CHARGES AGAINST THE POST OFFICE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3162, 14 August 1917, Page 5

CHARGES AGAINST THE POST OFFICE

ALLEGED TAMPERING WITH MAIL MATTER ROYAL COMMISSION OPENS By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, August 13. The inquiry ordered by tho Government into the charges made by the Rev. Howard Elliott against tho Auckland Post Office officials was opened this morning before Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M.. of Christchurch. Mr. A. Gray, K.C., Wellington, appeared on behalf of the Govenunent, and Mr. H. H. Ostler for Mr. Elliott and tho Protestant Political Association. Mr. W. E. Morris, Secretary o flbo Postal Department, and Mr. J. C. Williamson, Chief Postmaster, Auckland, were present. It has been, decided by Cabjnot that matters connected with P.O. Box 912, regarding non-delivery of mail matter, in regard to which complaint was made in the House by Mr. J. S. Dickson, shall be included in'the investigation. Mr. Ostler then read two charges as follows:— , , (1) That of 25,000 envelopes posted, containing printed circulars and cards of application inviting citizens to a meeting, a great number were delivered empty to addressees, the circulars and cards having been, it was alleged, abstracted or lost in the course of the post. (2) Envelopes containing notices to Protestant clergymen which were posted on Friday night, July G, at 11.20 p.m., at tho Dominion Road Post Office, wero improperly opened in tho course o ftho post, and were improperly detained in. tho .post office, so that none of these notices Teached tho addressees until after Sunday, July 8, and the ministers were thus prevented from notifying the congregations of Hie intended meeting at the Sunday services. Mr. Bishop, having stated that he had received no instructions regarding investigation into the matters affecting Box 912, Mr. Ostler obtained permission to read that chargo as follows:— That tho Loyal l Orange Lodge and Protestant Political Association had for some time past been Tenting a private' letter box (912) from tho Post Office, and that a military censorship had been established over correspondence addressed to this box in the interests of the Eoniau Catholic Church. Almost all letters received by the lodge and tho association, addressed to this box have borne tho superscription

"Passed by military censor," and many 'letters addressed to the association containing tho addrea3 of this box have been improperly retained, alnd not delivered n,t all, although these letters had no connection with military matters or the war, and dealt exclusively with the subject of Roman Catholicism. Mr. Bishop read an extract from a. telegram forwarded by the Prime Minister and lianded in by Mr. day. It stated: "As to charge No. 3, tIHR iu part relates to improper detention ariu to nondelivery of letters addressed to 912, and in part relates to the actions of tho censor. Cabinet has no objection to ijhe Commissioner investigating any charges relating to improper retention and to non-delivery of'letters to Box 912, and relating to tho suggestion that a system of' censorship had been established over correspondence addressed to Box 912 in the interests of the (Roman Catholic Church, but inasmuch as the existence of a sfote of war has made the establishment of a censorship necessary, and as matters connected with and arising out of the censorship are for reasons of State obviously secret, Cabinet cannot agree to allow the Commissioner to call upon any censor officer under control_ of the chief military censor to do anything more than explain, what was done by him with any letters and' documents referred to in your charge which may have coma into h'is hands. A ■ censor 'officer can' ■give no information and no Teasons for censoring any documents or correspondence within New Zealand, or as to tho scope and extent of the censorship esta.blished in New Zealand upon, tho outbreak of war."

Sir. Bishop etated that he was in a difficult position regarding charge No. 3. "I understand," he said, T 'that the .Chief Censor is Tho most vital interests of the Einpii-o nifty be in. his hands. I expect ho will plead privilege/' Mr. Ostler submitted that the censor is a New Zealand' officer, and as such was under tho control of tho Minister of DeMr.' Gray: I am instructed that the Chief Militarv Censor is apointed by the War Office, and that ho acts according to the War Regulations. Thoro aro also his deputy officers. The Post Office, however, is willing to give Tour Worship any facility to inquire into any reguLition in reference to tho third charge.

Mr. Bishop: Is tho military censor hore directly responsible to tho Post Office? ' ' ■ ■ .

Mr. Gray: No. He js directly responsible to the Chief Military C«nsor. \ Mr. Bishop said ho was going to insist upon having absolutely definite and exceptionally particular instructions as to tho powers of the Commission. "I must not 1)0 in the position of not knowing my powers in relation to tho censor, otherwise there must bo difficulty, <ind I may bo misjudged by the public. I am not going to be placed in a falseposition. I intend to throw the onus upon the Government. It may be very difficult to define where my powers commence and end. I must be very cai'oful not .in. any way to trench upon Imperial matters, which may be the utmost importance to the Empire." Mr. Bishop continued that for that reason it would bo better for him to have the commisison in full, in. order to know ox.iotly where he was. The inquiry was subsequently adjourned sine die. .