2— F. 1.

F.—l

TELEGRAPH SERVICES. TELEGRAPH TRAFFIC. The number of telegrams handled during the year was 6,658,896 of a total value ot £469,486. This represents an increase on the previous year's figures of 1,333,839 (25'05 per cent.) and £92,982 (24'69 per cent.), respectively. EXTENSION OF CONCESSION-RATE SERVICE FOR OVERSEAS TELEGRAMS TO AND FROM MEMBERS OF ARMED FORCES. The concession-rate service for overseas telegrams to and from members of the armed forces was extended during the year to include the United States of America and New Caledonia. TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SERVICES. TELEPHONE DEVELOPMENT. During the year the number of telephone subscribers increased from 176,171 to 177,030. The restrictions imposed in December, 1941, on the provision of new telephone-exchange connections are mainly responsible for the small increase in the number of subscribers. Practically all the new connections made during the year were required for purposes associated either directly or indirectly with the war effort. The number of toll calls handled during the year was 17,618,832, compared with 16,886,371 for the previous year, an increase of 4'34 per cent. On account of staffing difficulties, the quarter-rate charges for toll calls effected between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. were suspended on the 2nd February, 1942. For the same reason full-rate charges were imposed from the 4th October, 1942, in respect of toll calls effected between 6 a.m. and midnight on Sundays and holidays. NEW AUTOMATIC-TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE EQUIPMENT AND IMPROVEMENTS TO MANUALLY-OPERATED EXCHANGES. The comprehensive programme of extension of the automatic-switching system in the Auckland metropolitan area is now nearing completion, and new automatic exchanges at Mount Albert and Birkenhead were cut into service during the year. It is expected that the establishment of new exchanges at Avondale and St. Heliers and the installation of additional automatic-switching equipment at the Takapuna and Remuera exchanges will be completed in the near future. During the year improved manual telephone-exchange-switching facilities were provided at Dargaville, Feilding, and Pukekohe by the installation of modern lamp-signalling branching multipletype switchboards. PUBLIC CALL OFFICES. The number of public call offices (coin-in-the-slot telephones) in the Dominion as at the 31st March was 1,368, compared with 1,293 at the corresponding date last year. The total collections from the machines for the year was £87,452, an increase of 11 per cent, over the previous year's returns. RADIO SERVICES TRANSFER IN CONTROL OF CERTAIN AERADIO STATIONS. On the Ist January, 1943, the Air Department (Royal New Zealand Air Force) assumed control of the aeradio stations at New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Blenheim, Nelson , Harewood (Christchurch), and Taieri (Dunedin), which were previously administered by the Post and Telegraph Department. The operating personnel at the stations were attested and are now members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The technical maintenance of the stations is still the responsibility of the Post and Telegraph Department. OVERSEAS RADIO-TELEGRAPH CIRCUITS. A direct radio-telegraph service between New Zealand and New Caledonia was established on the 17th December, 1942. RADIO BROADCASTING. RECEIVING LICENSES. The total number of radio receiving licenses current at the 31st March, 1943, was 368,165. APPENDIX.

Table No. 1. Receipts and Payments for the Years 1941-42 and 1942-43.

5

Other Disbursements. Balance of ——— T3 n}n „ nn Payments for Receipts over Depreciation Fund r < Ari + r jv m f? nTia Payment to forward. Eecei P ta - to Post and Interest on Consolidated Balance, expenses. expenses Telegraph Capital. J!un<1 - 1 ayments. tare on Renewals, officers'Sick- liability. of Assets! benefit Fund. 1943-1942 .. 38,758 5,388,013 3,827,662 1,560,351 650,100 7,178 667,196 235,963 38,672 1942-1943 .. 38,672 5,863,621 4,340,362 1,523,259 823,000 6,890 692,637 — 39,404