THE AUCKLAND POSTAL ENQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 14, 11 October 1917, Page 6

THE AUCKLAND POSTAL ENQUIRY

AND THE KEV. ELLIOTT'S CHARGES ' Sir,—l am at a iotal lose to understand why a letter is published in The Dominion of last Monday supposedly answering a letter of mine. It is years since I addressed a letter to The DojiinlON, so that Mv. Isitt's letter is a piece of surprising zeal on his behalf. I shall not, attempt to reply to it in detail, but I have no hesitation in saying what I think, and what a good many other people think about the whole miserable affair. Ido not pretend that it is a good thinff to handle rumours concerning the private morality of the followers of any religious creed. There are moral failures among all. I have ■never handled such myself. lam very sorry that Mr. Elliott did. What his circumstances were Ido riot know. lalso think that to , read such letters as Mr. Isitt quotes in a public meeting was exceedingly unwise. I cannot think that Mr. Elliott did this with (he knowledge that it would give pain to an afflicted family. But I also think that Mr. Isitt has overdone things to this extent. His criticisms in the House were based on the idea that the letters were fabrications. I admit'fnlly Mid frankly and without equivocation that a man who fabricated such letters—invented them in mere wantonness, thnt is—even though it were only to write them to himself to test a censorship, would be a very guilty man. But Mr. Elliott did not do that. The letters were based on, and were the material of lettors achially received by Mr. Elliott's committee, and to which for certain reason." with which I am not acquainted, Mr. Elliott gave some credence. He dictated these letters, nnd nddressed them to his own P.O. box. He did this, I understand, at his lawyer's advice, and this Ms his offence. Whether it is as large as Mr. Isitt would lead your readers to suppose is for them to say. For my part, I do not beTiove that it is.—l am, etc.. J. J. NORTH.