THE POSTAL CHARGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17090, 23 August 1917, Page 5

THE POSTAL CHARGES

EVIDENCE CONCLUDED

(Peb- United Pbess Association;)

AUCKLAND, August 22. lie postal inquiry was resumed to-day, when a number of post office officials were examined mainly on the question of the delivery of empty envelopes. This examination tended to show that it was quite possible for the sorter to pass empty envelopes.

lhe Censor (John P. P. Clouston) said lie was acting censor and clerk in the Chief Post Office,_ Auckland. So far as his appointment in the postal department was concerned, ho was also postal censor, a position he had occupied since Deepmber 14 last Ho had filled a similar position at Cliristchurch from February, 1915 to September, 1916. The whole of his time was not taken ux> with censorship duties. He received his instructions regarding the censorship from the deputy chief postal censor at Wellington. He was not accountable to the post office, but solely to tho deputy chief postal censor. He first knew anything relating to box 912, and that it was to be censored in December, 1916, when he received instruction from his chief' and not from the post office. _ Mr Gray (for the department): Without inquiring into your methods and practice, may I ask whether the correspondence of any other person or organisation in Auckland beside box 912 is censored?—l am not permitted to say. Did you _ have any matters relating to box 912 submitted to you betwoon July 2 and July 9?— l do not know if I am permitted to say. Witness received about 200 sealed envelopes at 9 a.m. on Saturday, 7th July, and released them when he received instructions from his superior officer in Wellington at about 11 a.m. on Monday, the 9th.

Was the holding of letters an act of the post office or the censor?— The censor. Some of the letters in question have pioces of stamping paper stuck to the back of the envelope, was that your work'— No.

Mr Ostler: Did the Solicitor-general see you?—l saw him.

Did he tell you what questions you should answer?— No. I consulted him about a special point. Did you open any of the letters?—l am not permitted to say. Who told you not to say?— The deputy chief postal censor.

Is it in writing?—Tes. Will you produco it?—No, it is confidcntial.

Is the deputy chief postal censor a' postal department, officer or a military officer? A postal department officer. Do you open Icttors and read them'— Of course I do.

Did you open any of tho lottors to Protestant clergymen?—l cannot tell you how I dealt with them.

Did you know tho contents of the letters? —I cannot say anything about it , Wbere are the letters that were kept back?—l have no information to give vou regarding them. Are any kept back?—l cannot 101 l vou" .D'd yon submit to Wellington any of the circulars?— Yes, ono came into my hands as a private individual. This concluded the evidence.

THE PRICE OF TOBACCO. TO IHE EDITOR. Sir, From time to time your columns are uised for the purpose of ventilating allegations that somo smokers are being exploited by those selling tobacco and cigarettes. Whilst it is true the Government did not rajse the duty on tobacco still the manufacturer raised the price. Last week the price of plug tobaccos was increased to the retailer by 3d for all dark tobaccos and 4d for aromatics, and surely smokers do not expect tobacconists, to boar the extra charge. Now take the case of cigarettes. Since the war the prioe of ■piree Castles (and all other brands followed uuifc) has been increased by the n nufacturers 2s 9d per 1000. Sincc 191 : the 'Govern r>*nt has imposed a 1 per cent, extra duty on tobac_o and cigarettes which the retailer has had to, pay, equalling 2d per 1000 on cigarettes and id per lb on tobacco. These extra charges were too small to charge on to the public, and sellers of tobacco and cigarettes have themselves had to pay them. The retail prico of 7d for cigarettes was not adopted until the last Budget was announced, making tho additional duty on cigarettos 3s per 1000. Wo think the smokeris of this dominion have been extremely fortunate after three years of war. This is the first time the public has been asked to pay tho increased prices. Any' increase that has been made in the retail pricrs has been simply brought about by the extraordinary condition over which the retailer has no control.—We arc, etc., G. Moody and Co'. S. Jacobs. Duncdin August 23.