A—4

The lesser volume of work at the radio station following the cessation of hostilities enabled two seconded officers to be returned to New Zealand without replacement. The radio out-stations situated at. Aleipata, Tuasivi, Fagamalo, and Sala'ilua have continued to give moderate service. A new station was opened at Sataua, in Savai'i, during the year. In May, 1945, an air-ground-air channel was opened from Apia Radio in connection * with the New Zealand - Samoa air service, In December the aeradio station services were transferred to a station sited at Faleolo Airport. A radio-telegraph channel is maintained between Faleolo and Apia on flight days. All point-to-point aeradio traffic continues to be handled by Apia Radio. Tests were commenced in January to investigate the possibility of a. radiotelephone channel to New Zealand, but these tests have been delayed by unstable ionospheric conditions, while the close proximity of the transmitting and receiving aerials at Apia Radio will permit of only a restricted service until the position in this respect is improved. An " air mail " rate of sd. for each | oz. was introduced from the Ist January, 1946, in respect of letter-mail carried by the New Zealand - Samoa air service. The reconstruction of the Apia telephone system was completed during the year.

The volume of business lias been well maintained, and in most cases the following- statistics of services performed show an increase:—

Staff Particulars given in the following table are as at 3 Ist March of each year:—

7

— 1944-45. 1945-46. Value of money-orders issued £3,545 £3,646 Valne of money-orders paid £10,892 £7,510 Post Office Savings-bank withdrawals £66-, 513 £95,001 Post Office Savings-bank deposits £114,393 £103,748 Number of depositors as at 31st March 4,078 4,382 Amount held to their credit £251,207 £265,534 Number of Samoan depositors 3,055 3,311 Amount held to their credit £30,563 £32,096 Number of radio messages 11,983 13,141 Net receipts therefrom £3,684 £3,565

Services. j Europeans. Persons of part Samoan Blood. 1 Native Samoans. Elective Samoan Disfcrict. and Village Offieials. 1945. 1946. 1945. 1946. 1945. j 1946. 1945. 1946. Classified departmental staffs— Education Health Nati ve Affairs Police and Prisons .. Other services 9 18 3 7 34 Il 18 i 4 7 31 15 0 1 3 39 17 3 1 2 35 240 lt>i i ' S 218 187 16 57 34 244 | 262 Casual employees 71 3 71 3 60 40 58 43 508 209 512 247 244 | 262 Totals 74 74 100 101 717 759 244 1 262