HOLDING UP MAILS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10497, 7 December 1911, Page 5

HOLDING UP MAILS

EXPLANATION BY THE PREMIER.

f By Telegraph—L'iess Association.)

INYER£ARGiLL, Last Night. Regarding fohe alleged holding up of juaus by the 1-ostal Department m the North, .the. Premier says the statement published by Opposition, newspapers tdiat an extracsrddaiary order by the government has juit hoen, resoled* \\hifh iiiustirates <tiha extreme lungthe to which the Mioith trv has decided to go in its anxiety to* stem the tide of Reform feeing,

is a'bsohitdy uUrue: The Government had given n«> order of amy sort ita *auaeotivaf with the holding up of moats in uaiy part od' the Dominion. On, readirtg the statement this morning he ittuegraphed to the head of the Postal L*paitm>ent, and asked, him what k nx-ant. He (replied that one of the .Opposition Jpaj»i* had posted some, newspapers, coaitalining a mock .ballot ptoper, whii-ch was illegal), too late for delivery *m *<he counttry beMondu'y. The Solicitor-General, ' prior to the 'iaut• 'general election, had advised that it -was- illegal to de- ' liver anyttevg in the shape of mock ballot papers, during the three days 'before the elections. The head of the Diepaaitmeaiit advise* that .he consulted with the Crown Law Officers ' again in connection with the presentt matter,' aaid had been advised that the Department had acted properly t . and that where mock balutot papers are posted prior to the elction. within . tlie prchahuttd time, tlhiey are either retained, to the senders or delivered the day after, the eleotioii,. So,, that the statement that/the Government *" interfered -in,' any... , ! &y hj, absolutely unique. ""I (heard nothing; .of xt»;. said the Pa»mde? v ,'«I siw it J?ub- ' lifted to'nwrning'; The Postal Department has- Jfcreated. everybody «like, and <no distinction, has ever been nxade. Needle&s to say, had any action of tte part of the Govern. men* been necessary in. the present case, it is certain .tiia* the. question would have been referred to me, as ** decision.; ■x&HNM the first I 'knew about the matter was when! wv .it published tC.is morning."