THE POSTAL CHARGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17089, 22 August 1917, Page 8

THE POSTAL CHARGES

EVIDENCE BY AUCKLAND POSTMASTER. (Per United Press Association.) . AUCKLAND, August 21. At the postal inquiry to-day Mr Williamson, chief postmaster at Auckland, \n ihe courso of his evidence, said that the stami, marks on tho envelopes delivered without the contents indicated that they had been posted with the flaps open. During the year a large number, of envelopes were received from various sources unaddressed or without their contents. In one instance 100 envelopes wore posted without enclosures, and were returned to the firm from which they came. He received instructions from Wellington to censor the correspondence for Box 912, and placed instructions in the order book for his officers accordingly. Cross-examined, Mr Williamson said that the Auckland censor was Mr Clouston, who was formerly censor in the south. Witness had no control over him, and had no knowledge *of his methods or the instructions he received. The censor's hours on Saturday were 9 a.m. till noon. The night clerks on duty on the night the circulars were posted were named Linton and Comrie. " \

Mr Ostler: Is it not a fact that the Roman Catholic Federation postal box was absolutely free from censorship? The witness jeplied that he thought it was not.

Mr Ostler asked if it was not a fact that not a single Roman Catholic priest's correspondence was subject to the censorship. Mr Gray objected that the question was irrelevant.

Mr Ostler persisted, but Mr Bishop disallowed the question.

After the adjournment, Mr Bishop said ho had reconsidered the point, and. now admitted that Mr Ostler was entitled toput the question.

Mr Ostler: Are you aware of any censorship having been established over any correspondence addressed to a Roman Catholic organisation?

Air Gray submitted that, according to the wording of the commission, the question could not be put. He said it was' entirely irrelevant.

Mr Bishop said he foresaw the present difficulty when the first commission came to hand, but the question could not. interfere with or affect the interests of the Empire. Mr Ostler (to witness): Is the correspondence of any Roman Catholic organisation oensored in Auckland?— There is no Roman Catholic organisation in New Zealand the correspondence of which is censored in Auckland. Is any Roman Catholic periodical or litera ture emanating from the Cathblio Church censored in Auckland?— No. Is the Tablet censored? —No. Is the Green Ray censored?— No. Mr Bishop said he had received a communication from the chancellor of the Catholic diocese of Auckland stating that the Green Ray was not a Roman Catholio publication. Mr Ostler produced a copy, and stated that no one could read it without realising that it was absolutely in favour of the Church of Rome. Witness stated, in reply to further questions by Mr Ostler, that he had made no inquiries as to the proportion of Catholics employed in the Auckland Post Office. He had not heard of any friction between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants in the service in Auckland. Witness admitted that the alleged number of irregularities in con-'' r.ection with the present charges was much above the average he had previously quoted. Mr Gray: Do you know whether any censorship has been applied to the correspondence of any Roman Catholic official in Auckland?I—Yes.1—Yes.

Was this Catholio a priest?— Tea. Mr Ostler; Was he an alien enemy?—l refuse to answer that question. Witness added that it was not possible to distinguish between literature and correspondence until it had been handled by the censor. He had never at any time tried to get from the censor any information in regard to his methods of worn. It was not in his power to order the release of any correspondence by the censor. Several postal officials gave evidence as to the sorting of the letters in question. The inquiry was then adjourned.