POSTAL ENQUIRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1730, 15 September 1917, Page 3

POSTAL ENQUIRY.

REV. HOWARD ELLIOTT’S CHARGGES. In the House on Thursday, Sir Joseph Ward laid on the table the report of the Royal Commissioner (Mr H, W. Bishop, S.M.), into charges made by the Rev. Howard Elliott against the officers of the Post Office at Auckland to the effect that certain circular notices posted at Auckland on or about the (ith day of July, 1917, relative to a meeting to be held at Auckland under (he auspices of the Protestant Political Association, were corruptly or improperly suppressed or detained by those officers. The Commissioner, after reviewing (lie evidence, concluded bis report as folloAVs; — “I have no hesitation in stating that I am convinced that no postal official Avas responsible for any improper or corrupt dealing Avith any of the letters. The public may rest assured that the very high reputation that the Postal Department has always enjoyed in this Dominion, as one of the most important Departments of Stale, lias not in any avov heen lessened by the result of this enquiry.” There was an animated debate on the report. Mr W NosAvorthy contended (hat nothing had happened in the history of Ncav Zealand that had done more to make people doubtful of secrecy of the Post Office. The Government Avas cleared of Ihe imputation against the Post Cilice, hut he was not satisfied with Avhat had taken place. Mr J. S. Dickson said lie was perfectly certain flint (lie finding Avas quite against, the Aveight of the evidence. He contended that a Post Office official at Auckland Avas upholding the interests of his cwn church in holding up the circa] ! - on of “The Monaco.” Noav that i.ic enquiry was over it Avould he for the Rev. Air Elliott to take (lie case to the Supreme Court, and .find out what rights were A’esUed in (lie authorities. A member: Is the Solicitor-Gen-eral a Catholic? Mr Dickson: ll is not the Catholics Avcrc arc afraid of. It’s the Protestants avlio are Avorking in the interests of Hie Catholics. Air Dickson Avent on to read the report, Avitli a vieAv to showing that the officials of Hie Post Office at Auckland had been using their official positions on behalf of the Catholic Church. It Avould take more than the report that had been presented to satisfy the public in regard to the Post Office. “RECKLESS AND ILL-JUDGED.” The Attorney-General (Hon. A. L. Herdinan) said that Avhcn the public read the report and Hie evidence they Avould he satisfied that no more ill-advised, reckless and ill-judged attack lias ever been made upon the administration of a Department. After stating that he Avas a Presbyterian, of old Presbyterian stock, be contended that no religions section of Hie community bad any right to raise.sectarian squabbles Avhilo Hie yountry aauis at Avar. Members: Hear, hear. The Minister read an extract from Hie pamphlet Avhieh had heen referred lo as the publication issued by the Committee of Vigilance, mentioned by the Commissioner in bis report. It came to his knoAvledge, through Atr Hornsby, that a circular avus being issued on the subject, and be had also communicated Avith the Crown Law Office. He contended that, during the present Avar, no one had a right to bring about any religions difference. (Hear, hear). Nor had anyone a right: to stir up labour strife. Why should not (he (State slop in to slop the circulation of such literature as had been circulated? V\ by did the State censor Box 912, and not the Tablet and Hie Green Ray? It Avas cpiito plain that the Church carried out its propaganda through its papers. If they had prosecuted the Tablet or Hie Green Ray they would have sot alight a blaze (hat Avould have been difficult to put out. Continuing, lie said that Hie Rev. Air Elliott had been Avarned Hint he should conduct his meetings so that they should not provoke public resentment. The same Avarning had heen given to the clergy of (he Roman Catholic body. Replying to further remarks, the Minister said it had been suggested that the censorship bad been established in the interests of the Catholic Church. A member: So it avus. The Minister: “A Avild, reckless, and absolutely foundat ionless statement.” ll had also been suggested that Hie police force was solely recruited from Hie ranks of Hie Roman Catholics. That was not true. During ihe past few years he had to deal with two Police Commissioners, Air Cullen and Air O’Donovan, both Roman Catholics, and in both of Avhom he had the most Complete confidence. Both those men had been absolutely loyal to him and in the appointments they had made they had been perfectly fair. Air Herdman read extracts from letters reflecting on t he chastity of priests and nuns. Air Isitt: It’s a shame to be a Pro- , lestaut. ' Air Herdman began to read further extracts from correspondence, but Avas met with cries of “Don’t read it.” lie did not continue to read it; but lie added that the circulation of such literature must militate against the successful carrying on of the Avar, PRO-ROMANIST POLITICIANS. Air Hornsby read correspondence which included a letter from the “Committee of Vigilance/’ stating that it was compiling a list of pro-

