LATEST “SCANDAL.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7977, 7 December 1911, Page 4

LATEST “SCANDAL.”

ALLEGED HOLDING UP OF MAILS ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE. PRESS ASSOCIATION. INVERCARGILL, December 6. Regarding the alleged holding up of mails by the Postal Department in the north the Premier says: — "The statement published by the Opposition papers that 'an extraordinary order by tho Government has jnst been revealed which illustrates the extreme lengths to which the Ministry has decided to go in its anxiety to stem the tide of reform feeling’ is absolutely untrue. The Government gave no order of any sort in connection with tho holding up of mails in any part of the Dominion. “On reading the statement this morning I telegraphed to tho head of the Postal Department and asked him wha,t it meant. He replied that one of tho Opposition papers had posted some newspapers containing a mock ballot jiaper. This was illegal, being boo late for delivery in the country before Monday. The Solicitor-General, prior to the last general election, had advised the department that it was illegal to deliver anything in the shape of mock ballot papers daring the three days before tho elections. He (the head of tho department) consulted with tho Crown law- officers again in connection with the present matter, and was advised that the department had acted properly. Where mock ballot papers were posted prior to the elections within the . prohibited time the officials of the department are accordingly either returning them to - tho senders or they will be delivered the day after tho elections. "It will thus be seen," said the Prime Minister, "that tho statement that the Government interfered in any way is absolutely untrue. I heard nothing of it till X saw it published this morning. The Postal Department has treated everybody alike, and no distinction has ever been made. Had any action on the part of the Government been necessary in tho present case it is certain the ■ question would have been referred to mo as Post-master-General for decision, whereas tho first I knew about the matter was when I saw it published this morning.” Referring to tho matter in the course of a speech to-night tho Prime Minister said the statement that had been published that the Government had held up mails was a deliberate and infamous lie,