MOCK BALLOT FORMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1303, 5 December 1911, Page 6

MOCK BALLOT FORMS.

NEWSPAPERS STOPPED BY TOSt AUTHORITIES. (Br Tcleeranli.—Prcsa Association,) Gisborne, December t. The postal authorities, apparently un der direction from Wellington, held ut) the weekly and daily newspapers posted last week for mails closinp at 8 o'clock this morning, which ivonld have been delivered by inland mails within thre* days of the election. This was dono because they contain advertisements containing instructions how to vote. Xo notice was given by the postal authorities of intention to withhold delivery of the mails, otherwise nr. rangemeiits misht have been nnido for indcpi'iitVnt delivery. . The author of n pamphlet on tlio Prohibition question, wliicii was also held up. received authority for theso to be delivered, but the newspapers have been blocked.

The instructions given by tho Postal Department were to tho effect that any mailer published to-day containing a mocl; ballot-paper was not to Ix> distributed through tho post. To avoid any complications at tho local office, tho staff worked overtime 011 Saturday, so as (0 clear all mail matter posted on that day. The position in Gisbornc, it is thought', was created through this morning's paper containing a mock ballot-paper. No weelrlv |>aper published on Friday required to (x; dealt with. All papers published 011 Saturday, which could be ilirjpatchcd, were sent forward 011 Saturday.