POSTAL OFFENCES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 931, 29 November 1933, Page 7

POSTAL OFFENCES.

Not a Common Occurrence in Dominion. The young man who was convicted yesterday of having sent indecent letters through the post, committed an offence that is rare in New Zealand. A police official stated this morning that he could recall very few similar prosecutions. Although the police elected, in yesterday’s case, to proceed under the Indecent Publications Act, they might have acted under the Post and Telegraph Act. Few people are likely to commit a breach of the Act inadvertently, for most of the offences are of a type that common sense would decide to be wrong. Few people, for instance, could fail to realise that it is wrong to post explosive or corrosive substances, or to know that a pillarbox is not a receptacle for matches, but everybody might not be aware that it is an offence to post any sharp instrument unless it is properly covered. Section 83 of the Post and Telegraph Act provides:— “ Every person who—- “ (a) Wilfully defaces, breaks, injures or defiles any post office letterbox or pillar box, or any telegraph post or telephone post; or “(b) Puts any filthy or noxious substance or any fluid into or against any post office letter box or pillar “ (c) Posts any postal packet containing any such substance; or “ (e) Posts any postal packet containing (1) any sharp instrument not properly covered; or (2) any animal or thing which is noxious or is likely to injure other postal packets; or (3) any indecent or obscene print, painting, photograph, engraving, book, card, article or representation of any kind; or “(f) Posts any postal packet having thereon or on its cover any words, marks, design, or representation of an indecent, obscene or grossly offensive character—“ls liable to a fine not exceeding £2O; and, in case of conviction under paragraph (a) hereof, is also liable to pay to the Postmaster-General compensation for any injury done (including injury done to the contents of such pillar or box) to be assessed by the adjudicating court.” The Indecent Publications Act, under which 3’esterday’s prosecution was instituted, is more explicit and severe in its provisions regarding indecent documents than is the Post and Telegraph Act. Section 3 provides: “ Every person commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of £SO, or when the offence is wilfully committed to a fine of £IOO or to imprisonment for three months who sends or causes to be sent or attempts to send through the post an indecent document.” It is seldom, fortunately, that the Post Office has any grounds for complaint of any breach of the provisions quoted. Fortunately further public carelessness in the addressing of correspondence or the wrapping of packages is not an offence. If it were there would be many hundreds annually who would render themselves liable to the rigours of the law.