AUCKLAND POST OFFICE INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3190, 14 September 1917, Page 4

AUCKLAND POST OFFICE INQUIRY

The finding of tho Royal Commissioner on tho charges made against tho Auckland Post Office officials of corruptly or improperly suppressing or detaining certain mail matter completely exonerates tho officials and tho Postal authorities generally. That this finding is, supported by tho cvideace there cannot bo the _ least doubt. The grounda on which tho charges wero based were extremely slender and unconvincing, and the Commissioner's review thereof will appeal to tho common sense of most people. The disclosures regarding the censorship made during tho course of the inquiry would seem to indicate that a very free uho of this power is exercised at tho tweet will of the Solicitor-General and the Chief of tho General Staff. Apparently the Chief of Staff, Colonel Gibbon, is in control of tho whole censorship arrangements, and instead of devoting his undivided attention to tho important military matters with which he must have his hands overfull, is expected to supervise also the circulation and distribution of doubtful literature, and to authori'so the censorship of letter-boxes and other suspected means of communication. Probably this accounts for the fact that tho censorship has at times proved needlessly irritating and remarkably inefficient. In the matter of cable messages, • for instance, the delays frequently aro most unreasonable. Tho Mmistor responsible might with advantage give a. littlo attention to this subject.