F.—l

20

Palmerston North. The installation of the initial equipment at the automatic exchange at Palmerston North has been completed, the cut-over to the full automatic system being made in November with very satisfactory results. Apparatus for the extension of the equipment by 400 lines is already being installed to meet the growth of the system. Wanganui. Apparatus to replace the equipment originally ordered for Wanganui but diverted for urgent use elsewhere was received late in the year. A recommencement of the work of installing this equipment at Wanganui has since been made, and it is anticipated that this exchange will be converted to automatic working before the end of 1923. Christchurch Metropolitan Area. During the year the auxiliary automatic apparatus temporarily installed in the Christchurch Exchange area to supplement the manual system was increased by the installation of 500 lines at St. Albans and 300 at Sydenham. The building at Hereford. Street to house the Western Electric central-office equipment has also been completed, and arrangements are being made to proceed with the installation of the equipment at the earliest possible date, and, in addition, to replace by an underground system the existing aerial cables which have already outlived their usefulness. Dunedin Metropolitan Area. The erection of the automatic exchange building at Upper Dowling Street to house the centraloffice Western Electric equipment is now proceeding. A commencement will shortly be made with the installing of automatic equipment at suburban exchanges preparatory to the completion of the Central Exchange building and the conversion of the whole telephone network in the Dunedin Exchange area to full automatic working. Automatic Extensions. Extensions to the automatic system during the year to meet the increasing demands for telephone service comprised the following : Mount Eden, 600 lines ; Hamilton, 100 lines ; Courtenay Place, 200 lines ; Wellington South, 160 linos ; Kelburn, 400 lines ; Khandallah, 100 party lines ; Blenheim., 50 lines ; St. Albans, 500 lines ; Sydenham, 300 lines ; Palmerston North (new exchange), 1,810 lines. Hereunder is a return showing automatic-exchange equipment installed and in use in the Dominion on the 31st March, 1923 :-—

Coin-in-the-slot Telephones. The total number of slot telephones (pay-stations) in use at the end of the year was 351, compared with 339 at the end of the previous year. It has been found that, as a general rule, slot telephones at exchanges with fewer than 350 subscribers and with non-continuous attendance are not selfsupporting. When applications are made for slot telephones which in the opinion of the Department will not be self-supporting it is the practice to request the local authority interested to give a guarantee to make good the actual deficiency on the working of the machine, as ascertained from the departmental accounts, until such time as the station becomes self-supporting. Generally, slot telephones in business areas are much more remunerative than similar machines in. the residential areas. The revenue for the year amounted to £22,021, being an increase of £1,683 over the previous year.

Exchange. Number of Number Exclusive of Party Lines Lines installed, installed. Number of Exclusive Lines in Use. Number of Partyline Subscribers. Total Number of Subscribers connected. Number of Extension Telephones. Total Number of Automatic Telephone Stations. Auckland Exchange area — Fort Street* Remuera* Mount Eden* .. Christehurch Exchange area — Hereford Street* St. Albans* Sydenham* Wellington Exchange area — Courtenay Place Wellington South Kelburn Khandallah Single-office Exchanges — Blenheim Hamilton Masterton - .. Oamaru Palmerstoii North 1,900 600 500 1,500 500 300 3,200 860 800 100 100 1,891 599 497 1,269 499 263 2,888 698 724 54f 19 2 6 260 1,910 601 503 1,269 499 263 2,888 958 724 225 341 100 39 101 12 29 723 ' 75 45 5 2,251 701 542 1,370 511 292 3,611 1,033 769 230 200 171 700 1,400 800 600 1,600 100 100 100 100 210 652 1,391 798 600 1,480 60 252 110 26 270 712 1,643 908 626 1,750 95 227 201 76 278 807 1,870 1,109 702 2,028 15,260 1,010 14,203 1,176 15,479 2,347 17,826 * Auxiliary apparatus. f 54 lines used fo exclusive subscribers.