THE TELEGRAPH SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12697, 27 October 1904, Page 4

THE TELEGRAPH SERVICE.

ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES. • STATEMENT BY MR. T. TAYLOR. [BT TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL .CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. The Postmaster-General Was Asked by Mr. Taylor in the House of Representatives this afternoon if the members of the Premier's family, including those not," employed by the ' State, use the telegraph service of the colony free of charge? '_' :"■*;::'•: 'u : -^.oi :^. In reply, the Postmaster-General stated that the .members of the Premier's family ' , ' do not use the telegraph service of- the colony free of charge. "• <.••■• ' Mr. Taylor only had three minutes in ' which to speak on the subject, but said he would deal with it fully before the session closed. He tried some time ago, he said, ' to get on to the telephone between Christchurch and Wellington, and was unable to do so. He was told he would have ' to wait for. six minutes, and .the end-of that period he was informed, he might have to wait half-an-hour, as the, Premier's ,fc»iily was using the wire. The information he gathered was that the Premier's .family' held the wire from the public for long periods of ] time like that, and more than, that, hew* satisfied that an abuse had crept into the Department, and that- the Postmaster-Gene-' < ral'did not appear to know of it, He should take 1 the first opportunity of placing • »■' categorically before the Postmaster-General V the facts in his possession to show, that there were'.a. large number of telegrams i'?- ', spatched by the members of the Premier's family on the "memo." system, having no reference to public nutters, from different parts of the colony, and that no payment was made for ' the. messages so sent,' He! .",; \ felt it his duty in the public interest to '.C '• the Postmaster-General -. know that, a -.ffteat i\ h '' deal of illegal telegraphing business ►_■ "" being done, by persons who were not in, the service of the State. Lengthy telegram* were sent that were purely private by the - - Premier's family without any money passing .... ■ by way of payment. -:■ ■:■ . - ,: 1; ::<■