POST OFFICE AND BETTING.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13645, 10 February 1913, Page 6

POST OFFICE AND BETTING.

STATEMENT BY POSTMASTERGENERAL.

[United Press Association.]

Christchurch, Feb. 9. Tho Hon. R. Heaton, Rhodes, Post-master-General, arrived from Wellington to-day, and leaves by the first express to-morrow for Dunedin, Queenstown and Mount Cook. In an interview the Minister referred to- an article in a local newspaper, alleging that the Postmaster-General' is aiding and a-b&tting bookmakers in offering incitements to .young men to gamble on. horeo racos by delivering; betting cajds posted by bookmakers. Mr. Kkode& said that undoubtedly by section 28 of tlio Post and Telegraph Act, 1908, tho Postmaster-General has the right to prevent tho delivery of cor re-. , to any person, either-in New " or abroad), who he has reasonable ground to sxippose is engaged in t^nedving any money as consideration jfoc tho assurance, expressed of Implied, monoy on an event relating to a hor»e race; that as to say, shortly, who iff engaged in betting. '.'. That betting cards-ar» se»at through post-is a matter of common knowledge to tho Postmas-ter-General, and his officers. If these betting cards er« sent in op«n envelope^ they are open to the scrutiny of a postireasfcer wlho then inaj' reasonably be sup|x>sed to be at liberty to take the action iir. »egftrd to them, allowed and preirxjrflbed. l>y (Section 30 o£ the Act. When oarSs are in closed envelopes the post office is in » different position, apart from fch© fact that presumably the ?xetal officer has no means of ascertaining tho contents of the closed postal packet. The Postmaster-General depro■oaHb&s in his officers any swstem of prying or espionage, in respect even of ■open packets, and officers are expected, ■and. are aeoustomed, only to challengo PiicJx breacJiea of the law as their usual

duty, discharged in the usual way makes thorn cognisant of. The fact a:

jia. infraction of the provisions 6^ the l»w, and of coming tinder the aninladYca»*on of section 28 of the Act, thue becomes » matter of legal proof, goner-

aily-^on the part ofpersons "batoide the. ,post«ffic&. when ■such j>roof is -offered fccr'fsfoei Postmaster-Genera] he is under •fcne necessity of taking notion, of it. In

oqyoasa, the matter has again "to be referred to the. Solicitor-General with the view of ascertaining what, if any,-re-sponsibility the Postmaster-General has •fco take further action.