F.—l.

In some instances the rate to Empire points has been reduced from approximately ss. a word to Is. 3d. a word. As an interesting example the case of Falkland Islands may be mentioned. Previously it cost 4s. 9d. a word for a telegram from New Zealand to this outpost of the Empire, whereas under the new Empire rate scheme the charge has been reduced to Is. 3d. a word, notwithstanding that the message has to go first to London by cable and thence by radio to its destination. The scheme is framed also without any increase of existing rates, so that until the flat-rate basis can be further reduced there will remain certain cases where rates are below the uniform level. For example, the full rate from New Zealand to Australia will remain as at present at 4|d. a word. Based on the present volume of traffic originating in the Dominion, the reductions in rates are estimated to represent an annual saving of £23,707 to New Zealand users of the cable services. The new-rates scheme brings for the first time into the sphere of overseas telegraphy the principle of a uniform rate which has long been applied with such advantage to postal traffic. To enable the uniform flat rate to be offered to cable users the various Empire Governments and Cable and Wireless, Ltd., have been required to make substantial financial concessions. The cost of these, however, is outweighed by the great importance alike on political, commercial, and strategic grounds of maintaining intact the system of Imperial communications carried on by Cable and Wireless, Ltd., the allBritish merger company which was brought into being as a result of the deliberations that took place at the Imperial Conference in 1928. INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE. An International Conference in connection with telegraph, telephone, and radio matters was held at Cairo from the Ist February until the Bth April, 1938, for the purpose of revising the relative regulations annexed to the International Telegraph Convention. This Dominion was represented at the Conference by Mr. M. B. Esson, late Second Assistant Secretary of the Department, and now the New Zealand Representative on the Imperial Communications Advisory Committee, London. It is too early yet to indicate the conclusions reached in respect of the numerous proposals that were discussed at the Conference. COMMERCIAL BRANCH. The revenue value of business handled by the Commercial Branch has been satisfactorily maintained, the results of the year's operations again showing an increase on those of the preceding year. Apart from the purely commercial function of seeking new business, the Branch is now firmly established as a link between the public and the Department, and valuable service is rendered in this direction. BUILDINGS AND LAND. Since the Ist August, 1937, the date of my last annual report, the erection of eleven new post-office buildings and of one major addition to an existing building has been completed. Particulars of the official ceremonies held in connection with the opening of these buildings are as follows : — Building. Date of opening. Ceremony performed by Belfast .. 19th August, 1937 .. Mr. C. M. Williams, M.P. Kamo .. .. 11th October, 1937 . . Mr. J. G. Barclay, M.P. Kerikeri Central Bth October, 1937 .. Captain H. M. Rush worth, M.P. Kumeu .. 30th August, 1937 .. Right Hon. J. G. Coates, P C., M.P. Linwood . . 26th April, 1938 . . Hon. D. G. Sullivan, M.P. Little River . . 30th April, 1938 . . Mr. H. S. S. Kyle, M.P. Mangaweka . . 16th March, 1938 . . Hon. J. G. Cobbe, M.P. Mayfield . . 30th August, 1937 . . Mr. T. D. Burnett, M.P. Queenstown .. 21st March, 1938 . . Hon. F. Jones, M.P. Thames . . 28th January, 1938 . . Hon. F. Jones, M.P. Te Awamutu Bth April, 1938 .. Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P. (major addition) Waimana .. 23rd August, 1937 .. Mr. C. H. Burnett, M.P.

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