436
THE BRITISH EMPIRE : — NEW ZEALAND
Postal statistics-
Posts and Telegraphs. -Articles posted and delivered : —
Years
Letters and
Post
Books,
News- j Parcels papers Parcels
Money Orders
Letter-cards
Cards
&c.
Nos.
No.
No.
No.
No. No.
Issued Paid
1914
233,901,320
10,585,042
65,709,908
43,779.983 ' 5,055,147
691,518
579,087
1916
242,121.361
8,133,69"
48,868,537
41,807,999 j 6,085,103
669,355
567,058
1917
245,796,945
7,549,867
44 934,218
40,366,792 1 6,314,875
642,683
554,370
1918
242,527,369
7,145,6"6
42,301,230
35,476,212 , 6,376,469
638,560
551,764
1919
247,143,183
7,292,922
44,320,385
35,498,263 i 6,193,475
690,291
594,940
Receipts of Post and Telegraph Department for year ended March 31, 1920, 2,176,9952.; working expenses, 1,944,1612. The officials numbered 10,797 on March 31, 1920.
The telegraph system is Governmental. On March 31, 1920, there were 13,722 miles of line and 50,751 of wire. Number of telegrams despatched during the year, 15,074,067. The telephone (Governmental) is very generally used. The telegraph and telephone revenue for the year 1919-20 was 1,038,5062.
Money and Credit.
There were, in December, 1918, six banks of issue doing business. Two of these were wholly New Zealand institutions, having a paid-up capital of 2,500,0002., besides which the Bank of New Zealand has 529,9882. of 4 per cent, guaranteed stock. The total average liabilities for 1919, in respect of New Zealand transactions, were 57,861,3932., and the average assets 48,615,2092. The average amount on deposit was 50,489 ,4442. The value of the notes in circulation in June, 1920, was 7,926,4242. Gold has almost entirely disappeared from circulation.
There are the post-office savings-bank and 5 private saviDgs banks. The former had, December 31, 1919, 794 branches ; the latter have not more than one or two branches each ; number of depositors, 726,555 ; amount deposited, 33,067,0762. ; amount withdrawn, 28,944,2652. ; amount on deposit at end of 1919, 41,951,0252.
Attached to New Zealand are the following islands :
Auckland Islands, 50° 31' S., 166° 19' E., 200 miles S. of Stewart Island. Area of largest about 330 square miles. Uninhabited. The New Zealand Government maintains a depot of provisions and clothing for the use of shipwrecked mariners on the largest island of the group.
Chatham Islands, 43° 50' S., 177° W., 536 miles E. of New Zealand. Area 375 square miles ; population (October, 1916) 477 (219 Europeans and 258 Maoris and Morioris).
The Cook and other South Pacific Islands were annexed to New Zealand in June, 1901. They lie between 8° and 23° S. lat. ,157° and 170° W. long. The names of the islands with their populations (1916) are as follows:-
Population
Population
Rarotonga
. 3,064
Penrhyn (Tongareva)
326
Maugaia .
. 1,245
Manahiki
493
Atiu
759
Rakaanga
295
Aitutaki .
. 1,302
Danger (Pukapuka) .
474
Mauke (Parry Is.)
490
Suwarrow
112
Mitiaro .
237
Native soldiers in Mfep
/
Hervey Islands
23
Niue (Savage Is.)
. 3,880
Total
12,797
Palmerston Is.
90
