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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1934. RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS. The receipts and payments of the Department for the financial year 1933-34 are shown in the following account: — Receipts. Payments. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Balance forward .. .. 34,528 9 5£ By Salaries .. .. 1,465,120 15 5 Postages .. .. 911,194 5 3J Conveyance of ocean Money-order and postal- mails .. . . 85,284 3 8 note commission .. 56,450 2 5 Conveyance of inland Private box and bag rents mails .. .. 128,173 14 7 and rural-delivery" fees 46,224 4 5 Conveyance of mails by Miscellaneous receipts .. 340,317 12 6 rail .. .. 76,578 19 3 Paid telegrams .. 271,879 1 6 Maintenance of telegraph Paid tolls .. .. 409,637 16 5i and telephone lines .. 80,461 1 3 Telephone - exchange " Renewals and replacerentals .. 1,164,710 12 9 ments .. .. 36,739 5 8 3,200,413 15 4 Motor services and workshops .. .. 20,355 5 3 Miscellaneous .. 202,886 13 0 Interest on capital liability .. .. 553.000 0 0 2,648,599 18 1 Paid to Consolidated Fund .. .. 154,387 18 9 Renewal and replacement of Assets Fund £3,234,942 4 9J (investment).. .. .. .. 395,000 0 0 i— — Balance carried down .. .. .. 36,954 7 11|- £ s. d. To Balance brought down .. .. 36,954 7 11|- £3,234,942 49| The total cash value of the transactions of the Department, inclusive of the above, amounted to approximately £165,000,000 for the year. POST AND TELEGRAPH AMENDMENT ACT, 1933. An Act of twenty-one sections amending the Post and Telegraph Act, 1928, was passed during the 1933 session of Parliament, and came into force on the 15th December. Provision is made in the amending Act for the making of regulations for the control of electrical apparatus interfering with wireless broadcast reception, and Savings-bank procedure is in certain directions modified. Otherwise the provisions are mainly of a machinery nature. Changes of any importance are referred to under the appropriate heading in this report. STAFF. While the system of granting time-off in lieu of cash payment for overtime has been continued, the outlook for the staff is now better than it has been for some time past. A number of junior officers have been promoted, with the result that the concern at the stagnation in the lower grades of the Service has been partly allayed. The Department, too, has benefited by these promotions, for the staff has become better balanced in that minor positions can be filled suitably by juniors. In addition, the Department has given employment to a number of lads,, principally in the capacity of message-boy. The result of these promotions and new appointments is reflected in the figures in the table published below, which reveal an increase in the numerical strength of the staff as compared with the return for the previous year. Since the Ist April, 1930, each year's total has disclosed a decrease. The increase this year is slight, but it is, nevertheless, a definite indication that departmental business is improving. During the year, and particularly in its closing months, the staffs at a number of offices had to be strengthened because of an increase in the volume of work. Throughout the year good work has been done by the staff, and, although there may be some disappointment at the possibility of a postponement of the regrading due on the Ist April, 1934. officers generally are appreciative of Government's financial difficulties. To assist with the work of other Government Departments, frequent calls are still being made upon the staff. Altogether 184 officers of the personnel were on loan at the close of the year. Comparative Return of Persons employed in the Department. The total number of persons employed in the Department on the Ist April, 1933 and 1934, was as under: — Ist April, Ist April, Permanent Staff — 1933 - 1934. Administrative Division .. . ■ • • • • 4 4 Clerical and Engineering Divisions .. .. •• .3,279 3,348 General Division .. .. • ■ • ■ .. 5, 097 5,058 8,380 8,410 Temporary Staff .. • ■ ■ ■ • ■ • ■ 45 69 Casual Staff .. .. ■ • • ■ • • • - ?1 8,496 8,560 Non-permanent Staff — Country Postmasters and Telephonists .. .. 1,669 1,677 Postmasters who are Railway officers.. .. .. 84 86 10,249 10,323

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