F.—l.

INLAND CHRISTMAS 4ND NEW YEAR GREETINGS TELEGRAMS. A total of 380,512 telegrams of the greetings type was lodged during the Christmas and New Year period, 16th December to the 6th January, compared with 341,624 during the corresponding period of the previous year. The increase of 11-38 per cent, is an indication of the popularity of this class of telegram, for which specially-designed stationery is provided. OVERSEAS CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR GREETINGS TELEGRAMS. Compared with the previous year, the total number of overseas Christmas and New Year greetings telegrams handled during the Christmas and New Year period increased by 5,222, or 29-1 per cent. The relative figures are shown hereunder : —

CORONATION LETTER-TELEGRAM SERVICE, NEW ZEALAND - UNITED KINGDOM. On the occasion of the Coronation of His Majesty King George VI a special service, known as the " Coronation letter-telegram service," was introduced between the United Kingdom and the various parts of the Empire at a specially reduced flat-rate charge of 4s. for ten words or less and sd. for each additional word. New Zealand participated in the service, which was available from the Bth to the 16th May inclusive. DISTRIBUTION OF FOOTBALL NEWS DURING TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY TEAM. During the New Zealand tour of the South African Rugby Team last year special arrangements were made at the various places at which matches were played in order to ensure the expeditious transmission of news and telegrams. At the four main centres teleprinter equipment was provided at the football grounds, the apparatus at Athletic Park, Wellington, being connected direct to Auckland (the cable terminal), as well as to Wellington on the occasion of each of the two matches played there. At all other towns at which matches were played a message-boy service from the ground to the local telegraph-office was maintained. As a result of the special arrangements made the appreciable volume of traffic lodged at the grounds was disposed of with a minimum of delay and to the complete satisfaction of those concerned. TELEGRAPH WEATHER REPORTS. The extension of commercial aviation services in the Dominion has increased the work performed by the Department in connection with the preparation and transmission of weather reports. During the year the number of daily reports rose from 154 to 190. To assist, in the obtaining of additional meteorological data, eight more departmental weather-reporting stations were established, the total number of places in the Dominion at which departmental officers act as observers now being thirty-eight. RAROTONGA AND NIUE : INTRODUCTION OF MONEY-ORDER TELEGRAM SERVICE. On the Ist May a money-order telegram service was introduced between New Zealand and Rarotonga. A similar service was made available with Niue as from the 3rd January. TELEPHONE TOLL SERVICE. Expansion of toll traffic has been a feature of the business of the Department in recent years. For the year under review the number of toll calls handled was 14,480,207, an increase of 1,337,036, or 10-17 per cent., over the previous year. The revenue for the year amounted to £637,807, showing an increase over the 1937 figure of £75,264, or 13-38 per cent. The average revenue per toll call handled during the year was 10-Bd. Figures indicating the value and volume of toll traffic during the last three years are shown hereunder :—

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Christmas and Christmas and New Year, New Year, Increase. 1936-37. 1937-38. Per Cent. Outward .. .. .. .. 10,491 13,839 31-9 Inward .. .. .. .. 7,429 9,303 25-2 Total .. .. .. 17,920 23,142 29-1

Year ended | Number. Value. £ 31st March, 1936 .. .. .. .. 11,436,054 499,825 31st March, 1937 .. .. .. .. 13,143,171 562,543 31st March, 1938 .. .. .. .. 14,480,207 637,807