F.—l

EMPIRE PRESS RATE. To encourage the dissemination of news through the press during the war period, a reduction in the Empire press rate from 2Jd. to Id. a word was made on the Ist October. 1941. RADIO SERVICES. OVERSEAS RADIO-TELEGRAPH EMERGENCY CIRCUITS. In order to ensure the continuity of overseas telegraphic communications in the event of dislocation of the cables, emergency radio-telegraph channels were arranged between New Zealand and the United Kingdom (two circuits), the United States of America (two circuits), and Australia (one circuit). RADIO BROADCASTING. RECEIVING LICENSES. The total number of licenses as at the 31st March, 1942, was 371,257, representing an increase of 15,777, or 4-4 per cent., compared with the number current at the close of the previous year. TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SERVICES. TELEPHONE DEVELOPMENT. The number of telephone subscribers increased during the year from 171,965 to 176,171, an advance of 2-32 per cent. As a result of the restrictions placed upon the provision of new telephone connections in December, 1941, however, the number of telephones relinquished towards the close of the year exceeded the number of new connections installed. Toll calls also reached a new high level during the year, the number handled being 16,886,371, compared with 15,711,671 for the previous year, an increase of 4-94 per cent. TELEPHONE-EXCHANGES. The number of exchanges in the Dominion is 349, of which 19 are automatic in operation. NEW AUTOMATIC-TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE EQUIPMENT. The telephone-exchange at Gisborne was out over to automatic working on the sth July, 1941. The first stage of the comprehensive programme to extend the automatic-switching system in the Auckland metropolitan area was completed during the year, and the second stage of the programme is being proceeded with as rapidly as possible. This stage comprises the establishment of new exchanges at St. Heliers, Mount Albert, and Birkenhead, and the installation of additional switching-equipment at the Rcniuera and Takapuna exchanges. PUBLIC CALL OFFICES. During the year the number of public call offices (coin-in-the-slot telephones) installed in the Dominion increased from .1,240 to 1,293, an increase of 53. The total collections from the machines for the year was £78,736, an increase of 8-8 per cent, over the previous year.

APPENDIX.

Table No. 1. Receipts and Payments for the Years 1940-41 and 1941-42.

Table No. 2. Postal Articles posted and delivered in New Zealand during the Year ended 31st December, 1941.

2—F. 1.

5

Other Disbursements. Balance of ; „ , Payments for Eecelpts over Depreciation Fund Payment to Year. £?'»"£ Becdpto. Working- Working- Investment and Interest on Consolidated Balance, forward. expenses. expenses including Uxpcndi- JfdeoraBh ranital fund. Payments. tare on Renewals, offlflm* ISk Liat itv andlieplacements gSCd! "' KUO-1941 38 467 5.106,193 3,615,902 1,490,291 788,280 6,720 665,000 30,000 38,758 1941-1942 '.'. 88-78S 5.388,013 3,827,662 1,560,351 650,100 7,178 667,196 235,963 38,672

Accounts, Lotters, Letter- Registered Circulars, Parp«,l» cards, and Articles. Newspapers, Parcels. Postcards. rackets" <fec. p nRtf ,H 139,760,347 3,236,319 113,090,120 5,874,105 Delivered" '.'. '■'■ '■'■ •• 146,056,884 2,740,855 J 124,231,137 5,078,133 Total •• •• •• 285,817,231 5,977,174 237,321,257 10,952,238