F.—B,

54

[H. L. ELLIOTT.

13. You are proud of that result, even though it is accomplished by antagonizing members of the Church which you are attacking in relation to the war?— Excuse me, I have never attacked members of that Church as a Church; I have attacked their politics or interference with politics. I have never referred to their religion. 14. You have said things, as I put it to you the other day, which must be deemed to be insulting by members of the Roman Catholic faith? —How can I help that? 15. Do you suggest that the newspapers which give vent to their expressions of opinion upon your utterances such as 1 have read are themselves governed by Roman Catholic interests? —No. 16. Then, why do you venture to suggest, that the papers are not honest in their expressions of opinion?— Because the Roman Catholic Tablet week by week utters the most absolute seditious and disloyal statements, and no paper in this country ever makes one comment upon it. 17. Do you suggest that is a reason why these papers 1 have quoted trounce you for your utterances?—l suggest they do not care about the Protestants, and they fear the Catholics because they are organized. 18. Then the newspapers of this country cannot be trusted to do their duty?—l did not suggest anything of the sort. On broad political lines 1 have no occasion to question—neither do I—the integrity of the newspapers of this country; but when it comes to a question of Rome versus Protestants, Rome gets the Press every time. 1.9. Mr. Ostler.] You said in answer to Mr. Gray that you had no evidence of any more empty letters delivered, but you had some reason to suppose some, and then he stopped you. Would you mind telling us the evidence? —The evidence already tendered in this Court by witnesses, and the evidence that will be tendered this morning. 20. You said you had reason to suppose there were other cases, and the witnesses did not want to come to Court: why was that? Mr. Gray objected. 21. His Worship.] Afraid to come before this Commission —is that what you mean, Mr. Elliott?—That is what I said. 22. Can you give any reason?—l have had messages over the telephone, "I received an empty envelope." " Well, give' me your name and address." " Oh, no." His Worship: It is quite possible. Mr. Gray: How could the Post Office deal with a thing like that? Mr. Ostler: Even some of the witnesses who came here begged to be excused. His Worship: Quite natural. Mr. Ostler: Were any threats made by any public man in this country?—[This question was not pressed.] George Williamson Jamieson examined. 1. Mr. Ostler.] What is your full name?— George Williamson Jamieson. 2. And your occupation?— Hairdresser. 3. What is your postal address?—Hinemoa Road, Grey Lynn. 4. Did you have any conversation with the postman?— Yes, along Ponsonby Road. 5. Can you tell me first when it was?— About four weeks ago. 6. Was it after the Protestant Political Association's meeting?— Yes, after. 7. How long after can give you the date. 8. I would like the date?— You see a postmark there. The day after was a Sunday. It was a Monday. 9. Therefore it was the 23rd July?— Yes. 10. What was the conversation about? —1 said to him —I met him along there —I said, " Hullo, delivering empty envelopes?" He said, "They are off now." So I said, "I suppose you delivered some of them? " " Oh, well," he said, " yes, some of them were." 11. That was all said between you?— Yes. 12. Mr. Gray.] Do you know the postman's name?— No. 13. Do you know his round? —He has the first delivery along Karangahape Road in the morning. 14. This was a jocular conversation, of course? —Yes; it passed my mind as I met him. It was a joke. 15. That had reference, I suppose, to what had been said at the meeting?—l took it that way. 1.6. And he jocularly said ?—He said. " They are off now." 17. Repeat the rest of the remarks? —I said, " I suppose you delivered some of them? " and he said, " Yes, some of them were." 18. That was all, was it? —Yes. 19. You are quite sure that is an accurate report of the conversation? —Yes. Henry Sydney Bilby further examined. 1. Mr. Ostler.] Did you post, a letter to Mr. David Goldie, containing a platform ticket?— Yes; I posted his with the Orange. Trustees' platform tickets, and with the ministers' tickets. 2. Mr. Gray.] On what, day?—On the Friday night, with the ministers' tickets and the Orange Trustees'. 3. What was in the envelope?— Just the platform tickets. 4. How many? —Two platform tickets. 5. Any letter or circular? —Just two tickets. 6. And in a closed envelope?— Yes, and a stamp. 7. And at the same time as you posted the letters to ministers at Dominion Road?— Yes.