TELEGRAPH PRANKING SYSTEM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13815, 31 July 1905, Page 4

TELEGRAPH PRANKING SYSTEM.

AN EMPHATIC EPITHET. [From Out. Correspondent.] WELLINGTON July 29, “ The hon. member (Mr Fisher) can' only have obtained this information from some skunking our outside the Department, in order to hound a young fellow out of the Government service.” Such was Sir Joseph Ward’s criticism of Mr Fisher’s methods in formulating charges against the Government departments. Speaking in reply to the charges aimed against the Government, Sir Joseph Ward expressed his extreme regret that there should have been any leakage from the Telegraph Department. He himself had never had the contents of a telegram disclosed to him by any operator, and he had been proud to think that the secrecy and the inviolability of the Telegraph Department iu New Zealand wore above suspicion, “But,” he added, “I do not believe it now. It is most regrettable to have to say so, and I deeply deplore it.” Continuing, Sir Joseph Ward said that, after what Mr Fisher had disclosed, he was compelled to believe that some Civil servant politically ill-disposed towards the Administration had been attempting to make mischief.

TELEGRAPH OFICIALS’ PROTEST, [Fnoir Our Correspondent.] DUNEDIN, July 29.

There is great indignation anjpng the local telegraph officers at Mr Bedford’s statement in the House early this morning. The following telegram has been sent to Mr Bedford:—“The telegraph section of the Dunedin branch of the Pest and Telegraph Officers’ Association desire to point out that your indiscriminate statement in regard to the divulgence of Ministerial ‘ memos ’ casts a special stigma, upon telegraph operators in your own constituency, and unite in requesting you to make such definite pronouncement as-shall place the locality of its origin beyond all doubt.”

Replying to the message, Mr Bedford says: ££ My information regarding memo, did not come from Dunedin or telegraph operators ever stationed there. I make" the statement seeing the special stigma cast on the branch, being in my constituency. lam not free bo indicate tho locality. Use this as you like. —H. D. Bedford.” ■V, I ilfillllll II IMMJI Oil II HUM II MM