. There was a large increase in poslal-note business. Savings Bank deposits for the year exceeded withdrawals by £256,254. This brings the whole amount at credit up to £12,195,293, equal to

£2l Is 2d per head of the population. Old age pensions totalled £336,831, against £325,220 for the previous year.

No less than 7,425,693 telegrams j were forwarded, an increase of : 382,770 on the previous year. j The amount expended on tele- | graph extension during the year was ! £163,033. I Telephone connections now number > 26,833. >