F.—l.

per hundred of population in the postmen's delivery areas in each of the cities and towns named, while in column 2, in respect of the same places, the percentage of residental telephones to each one hundred households is shown.

TELEPHONE-EXCHANGES OPENED, ETC. On the Ist December a new exchange with sixty-nine subscribers was opened at Thorpe, the installation replacing a local system of private lines which had been in operation for manv years. A feature of the opening ceremony was the broadcasting in the local hall by means of a loud-speaker of conversations between the Postmaster-General and Mr. K. J. Holyoake member for Motueka, both of whom were in Wellington, and Mr. J. P. Balck, a prominentresident of the Thorpe district. The establishing of the exchange obviated the necessity on the part of the private-line owners of reconditioning their lines and converting them to metallic circuits on account of the projected introduction of high-tension power lines in the district. Owing to the development of the Kerikeri district tending in a direction away from the township near the wharf, it was found necessary to open a permanent office in a more central position. The new office is known as " Kerikeri Central," and the telephone-exchange was moved from the old Kerikeri office to the new building 011 the 9th February. The number of telephone-exchanges in the Dominion at the 31st March was 349. OPENING OF UNATTENDED RURAL AUTOMATIC-EXCHANGE AT PORIRUA. A rural automatic-exchange, the first of its kind to be installed in New Zealand, was opened at Porirua on the 12th August, replacing the old magneto switchboard which had been in operation at that place since 1913. The new exchange serves the Porirua, Titahi Bay, and Tawa Flat areas, and is capable of catering for the telephonic needs of the three districts for many years to come. The exchange is unattended and operates continuously. Outward toll calls are obtained by dialling "09," which gives direct connection with the Wellington toll-room. Toll calls to Porirua subscribers are effected by the required subscribers being dialled direct from the Wellington exchange. ALTERATION IN STATUS OF TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. Ihe number of subscribers to the Blenheim and Oamaru telephone exchanges having reached 10 per cent, above the maximum for exchanges of Class 111 (1,000), the status of these exchanges was raised during the year to Class 11. In each case the change involved, in addition to altered rental charges, an enlargement of the base-rate area (the area within which minimum rentals apply), with the result that a greater number of residents at the two places are now able to obtain telephone service at the basic charge. The Blenheim and Oamaru exchanges are now in the same category as the exchanges at such places as Invercargill, Wanganui, and Palmerston North. Only the exchanges at the four metropolitan centres are in Class I. TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE ATTENDANCE. It is interesting to note that almost 80 per cent, of the telephone subscribers in New Zealand are connected with exchanges at which continuous attendance is observed. In other words, approximately 110,000 subscribers may communicate with one another at any time of the day or night all the year round. Sixteen per cent, of telephone users enjoy an eighteen hours' service 011 week-days with twelve

28

Business and Residence Telephones (including Residence Telephones (excluding Extensions) Extensions) per 100 Population. per 100 Households. Wanganui .. .. .. 18-20 Wanganui .. .. .. 40-85 Hawera .. .. ..18-13 Masterton .. .. ..39-20 Masterton .. .. ..17-57 Hawera .. .. .. 38-39 Wellington.. .. .. 16-86 Blenheim .. .. ..32-99 Hamilton .. .. .. 15-30 Nelson .. .. ..31-49 Whangarei ..* .. .. 15-17 Gisborne .. .. ..30-74 Gisborne .. .. ..14-97 Wellington .. 30-44 Blenheim .. .. ..14-53 Hamilton .. .. ..29-70 Nelson .. .. ..13-82 Whangarei.. .. .. 27-99 Palmerston North .. .. 13-04 Hastings .. .. ..26-69 Hastings .. .. .. 12-93 Oamaru .. .. .. 26-04 Auckland .. .. 12-70 Palmerston North .. .. 25-44 Invercargill .. .. 12-42 New Plymouth .. .. 25-28 Dunedin .. .. ..12-27 Auckland .. .. 24-91 Napier .. .. .. 12-10 Dunedin .. .. .. 24-88 New Plymouth .. .. 11-92 Invercargill .. .. 24-80 Oamaru .. .. .. 11-32 Timaru .. .. .. 22-51 Timaru .. .. .. 11-13 Napier .. .. .. 21-61 Christchurch .. .. 10-49 Christchurch .. .. 19-75 Greymouth.. .. .. 10-08 Greymouth .. .. 17-53 Thames .. .. .. 9-04 Thames .. .. .. 17-23 Westport .. .. .. 8-04 Westport .. .. .. 13-74