F.-l

40

Table No. 15. Comparative Table showing the Progress of the Telegraph Department during the Ten-year Periods ended 30th June, 1866 and 1876, the 31st December, 1886, the 31st March, 1896 1906, 1916; and the past Five Years.

Note. —Inland Telegram Tariff : Prior to the Ist September, 1869, inland telegrams were charged for on a mileage basis. From that date a uniform rate was fixed of 2s. 6d. for ten words, and (id. for each additional five words. From the Ist April, 1870, the minimum charge was reduced to Is. From the Ist November, 1873, the rate was further reduced to Is. for ten words, and Id. for each additional word, address and signature, hitherto charged for, being free up to ten words. From the Ist July, 1877, there was introduced the "urgent" code, at double the ordinary rate. From the Ist July, 1878, a *' delayed " system was introduced, the rate being fixed at 6d. for ton words, exclusive of address and signature up to ten words, and Jd. for each additional word. From the Ist February, 1892, the number of words allowed for the minimum charge in each case was increased to twelve, with free address and signature up to six words. From the 15th August, 1892, the ordinary rate was fixed at Is. for eighteen words, including address and signature. From the Ist June, 1896, the rate was fixed at 6d. for twelve words, including address and signature, and Id. for each additional word; and "delayed" telegrams were abolished. From the Ist November, 1906, the charge for additional words was reduced to £d. each. From the 23rd September, 1915, the ordinary rate, was increased from 6d. to Bd. for twelve words (" urgent " Is. 2d.); and on the Ist August, 1920, it was further increased to Is. for twelve words, and Id. for each additional word ; (" urgent," 25., and 2d. for each additional word); Sundays and holidays, double rates. From the Ist November, 1920, there was introduced a system of night letter-telegrams, to be delivered by post on the morning following the day of presentation. The rate (since altered) was Is. (id. foi thirty-six words and Jd. for each additional word. From the Ist February, 1923, the rate for ordinary telegrams was reduced to 9d. for twelve words, the charge for each additional word remaining at Id. ("urgent" Is. 6d., and 2d. for each additional word). From the same date the night letter-telegram rate was reduoed to !!d. for twenty-seven words and Id. for each additional three words.

Table No. 16. Table showing the Number forwarded and the Revenue derived prom Toll Calls and Paid Telegrams of all Codes and the Value of Franked Government Telegrams at the undermentioned Postal Districts during the Twelve Months ended 31st March, 1923.

Year ended ■g g Number of Telegrams and Toll ,. , ll ?. VBn ??. , 831 Number Number £ a Messages forwarded during tbo Year. (including Miscel- > « 0 f of ® laneous lteceipts). $ w Miles of ' Miles of g S "$$ Une - Wira ' H aSS, G mS" "M-- Tele g raph. Telephone.! J] Total Value of Business done during the Year. Total Expenditure (excluding Cable Subsidy). i I £ 0,377 30th June, 1866 1876 £ £ £ 099 1,390 13 24,761 2,746 27,407 5,562 .. 483 3,154 7,247 142 890,382 160,704 1,051,086 62,716 .. 10,154 £ 0,045 699 1,390 3,154 7,247 78,870 82.771 31st Dee., 1886 4,546 11,178 412 1,583,717 252,549 1,836,266 106,639 .. 27,281 4,546 11,178 133,920 98,875 31st Mar., 1896 6,245J 15,7641 743 1,899,632 224,579 2,124,211 97,178 25,933 25,844 6,245J 15,7641 148,955 143,665 1906 8,355 25,116 | 1,312 5,351,084 289,135 5,040,219 184,369 89,542 24,108 8,355 25,116 298,079 276,580 1916 j 13,684 48,052 ! 2,413 10,708,910 127,841 10,836,751 549,627 287,5471 9,085 13,684 48,052 846,259 658,572 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 13,813 50,742 2,354 11,989,882 101,135 12,091,017 015,786 373,109 5,036 13,721 50,751 2,339 14,957,615 116,452 15,074,067 619,188 419,318 5,830 13,724 51,043 2,338 13,884,406 116,385 14,000,851 704,228 533,535 7,036 13,767 52,176 2,327 12,782,037 152,428 12.934,465 697,864 614.367 8,458 11,912 48,016 2,307 13,342.823 170,385 13,513,208 713,380 595.967! 9,727 I 13,813 13,721 13,724 13,767 11,912 50,742 50,751 51,043 52,176 48,010 993,991 1,044,336 1,244.799 1.320,089 1.319.074 879,497 1,078,961 1.369,780 1,314,068 1,117,726

Postal District. Revenue derived from Paid Telegrams of all Codes and Toll Calls. ,- . ... , . Total Value of Value of franked Tel( . Krlmi8 0 , Government a irOode> 1 elegrams. , uu , Toll Calls Number of tanked'" Paid Telegrams,,,,,, G^tc,,t lollt "" 1R ' Telegrams. Total Number of Telegrams of all Codes and Toll Calls. Auckland Blenheim Christehurch Dunedin . . • Gisborne Greymouth Hamilton Invercargill Napier Nelson New Plymouth Oamaru Thames Timaru . . Wanganui Wellington Westport £ .. I 111,610 11,308 74,830 54,746 21,564 .. i 16,027 .. ! 51,728 32,603 45,331 13,699 29,172 10,043 22,069 21,913 34,658 144,623 3,520 £ £ 1,351 112,961 192 11,500 1,112 75,942 729 55,475 312 21,876 470 16,497 305 52,033 259 32,862 553 45,884 348 1.4,047 255 29,427 117 10,160 141 22,210 261 22,174 223 34,881 2,946 147,569 153 3,673 2,190,738 27,695 239,834 5,041 1,302,938 20,693 980,398 15,014 336,082 4,420 269,560 9,427 1,140,001 9,801 666,755 5,931 968,502 8,559 273,585 9,031 626,134 6,100 153,515 1,783 458,841 4,250 406,206 5,491 661,685 5,018 2,602,186 30,111 65,863 2,020 13,342,823 170,385 2,218,433 244,875 1,323,031 995,412 340,502 278,987 1,149,802 672,686 977,061 282,616 632,234 155,298 463,091 411,697 666,703 2,632,297 67,883 Totals, 1922-23 Totals, 1921-22 699,444 685,855 9,727 709,171 8,458 694,313 13,513,208 12,782,037 152,428 12,934,465