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1919. NE W ZEALAND.

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT (REPORT OF THE) FOR, THE YEAR 1918-19.

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

My Lord,— General Post Office, Wellington, Bth September, 1919. I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Post and Telegraph Department for the financial year 1918-19. The statements included in the report show that the Department's business expanded during the year, notwithstanding that a state of war existed. The revenue amounted to £1,972,539. The expenditure amounted to £1,702,048. There was thus a balance of receipts over payments of £270,491. In view of the fact' that abnormally high prices ruled for materials required for the maintenance, ol' the Department's services the result is considered to be very satisfactory. The number of permanent officers of the Department who joined the "New Zealand Forces for service in the great war was 2,255. If the number ol women employees and telegraph message-boys be deducted from the total number of officers, it will be found that the percentage of the staff of men released for military service was 42. Tin; number of officers of the Department who lost their lives in the service of the Empire was 225. A notable event in the history of the Department was the passing of the Post and Telegraph Department Act which provided for the Department to be excluded from the operation of the Public Service /Vet, 1912, and for it to he reclassified, and for appointments to and within the Service to be made by the Public Service Commissioner, on the recommendation of a Promotion Board consisting of four senior officers of the Department and another member of the Service elected by the officers themselves. Under the new Act the officer to he recommended for an appointment shall be the one " best entitled, by merit.'' The work of installing automatic-telephone exchanges at the several principal towns of the Dominion has been delayed seriously, owing to the difficulty experienced in obtaining material. With the conclusion of hostilities, and the consequent cessation of the manufacture of munitions, tho manufacture of the material is being expedited, and the work of installation is being proceeded with as expeditiously as possible. I have, &c, J. G. C/OATES, His Excellency the Governor-General, Wellington. Postmaster-General.

I— FA.