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1907. NEW ZEALAND.

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT (REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR 1906.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

My Lord, — General Post Office, Wellington, Ist July, 1907. I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the Report of the Post and Telegraph Department for the year 1906, with the usual statement of revenue and expenditure to the 31st March last. I have the honour to be Your Lordship's most obedient servant, J. G. Ward. Postmaster-General and Minister of Telegraphs. His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand.

Review. The year has been one of uninterrupted prosperity. The revenue of the Department and the excess of revenue over expenditure were the highest yet attained. For the first time, the revenue of the telegraph branch has exceeded the expenditure, and this by the substantial sum of £16,161. This is mainly due to the rapid expansion of the te'ephone exchange revenue and tie reduction of te'egraph rates. The results of the large reductions in postage and telegram rates which were made as from the Ist November last have been most gratifying to the public and the Department. The reduction in parcel rates, which was made on the Ist January last may be particularly referred to as having resulted in a great increase of the parcel-post business, which will probably reach 100 per cent, within the next few months. The expansion of the business has necessitated large additions to the staff, and it is a matter for serious consideration whether additional avenues for promotion should not be made by improving the position of many of the postal and telegraph officers.

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