POST OFFICE SCANDAL.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13931, 13 July 1917, Page 2

POST OFFICE SCANDAL.

REV. HOWARD ELLIOTT'S CHARGE. DENIAL BY AUTHORITIES. (Per Press Association.) -■ -AI.'CKLANJ), July,];', The charge made by Hie Rev. Howard Elliott, that circulars convening the I'rolestant Association meeting had been tampered with in passing through the Post Offce delivery has been given an .emphatic denial by the Post Office authorities, The Chief Postmaster sayß the charges of envelopes being opened, and their contents abstracted, and the empty 'covers-being delivered, is so absurd as to carry its own denial. Such action would simply invite inquiry. The Rev Mr Elliott telephoned the postal authorities before the meeting on the subject and wan informed that :t secret inquiry would be made immediately a list of addresses was submitted, The lint wan not supplied though a second request was made Such inquiry as was possible otherwise was made, and showed that under the impartial postal system, such allegations were utterly unfounded. The submission of postal packets to the censor appointed by Hie military authoriti":is entirely out of control of the' Post Office.

POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S STATESTATEMENT. (Fer Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Julp I2T' In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, replying to Mr Witty, the fit. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward (.Postmaster-General) said lie had seen in the press certain accusations made against the Postal Department by the Kev .Howard Elliott. So far the Department had been able to enquire, there seemed to be nothing, in the charges. -However, when the matter had been gone into fully, he intended to ask the law officers of the Crown to take proceedings and have the whole subject of the charges investigated in the- most public manner.