Inquiry into diversion of letter

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33676, 28 October 1974, Page 1

Inquiry into diversion of letter

T he Post Office will hold a full inquiry into the diversion of a letter to “(Santa,” the Canterbury University students' newspaper.

The letter was addressed by' LieutenantColonel A. C. R. Elderton to the secretary of the Christchurch Rugby Football Club and was one of several photocopies of a message sent to Rugby dubs in I Christchurch and else--1 where. | The Chief Postmaster in Christchurch (Mr M. T. ! Reedy) said last night that -although no complaint had been made to him by Colonel i Elderton, he had arranged for an inquiry because of the 'implications of newspaper - reports.

- “Under no circumstances Ido I treat the implications 1 lightly,” said Mr Reedy.

The circular letter addressed to the Christchurch Rugby Football Club was printed in the last issue of "Canta" under the editorship of Mr M. Horton whose term as editor has ended Office searched Last night Mr Horton said that he did not know who had directed the letter to him and that he was certain the copy had been destroyed with other material for his last issue. On Wednesday Christchurch detectives searched the office of “Canta” on the university town site and also the new offices at Ham, to where the paper’s files have been transferred. Mr Horton said that the only material moved to the Ham office after the publication of the final issue for the year more than a fortnight ago comprised files that the next editor might find useful.

One of three According to Colonel Elderton, the letter was one of three sent, in error, to the home address of a former -secretary of the Rugby club. - Mr A. I. Stoneman. None of -these letters was received by the club’s new secretary, but .the person now living at Mr I Stoneman’s address had posted them marked ■ "address unknown." I Last night Mr Reedy said - that the returned letter office -in Christchurch, if it failed ’to find a correct address, i would send undelivered mail to the Post Office headI quarters, Wellington, where litters might be opened to -establish the address of the j sender. Held meeting I i Officers of the Rugby club ' have held a meeting to consider the misdirecting of the .letter and the present club -secretary, Mr A. S. C. Trent. I has confirmed that none of -the missing letters has reached him or has been put i in the club’s Post Office box jin Christchurch.

Colonel Elderton, who laid a complaint about the letter with the police, said: “Whereas the offence of ‘Canta’ in [reproducing the letter is a [matter of complete lack of [moral integrity, it is not nearly as serious as the act lof protesters who are seriously harming this country and now seem to be destroying the integrity of the Post Office.”