Romanist politicians, and asking if he could be included in the list. From the beginning and up to today New Zealand Roman Catholics had sent more than their full share. Was this the way to encourage and help the men who were fighting for us, to send this flaming torch of bigotry among the people? He, a Protestant, was the son of a leading Orangeman of Tasmania, but he deplored the possibility of men and women flying at one another’s throats because they worshipped at different shrines. A threat had been held out to him by the man who was making such statements. Mr Hornsby contended that every man had the right to worship according to his conscience, and no man should have the right to interfere with him. No man, unless his mind was corrupted and filthy, could have given vent to the statements made by the writers of the letters, the contents of which had been read by the Minister, No decent-minded Protestant could acquiesce in such filth or in the desire of any body of people to put men at each other's throats. Mr J. Payne said that, speaking •as a Freemason, he thought it was fortunate that the trouble had arisen Avhilo a National Government was in power. He understood that the Prime Minister was an Orangeman, and that there was nothing to lend itself to the idea that any particular attention should he paid to Roman Catholics. It had been the proud boast of the Empire that each religious body could carry on its religion without let or hindrance, but he could assure the Government that there was in existence a large amount of sectarian strife, and he urged that anything the Government could do to stop the spread of propagandist literature would he well worth doing. The enquiry had been made by public officials, and it seemed to him that the only trouble was that Howard Elliott and others were not allowed to propagate mailers which would go in the direction of stirring up sectarian slrife. ONE SECT AGAINST ANOTHER. Mr P. C. Webb expressed (he opinion lhat there was altogether too much sectarianism finding its way into (lie House. Thai: was largely due to (he fact that members were only too willing to lend a willing ear to the protestations of one sect or another. All seels had to pay the same for their upkeep. That was why Labour barred sectarianism. He remarked on the fact that, according to the Commission’s report, the Rev. Howard ‘Elliott’s remarks were in the dircetlion of sowing the seeds of discontent. Labour representatives who were alleged to have sown disaffection had been sent to gaol. It Was not fair. Mr J. M’Combs congratulated Sir Joseph Ward on the complete exoneration that Ids Department had received at the hands of (he Commission. No more disgusting allegations had been made against, the Catholic Church than those made by the Rev. Howard Elliotf. " Mr Isitt said that again and again the fact had been commented on that the Rev. Howard Elliott was a Baptist minister, and he hoped that for the credit of common Protestantism, after this “filthy and blackguardly concoction” of which ho had boon guilty, no one would “so soil himself aw to to have any truck or contact witJi the man.” MINISTER REPLIES. The Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, in the course of his reply, expressed the opinion (as he said he had done at the time when the statements were made) that they wore untrue, and the person who made them should suffer. Sir Joseph Ward explained (hat he did not know the creeds of (he employees, whether in the Post and Telegraph service or in any branch of the Public Service, and no one had ever been debarred from entering the service or promition because of his creed. Members : Quite right, too. Sir Joseph Ward remarked (hat it: was common knowledge in this country as to the integrity of the Catholics employed in the Public Service. (Hear, boar). lie deprecated any reflection being made Unit I hey were not to lie trusted on account of their religion. What a shocking thing it would he' in a young country like tin’s, in the great service in which it was engaged, to allow itself to he dictated to by different creeds —all hough he Avas not rellceting on any particular creed nl all. Sir Joseph Ward further explained (hut he had nothing to do Avith the statements made except as far as the Commissioner’s report was concerned. Ever since the commencement of the Avar therg had been a censorship directed by the British Government, and it , was for the benefit of the country. (Hear, boar). This censorship had nothing to do with the ordinary censorship. He did not Icuoav Avho Avas in possession of Box 912. Ho Avas one of a number who were in a minority, and lie had tried to do his duty. (Hear, hear). He referred to the fact that Ulstermen and Catholics had attended the graveside of Captain William Redmond, and concluded by saying that he did not think the strong expressions made by the Attorney-General were too strong in such a matter. (Hear, bear). The report Avas laid on the table. MB. ELLIOTT INTERVIEWED. DISAPPOINTED, BUT NOT SURPRISED. Dunedin, Sept. 13. The Rev. Howard Elliott, inierviewed to-night, said he ivas disappointed at the finding of the Commission, but not surprised. The

central committee, on learning that Mr Bishop was to act as commissioner, endeavoured to get a Supreme Court Judge appointed, and be felt more strongly uoav than ever that this course-was warranted. He pointed out that Mr Bishop had overlooked the fact that while censorship Avas established over Bos 912, the pamphlet “Rome’s Hideous Guilt” had been banned by the Soli-citor-General, and at the same time The Tablet and the Green Ray were publishing matter Avhieh, if not seditious, was certainly disloyal. Mr Elliott, said he stated distinctly in evidence that the letters to which Mr Bishop referred were no fabrications —only the names and addresses being fictitious.