THIRD EDITION GRAVE CHARGES

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 41, 17 August 1917, Page 8

THIRD EDITION GRAVE CHARGES

AGAINST THE POST OFFICE

COMMISSION RESUMES ENQUIRY

(M TELEOKAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION}

AUCKLAND, This Day. The enquiry ordered by the Government into the charges made by the Rev. Howard Elliott against ■ the Auckland Post Office officials was resumed this morning before Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M.. of Christchureh

Mr. H. H. Ostler, in opening the case for the Rev. Howard Elliott, said he would prove that letters addressed to Box 912 were tampered with in the intoresits of. the Roman Catholic Church. He commented that there was no similar censorship over the Tablet going through the post, though that paper had contained statements which he regarded as ■almost seditious. There was no notice or order showing thai the Imperial. Government had established censorship over correspondence in New Zealand, so that the censorship must be under the control of the Minister of Defence. He contended that though the Empire was at war we were still under constitutional government, and the censor had no right to interfere with correspondence that did not interfere with military matters.

Henry Billy, secretary of the Protestant Political Association, gave evidence that he posted on Friday, 6th July, at a suburban post office, circulars to a number of clergymen, and that the Post Office was cleared up to 11.20 p.m. He was positive that none of the envelopes were empty. In all there were .posted at the same suburban office 2500 letters. He had received complaints that a number of envelopes had been delivered empty..

Cross-examined, he said he would not be surprised to hear that some of the letters were returned by letter-carriers endorsed "not known."

Eric Keyworth gave corrobative evidence.

Three clergymen gave evidence "that the envelopes' in question were not delivered to thenx till Tueed-ay. John Lowe stated that he had received by post an empty envelope. He made enquiries at Devonport Post Office, and was shown a number of similar envelopes, all of which were full.