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officers the tests were based on the post.il rules and regulations, and for telegraph officers the tests were partly on the telegraph rules and regulations and partly technical. In March, 1913, the questions on the Posi Act and the technical examination of telegraph officers before promotion above the Seventh Class were abolished. Prom the Is! April, lUI3, examinations are conducted under the authority of the Public Service Commissioner. Departmental Rules. The rules and regulations for the guidance of officers were reissued during the year. Record System, General I'o.st Office. On the 20th March. 1913, a ih-u system of recording official papers was introduced in the General Poet Office. A feature of the system is that the whole "I the recording is performed in one operation on the typewriter. Gray .Memorial Prize. The committee of adjudication in connection with the Gray Memorial Prizes made their award* fin the years 1910 and 1911 on the 23rd July, 1912. and awarded gold medals to Messrs. J. G. Rule, Tanner, and Harrison. Trade of Umpire Commission. At the request of the Trade Commission, evidence was furnished by the Department as to the possibility of a reduction in the cable rate to the United Kingdom from 3s. to 25. ; also as to existing foreign mail-services, and growth of savings-bank business. Control of Pensions Department. The Pensions Department was removed from the control of the Pi»l and Telegraph Department mi the Ist Auuiist. l!tl2. I'k.nny Postage. As from the 21st February, I!H2. French Oceania adopted the letter-postage rate of Id. per ourice on letters from New Zealand and Id. per three-quarters of an ounce on letters in the opposite direction. Papua introduced a rate of Id. per half-ounce on letters to any part of the British Empire on the Ist November, 1012, and New Hebrides adopted a rale of Id. per ounce on similar correspondence on the 10th December. L 912. The United States Posi Office was again urged to reduce the minimum postage for a letter from that country to New Zealand from 5 to 2 cents, and reminded thai for seven years the initial letter-rate from New Zealand to that country has been Id. per ounce, but the reply to the com munication was unfavourable. The Imperial penny-postage system now embraces practically the whole of the British Empire the only exception being Pitcairn Island. Newspaper Postage. A proposal has been made by the Department to the Imperial Posi Office thai New Zealand printed newspapers be passed in the United Kingdom at the newspapei rate of postage. Later telegraphic Press news announces thai legislation t<; enable colonial newspapers to be reposted in Great Britain at the same rate as British newspapers has been introduced l>v the Postmaster-General in the House of Commons. Parcel-post. 1,623,830 parcels were posted in the Dominion during I!tl2. as against 1,613,010 in 1911. From the Ist January, 1913, the inland parcel rates were reduced to 3d. for the first pound and lid. for each succeeding pound up to II II). The introduction of the lower rate has resulted in a large increase of business. A system of return receipts for inland parcels was inaugurated on the same date. Wicker-and-eanvas bag-hampers for the conveyance of parcels by post were brought into use, and have been found to lie very suitable and convenient for the work. They are mailer than the Ordinary hampers, and more easily handled. On the Bth .July, 1912, a trial system of transmission of fish liv post was inaugurated between Dunedin and any office which could be reached within ten hours. The system, though m>l supported to the extent anticipated, is being given a further trial. A scheme for the carriage of fruit by post was inaugurated on the Ist January, 1913, by this Department in con junction with the Railway Department. Only once have parcel-mails been .seriously delayed. Owing to the accumulation of parcels during the dock strike in London, the parcel mail received by the s.s. " Turakma " on trie 24th August, 1912, comprised some (5.000 parcels. Post Office. During 1912 the Assistant Inspectors of Post-offices visited 1,960 offices. They also relieved Chief Postmasters in several districts, and were engaged in several investigations of a special nature. 446 non-permanent offices were inspected by permanent Postmasters in their vicinity. Seventy-seven post-offices were established (of these, 10 were reopened offices) and. 3y closed. The number of post-offices open at the end of the year was 2,350. . . . .
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