Post_Office_1953-1954 — Page 6

INTRODUCTION

1. I have the honour to submit the following report on the working of the Post Office Department-including the Wire- less Licensing Section-for the year ended 31st March, 1954.

STAFF

2. The total authorized establishment of the Department at the close of the year was 643 comprising 234 pensionable appointments, 10 Supernumerary and Temporary, and the remainder non-pensionable.

3. Mr. M. L. Durrant, Assistant Postmaster General, was transferred to Singapore as Director of Posts on 21st December, 1953. His appointment as Assistant Postmaster General was filled by the promotion of Mr. A. G. Crook as from the same date. Mr. Crook had been transferred from Singapore to Hong Kong as Controller of Posts on 23rd July, 1953.

4.

General.

FINANCE

The record Post Office Revenue at $19,943,600 exceeded the estimate by $4,822,600 or nearly 32%. Of this no less than $4,790,312 was in revenue from postage, due in the main to heavily increased traffic, both surface and air.

At the same time, of course, this heavy increase in traffic caused substantial additional costs for conveyance of mails.

5.

Wireless Revenue at $1,479.940 exceeded the estimate by $59,940 but was $29,452 lower than 1952/53 due to a reduc- tion in both domestic Broadcast Receiving licences and in Radio Dealers' licences.

6. Expenditure for all services was $11,420,212 or $3,125,893 over the estimate. The major cause of the excess was over-expenditure of $2,811,133 for conveyance of mails due to heavily increased traffic and rising conveyance costs.

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