POST OFFICE INQUIRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16620, 17 August 1917, Page 4

POST OFFICE INQUIRY.

ADJOURNED UNTIL TO-DAY. AMENDED ORDER OF REFERENCE. The hearing of evidence by the commission j appointed to investigate the allegations I made by the Rev. Howard Elliott against I postal officials in Auckland has again been ! postponed, an adjournment having been • made until this morning at ten o'clock. | When the parties assembled yesterday ! morning, Mr. Ostler, on behalf of Mr. j Elliott and the Protestant Political Asso- < ciation stated that he understood that the Solicitor-General, Mr. J. W. Salmond, ; who was to give evidence, had expressed 1 a wish that an adjournment should be made until Friday. Mr. Ostler intimated that the suggested adjournment would suit his convenience very well. I Mr. A. Gray, K.C., representing the 1 Postal Department, asked if Mr. Ostler could not make his opening address and . the Solicitor-General's evidence could then be heard. ' Mr. Ostler said that he was not quite ready, having acted on the assumption that Mr. Gray would ask for the adjourn- . ment. j The commissioner, Mr. H. W. Bishop, | S.M., expressed his desire to conclude the inquiry at the earliest possible date, as he had other important public work to perform, but granted the desired adjourn- | ment. i Mr. Ostler, referring to the amended order of reference, 6aia the extension bad been made in a way different from that promised. " I am not responsible for the wording of the commission," said Mr. Ostler, " nor am I complaining. I desire to say, however, that I stand by the three charges contained in the letter to the Prime Minister, and I am here to prove them." I Mr. Gray said that, in his opinion, the new commission did accord with the undertaking given by the Prime Minister. , Mr. Bishop said that any grievance re- i garding the manner in which the warrant had been drawn up was not his concern. He was governed by the commission, and could not exceed the powers granted to him therein. Mr. Ostler also referred to the great public interest in the inquiry, and urged that a larger and far more commodious room be procured. Otherwise the inquiry would be semi-public, instead of public. Mr. Gray supported Mr. Ostler in regard to this matter, and Mr. Bishop said he had endeavoured to secure better provision, but had been unsuccessful. j I It was decided later in the day to hold I the inquiry in the Chamber of Commerce, j Swanson Street. j