THE TELEGRAPH CASE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 832, 1 July 1871, Page 2

THE TELEGRAPH CASE.

The " Wellington Post" remarks on Mr G-isborne's evidence in the telegraph case, as follows :—The doctrine laid down by Mr Gisborne in the witness box is a very startling one indeed, and calculated seriously to shake confidence in the Telegraph Department. He stated on oath that as a Telegraph Commissioner he had a ria;ht to enter the operating room of the Telegraph Office, to act as an operator, if possessed of the skill to do so, and to inspect the records, which include copies of all messages sent through the wires. Mr G-isborne, or any other person who may chance to be acting as Commissioner, may thus make himself acquainted with the private affairs of everyone who uses the telegraph, and, unlike the ordinary persons through whose bands messages usually pass, he is not sworn to secrecy. There is no legal provision to prevent the Commissioner making any use he likes of the knowledge so obtained, and he may communicate it to whom he likes without fear of punishment. With what confidence can member of the Opposition use the telegraph for political purposes, during the sesson, when they know that as soon as their messages are placed on record in the Telegraph Office they are open to the inspection of a member of the Ministry who mav desire to know what his opponents are doing, or have done. If the Telegraph Act is amended the better.