The representative., 1901-06-20

and organixed for tho purpose. Of cam
pleting this work - per plaas and spec-
ihcations. and he reported tha& the men
did organize in divisions, the strong
and robust taking the most diflcuit
parts and lsAving the easaer parh for
the old and les abba
TELEGRAPH, THLEPHONE AND Ex-
PRESS.
The government also owns the tele-
graph and telephones. the rate hsing
about 500 per cent LEES than "our'' west
ern Union monopoly. Both pay profit.
The workers enjoy the eight hour work
day and the weekly half holiday. The
government also conducts the express
business for the benefit OF the people.
Civil service rules In all departments.
The cost Of sending a message in New
Zealand Is less than half what it is
with us. A message can sent 1000 miles
in New Zealand for II cents. Excluding
the Maoris or Indian population (about
one-sixteenth of the whole), the people
Of New Zealand send four messages each
per year, or four times as many per head
as our own people send. Every tele-
graph operator over there Is public
officer. unremovable except for cause.
sworn to secrecy, and subject to punish
ment as a felon should he divulge the
contents of a message" Each message
Is numbered when received and dis
patched. the exact time is noted upon
1t, and no one. no matter from or to
whom sent, can obtain precedence over
an earlier one.
Mr.. Kolkins, writing from New Zea-
land to the New York Journal, says:
"One of the pleasantest features of
railroad ride in this country Is to wit
ness the children focking to the trains
in going to or returning from school.
They get on the train as II they owned
1t, and no one asks them for tickets.
They ride free of charge. Stations are
provided at frequent intervals, and each
one is postoffice, telegraph and tele-
phone Office, and savings bank, as we'll
as railroad and express office, as the
government conducts all these classes of
business.
Think OF the saving in Office ex-
penses by this system, and you will be
able to comprehend why the railroad
fares and the parcel posts are so much
cheaper here than in America. In spite
of the great expense in the construction
and equipment of railroads in this land
OF high wages and short hours, the rail-
way passenger rate is only about three
fourths of the average price in the
States, while the parcels post and tele
graph rates are far cheaper. A telegram
is sent at cent a word
Mr.. Carpenter says Every post
office is telephone and telegraph Office,
a savings bank, a parcel post crates
about one-fourth of what We -pay), a
government insurance Office, and a pen
sion Office. They have rigid civil serv-
Ice system, and the people are serving
themselves in these capacities better
than any people are being served in any
other country. and at less expense"
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS.
These are feature in New Zealand,
and are immensely popular. Any one
may deposit sums up to $500. There
are no bank failures. No cashiers going
to Canada or South America. The sys-
tenn is simple. absolute protection to de-
posits, and the people never fear panics.
AS result the money of the country ia
kept in more even circulation since there
is no incentive to withdrawal of de.
Dosits.
We quote the following from Mr.. Car
penter:
'"The postofice savings banks are, Of
course, under the government. They
are banks of deposit. interest from 21h
to per cent being allowed on all ac-
"The money is invested in municipal
and government bonds and in mortgages
On the big estates which the government
purchases to divide up among the people
upon such terms that the purchaser
pays or 5 per cent. At present the
yearly deposits of the postofice savings
banks amount to more than SIS, ,O0O, 900,
and on Jan. 1, 1899, their total accounts
approximated $25,OOO,OOO, making an
average of about $3.50 for each account.
There are now about 10000 depos-
ltors in the postoffice savings banks,
which, taking the whole population of
New Zealand, equals one to every four
persons, or one savings bank deposit to
every family. On the average about $780,
300 are daily deposited in such banks.
and the government annually pays out
through them more than three-Quarters
Of a million dollars in interest" New
Zealand in a Nutshell.
Public Ovnership.