F.—1

52

Table No. 9. Comparative Table showing the Development in the Telegraph, Toll, and Telephone-exchange Services 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.

Telegraph and Toll. Number of Telegrams and Toll Messages forwarded during the Year. Revenue in respect of Telegraph, Toll, and Telephone-exchange Services. Telegrams. Telegraph. Total rear. Number N ber H J - V ,, ; , Tola. j - — j Telephone M p'oie? f Miles of Offices Letter- 6 Total 'of ToU 1 | Letter- Govern _ Sous Total Revenue. Telephone- „°' e Wire, opened. Ordinary. Urgent, j Press. tele- Number of Messages. Ordinary. Urgent. Press. tele- ,°^ n Telegraph revenue. exchange llne ' grams. ment ' Telegrams. | grams. menl ' j HeTOnne? Revenue - Revenue. | £ £ i £ £ £ £ ! £ £ £ £ 30th June, 1866 699 1,390 13 *24,761 .. .. .. 2,476 27,237 .. ! *5,562 .. .. .. 483 . . 6,045 .. .. 6,045 1876 13,154 7,247 142 *890,382 .. .. .. 160,704 1,051,086 .. *62,716 .. .. .. 16,154 .. 78,870 .. .. 78,870 31st Dec., 1886 4,546 111,178 412 *fl,583,717 .. .. .. 252,549 1,836,266 .. (*f88,385 .. .. .. 27,281 i .. 115,666 .. 118,254 133,920 31st Mar.. 1896 6,245$ ; 15,764J 743 fl,553, 232 59,038 198,108, .. 224,579 2,034,957 89,254! {73,160 7,510 ! 9,508 .. 25,844 4,889:120,911 2,110 25,934 148,955 1906 ! 8,355 125,116 1,312 3,995,998 211,571 379,185! .. 289,135 4,875,889 764,330 133,204 12,807 ! 18,095 .. 24,168 3,895 192,169 16,368 89,542 298,079 1916 ,13,684 148,052 2,413 6,062,131 299,823 383, 155i .. 127,841 6,872,950 3,963,801 223,843 22,770 27,557 .. 9,085 163,488 446,743 111,969 287,547 846,259 1925 12,938 ! 56,415 2,264 5,827,745 292,885 461.875 215,473 61,560 6,859,538 8,612.412 300,426 30,145 63,601 10,535 4,420 15,190 424.317 344,393 867,2181,635,928 1926 113,052 |59,791 2,221 6,043,563 317,021 488, 487'317, 484 58,460 7,225,015 8,976,859 310,039 32,385 167,481 14,738 4,992 : 17,158 446,793 358,037 980.2831,785,113 1927 13,158 161,732 2,199 5,725,008 279,957 555,638;426,816 55,790 7,043,209 9 329,017 291,316 28,658 ,76,770 19,133 4,607 ; 36,220 456,704 372,612 995,071 1.824,387 1928 112,771 62,602 2,165 5,541,205 240,540 589,896;413,213 44,510 6,834.364 9,733,150 283,493 24,682 177,876 18,661 3,614 i 30.802 439,128 397,234 1,057,177 1,893,539 1929 12,728 62,992 2,139 5,646,947 234,102 577,327 402,517 44,029 6.904 922 10,655,450 289.807 22,722 74,141 17.895 3,698 35,353 443.616 442,896 1,135,7952.022,307 •Includes private, Press, and Provincial Government messages. t Includes " delayed " telegrams. i Includes miscellaneous telegraph revenue. Note. —Inland Telegram Tariff : Prior to the 1st 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 6d. for each additional five words. From the 1st April, 1870, the minimum charge was reduced to Is. From the 1st 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 1st July, 1877, there was introduced the " urgent " code, at double the ordinary rate. From the 1st July, 1878, a " delayed " system was introduced, the rate being fixed at 6d. for ten words, exclusive of address and signature up to ten words, and Jd. for each additional word. From the 1st 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 1st 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 1st November, 1906, the charge for additional words was reduced to id. each. From the 23rd September, 1915, the ordinary rate was increased from 6d. to 8d. for twelve words (" urgent " Is. 2d.); and on the 1st August, 1920, it was further increased to Is. for twelve words and Id. for each additional word; (" urgent" 2s., and 2d. for each additional word); Sundays and holidays, double rates. From the 1st November, 1920, there was introduced a system of letter-telegrams, to be delivered by post on the morning following the day of presentation. The rate (since altered) was Is. 6d. for thirty-six words and |d. for each additional word. From the 1st 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 letter-telegram rate was reduced to 9d. for twenty-seven words and Id. for each additional three words.