AN EMPHATIC DENIAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14347, 12 July 1917, Page 2

AN EMPHATIC DENIAL.

r (Per Press -Association) . , ' . .' Al^j_a^irt>,!'this day.' llie charge made, by the Rev.. H. Elliott that circulars convening the Protestant Political Association' meeting* had been tampered with m passing, -through, the post office for delivery is given an emphatic denial,, by.- the pos-tsil ties. The chief postmaster says -the charge of envelopes behig l op_ned,,. the j opiitents abstracted and ,en\pty covers de- • livered, is so absurd as r to cany its oNvn denial. . Sueh j actipn would , simply ' invite inquiry. l M_* Eili6*6t tel-pjioiied to . the' postal authorities K_fote the meeting on the subject and >vas,infol'med that a strict inquiry -ivoud . be m'adi.. immediately a list of addresses' was submitted. The list was not' supplied v thp-qglr'a Second request was made:'* *Sucfc'.fthUtry as was possible' 'otherwise, was ihdfteY Tt showed that under the' fmpAHial!po'_tal ' ' system such allegations were utterly unfounded. Tne ** s'ubmi|sion .of s postal packets to the .elisor' apWnt.d'by T /fclie niilitary authorities; is' brte%rttiremont ;of the control of the i^st^offi^:' ; -^ (From Our P«rUair*'ehiary V R^por'tcr.) yW. -.WiJLLlN^lm'' this day/ The Pbstmast^r-Gene.al, "upon being deeu this mbiniti| r iti^*e_ei l ence'-0 allegations by €he''^y.[liS>ward 'Elliot'CagaihJSt the inyiblabpily'of 'the postal serv'i^j stated that Tie 'had inurtediatefy/ *a|.er having hi^.'rtttetltiqii di-arto 1 . to -the'Hsttel* issued r instructi6.is .pi* ap e£hau_si.e .mquiiy 'into, the' subj^tjt aii'd-udoK*""^-ceipt of a report .he' w'ill -Jhaike 'aV s '{„^. ipent. .Sir. Joseph •''Ward 1 * is .*'di{_l ; biiiied to liave removed any suspicibh dgfrfffst New Zealand. 's postal service; which lVas ahvays held' a high; place ih' pubiib Cou J .fidence^ and the matter 'will be I ' pushed, to the fullest inquiry 'and action. The. ,-<** autl-o. itie. d.ismis^ -; Jh6 *j sqgaestitjn terference witlv/bn^r^pondeiicelKy o^§Vs of .the Postal .Department as a calumny. Tliey point out ..h^tthe" only -}nter|erence. permisfable and- probable jfe bVjthe ihilitary, ceiiso*.*, . whp; his „th<» 'right' m ihe 'public; interests;! to;\ intercept any correspondence ho sees fit and deal with it at his -own discretion. This, however, is a- matter -entirely f*nart from t>*f* Postal Department. It is practically certain that someone will be prosecuted m connection with the matter.