J. A. DUPREE.]

F.—B.

49

Jesse Albert Dupree examined. 1. Mr. Ostler.] What is your full name?—Jesse Albert Dupree. 2. And your occupation ? —Manufacturer. 3. And your address? —Eden Terrace. 4. Did you have a conversation with Mr. Williamson, Chief Postmaster, about nine letters going astray?— Yes. 5. When was it? —On the 9th July, I think it was. 6. Tell us what the conversation was?—l have a note of it. I told him that certain letters had been posted to the ministers on the Friday, and told him also that they had not been delivered on the Monday morning, and asked him why it was. 7. It was the 9th July, in the morning? —Yes; I have got a note. 8. Did you take this note at the time or later?— Very soon after—within an hour. This is it: "On Friday evening last letters were posted to all the ministers asking them to announce the meeting in the Town Hall on the 11th to their congregations. It seems that they have not received them. Can you give me any explanation for this?" The reply wak, "Held by the Censor." I said, "So they have been censored?" He said, "Yes." I then said, "Evidently held them up with a purpose." " 1 should not like to say that," was his reply. " You quite understand 1 am not to blame in the matter as I have no control over the Censor." My reply was, " Quite." He continued then, saying, " But the censorship has been removed, and they will all be delivered as usual; in fact, I expect they have been received by now." At 3.30 p.m. on Monday, the 9th July: "So the censorship is lifted?" I asked, lie replied, "Yes." I then said, " Tickets posted now will be delivered as usual? " His reply was " Yes." 9. Is that all the conversation? —That is all the conversation. 10. Mr. Gray.] Did you see Mr. Williamson? —It was on the telephone. 11. You did not see him?— No. 12. Were you speaking from Eden Terrace?— Yes. 13. And the conversation did not take very long, I suppose?— Not very long. 14. Then the effect of it is this, is it not: you asked why certain letters posted on Fridayhad not been delivered on the following Monday, and he explained that they had been held up by the Censor ?—That is so. 15. And you agreed that the Post, Office was not to blame?— That is so. 16. When he said the censorship had been removed did you understand he was referring only to that particular batch? —I took it to mean, in future we should have perfect freedom. 17. That was your understanding; but you do not suggest Mr. Williamson said expressly that the censorship of that box had been removed?— That was what I understood. 18. But he did not say so expressly?—l took that to be his reply. 1.9. But if Mr. Williamson tells His Worship, as he will, that he was referring to that particular batch of letters held up, I suggest that ought to have led you to a different, understanding. You see, Mr. Dupree?—lt conveyed to my mind at the time that there was to be perfect freedom. 20. You will admit that in this conversation over the telephone there was room for a misunderstanding. You were inquiring specifically about, a batch of letters, and you were dealing with that batch of letters? —Yes; and then I asked him generally whether they would be delivered as usual. 21. Is it not possible he may have misunderstood your question as to the extent of the censorship on that day?—l do not, know how Mr. Elliott understood it. 22. Never mind Mr. Elliott? —I telephoned through to explain to him. 23. You merely telephoned to Mr. Elliott what you understood had been the result of the conversation ?—Yes. 24. That is of no importance at all. This is the question : Mr. Williamson was dealing with a specific batch of letters, and is it not quite possible he considered your inquiries were relating to that class of correspondence then in the post?—ln a measure, yes. / William Richardson examined. 1. Mr. Ostler.] What is your full name?— William Richardson. 2. And you are a printer?— Yes. 3. Carrying on business in Auckland?— Yes. [Statement, of evidence tendered by Mr. Ostler.] Mr. Gray (after reading it): I have no objection to that. I do not see what it has to do with the inquiry. 4. Mr. Ostler (to witness).] Is that a correct account of what occurred?— Yes. 5. Can you tell me, Mr. Richardson, the name of the Act the Superintendent of Police referred to? —Not now. I saw it. 6. You saw some Act? —Yes. 7. Can you tell me whether it was a statute —an Act of Parliament —or a war regulation?— I think it was an Act of Parliament. It was bound in with other Acts. Mr. Gray: The Printers and Newspapers Registration Act. That was the Act under which the Superintendent acted. His Worship: He must be a Justice of the Peace as well. lam familiar with the procedure.

7—F. 8.