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Hereunder is a return showing automatic-exchange equipment installed and in use in the Dominion on the 31st March, 1927 : —

PUBLIC CALL OFFICES (COIN IN THE SLOT). Thirty-one new installations were made in various parts of the Dominion, and a further 89 were authorized to be made. The number of public call offices in operation on the 31st March, 1927, was 435. It is regretted that the Department was unable to comply with all the numerous demands for public-call-telephone cabinets. It has been decided to adopt new types of cabinet for further installations. One type will be of concrete construction, while the other will be of steel framework, and will follow what is known as the "■ Kiosk " type, in accordance with the design of a noted English architect. From the point of view of utility as well as from aesthetic considerations both these new types can be considered as desirable improvements upon the present type of wooden cabinet! The revenue from public call offices for the year ended 31st March, 1927, amounted to £27,407, an increase of £2,220 on the figures for the preceding year. TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT OF TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH ENGINEERING. Where such divergent and rapidly advancing subjects as automatic telephony, printing telegraphs, telephone transmission, radio telegraphy and telephony, line-construction, and submarinecable work have to be studied, and with the public being rapidly educated in the advantages to be derived from the use of telephone, telegraph, and wireless services, both in business and in social spheres, and demanding the most modern facilities, the technical staff is called upon to perform an increasing amount of investigational and developmental work with a view to determining the systems and apparatus best suited to the requirements of the Dominion. In fact, the growth in this higher class of engineering-work has been so considerable during recent years that it has been necessary to increase the qualified personnel of the engineering staff, and further additions to staff as well as increased accommodation will probably have to be provided in the near future. It will be necessary to obtain almost immediately supplies of modern testing apparatus and equipment so as to facilitate investigational work and the testing of materials and apparatus, and to ensure that the Department receives only plant and materials of a relatively high standard.

Number of | Total Numbar Party Lines Number Number Total Number Number of installed. 01 01 Number Exchange. Individual _ . Individual Party- of Extension Automatic Lines I , Line line JVLain q, ,• m •» 1 installed. Two- Four- Stations. Stations. Stations. & tatlons - party, party. Auckland Exchange Area — Wellesley Street .. .. 7,200 .. 100 5,642 250 5,892 2,179 8,071 Remuera .. .. 1,600 .. 100 1,595 320 1,915 150 2,065 Mount Eden .. .. 1,600 .. 100 1,598 324 1,922 100 2,022 Ponsonby .. .. 1,200 .. 100 1,194 278 1,472 96 1,568 Onehunga . . . . 400 .. .. 365 .. 365 35 400 Devonport .. .. 500 .. 496 .. 496 30 526 Takapuna . . .. 400 .. .. 281 . . 281 13 294 Christchurch Exchange Area —• Hereford Street* .. 1,500 .. .. 1,492 .. 1,492 179 1,671 St. Albans* .. .. 500 .. .. 500 .. 500 60 560 Sydenham* .. .. 300 . . .. 299 .. 299 32 331 Wellington Exchange Area —• Courtenay Place .. .. 3,800 100 100 3,305 306 3,611 847 4,458 Wellington South .. 1,800 100 100 l,845f 460 2,305 149 2,454 Kelburn .. .. 1,200 .. 100 1,060 122 1,182 77 1,259 Khandallah .. .. 200 100 100 22 361 392 8 400 Stout Street .. .. 7,600 .. 100 3,976 213 4,189 3,051 7,240 Single-office exchanges — Blenheim .. .. 700 100 708f 158 866 95 961 Hamilton .. .. 1,600 .. 100 1,520 304 1,824 293 2,117 Hawera .. .. 800 100 722 214 936 155 1,091 Masterton .. . . 1,000 100 .. 996 212 1,208 211 1,419 Oamaru .. .. 700 . . 100 732f 80 812 96 908 Palmerston North .. 2,000 .. 100 1,896 230 2,126 264 2,390 Wanganui .. .. 2,200 100 100 2,208+ 386 2,604 555 3,159 Totals .. .. 38,800 500 1,500 32,452 4,218 36,689 8,675 45,364 * Auxiliary apparatus. t Party lines used for individual stations.