HELD UP!

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1304, 6 December 1911, Page 6

HELD UP!

TAMPERING WITH THE MAILS. "THE DOMINION" BLOCKED, INDIGNATION EXPRESSED. By Telephone—Special Corespondent, Palmcrston North, December 5. There is much adverse comment in the Eawke's Day district, especially around Dannevirkc, and also in the Manawatu, upon the action of tho Postal Dcpurfcment in interfering with the delivery of mail matter, alter Iho manner indicated in a Press Association telegram from Gisbomc, which elated that a number of daily and weeklj newspapers had not been delivered because, they contained advertisements giving instructions how to vote at cither tho Parliamentary or licensing polls.

It seems that in this district and in Hawke's Bay The Dominion has been harshly treated. Its election number, which was sent out last Saturday, and which contained a largo amount of very valuablo and interesting information, has been held up in different parts of the country in consequence of orders from tho headquarters of Iho Postal Department in Wellington. There ore now lying in the Palmcrston Post Office, undelivered, largo numbers of Dominions which arrived in Palmerston North on Saturday. The official in charge informed The Dominion- correspondent (hat these papers would not be delivered until Friday next, the day after polling day. In tho Daiinevirko district, tho issuo was practically held up from Saturday afternoon until Monday afternoon, when it was delivered in coiisoojienco of an amended instruction from Wellington. It appears that tho Postal Department at Wellington- sent out on December 2 (Saturday) an instruction to the post oiSees throughout tho country to tho effect that they wero not to deliver any literature which might contain mock ballot papers or instructions how to vote, or convoy tho impression of influencing electors in tho way of voting. In connection with this latter phase, which is a very wide one, a number of postal officials have taken it upon themselves to hold up The Dominion issue of December I. It appears that, following- on the Press Association wire from Gisborne, referred to above, the postal authorities in Wellington held a consultation, and late on Monday morning they tent through a memo, to a, number of offices stating that tho first notice referred only to mock ballot papers.

Thereupon, in tbc Dansorirke district tho distribution of Saturday's Dominion was made oil Monday afternoon. Tho fact remains, however, that in Poltnerston North, according to information supplied to The Dominion- representative at half, past 8 to-night, the election issue of Tim Dominion is being held up until after polling: day.

Further importance is attached to the whole matter, if tho postal olficials in different parts of New Zealand read the first, notico from Departmental headquarters according to its literal meaning. As the conscquenco would ho that Iho whole, of file early morning mails on Monday would bo missed, ami as there nro only triweekly mails to many piuces, very large numbers of Saturday's Dominion* could nobreAch their destinations until election day' or the day after. People here .aro complaining very bitterly about these inquisitorial proceedings, and' they ask very pertinently how ,i postal official can tell what is contained in tho packets which pass through his hands.

The "Dannorirko Evening Xows" states t "The bigh-baudcd oction of tho Depart, went is perhaps explained iu 'the fact lhat the mail on Saturday contained a special election edition of The Domevion, tho Wellington organ of the licform party. The issue, was intended as a counterblast u> tho special election edition of the 'X.Z. Times. , The Dominion edition was intended to be distributed on Saturday, but tho staff of the Danneviike Post Office performed splendid work in getting it off their hands yesterday (Monday). There is nothing in tho special issue of The Dominion - , as far as wo can sec, that affords any valid reason for its being denied delivery by the Post Office, and we fail to see lhat tho Post Office in any easo is justified iu refusing to deliver mail mattor.' The' order to block tho delivery, of newspapers was evidently given without any thought for tho convenience of tho public, and tho usual back-down follows. Tho relenso of tho newspapers did not come until many country mails had been missed. A more glaring exnmplo of the interfering methods of the State Departments under tho Ward Administration it would lie hard to imagine. In this town tho hoardings arc being plastered, 'Vote- for Liberalism,' and the action of the Gor. ernment in holding back The Dominion newspapers will strike the public a* being peculiarly unfair."