THE CENSORSHIP

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2271, 3 October 1914, Page 8

THE CENSORSHIP

CONTROLLED l , BY IMPERIAL

AUTHORITIES.

The matter of the censorship of business messages. sent over the telegraph lines of New Zealand was mentioned in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon.'.•■■■ ■'-..- ■. ■' Sir Joseph Ward said that the war had now been. a considerable length of time in progress, and that he wished to ask the Postmaster-General if he could see his way (subject to the approval of the Minister 1 , of Defence) to alter the : system of censorship. .This was, he said, a very important matter, and worthy of consideration now. ■It was, of course, right that all telegrams should ho censored in time of war, but the position in' this country was;one of great.inconvenience. Every person in New Zealand was compelled to use'the whole of the words in the nanie of the person or firm/addressed.. That was not necessary from-the point of view of censorship. The cipher addresses could,-Do 'safely.; used, because the Postal authorities had the register of; these It was not the matter of the cost to which he was referring, hut of the'.inconvenience. " The Postmaster-General (the Hon. R. 11. Rhodes): I' quite agree that it is inconvenient. I communicated with the Imperial authoritiesj" arid they say, "No." . •'.- ■•;■" Sir Joseph "Ward: Well, I 'l don't think the Imperial authorities should rule ns. in a matter of this kind. (Laughter.) -.■'■■ . The Hon. Mr.' Rhodes: They should. In reply to an interjection,' Sir Joseph Ward said that-he was not suggesting that codes should be used. : .