REV. HOWARD ELLIOT'S CHARGES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17065, 18 August 1917, Page 7

REV. HOWARD ELLIOT'S CHARGES.

INQUIRY .RESUMED.

AUCKLAND, August 17. The postal inquiry was jesunied this morning. Mr Ostjer, m opening the case for the Rev. Elliott, paid he would prove that letters addressed to Box 912 were tampered with in the interests of the Roman Catholic Church. Re commented that there was no similar censorship over the Tablet going through the post, though that paper had contained statements which he regarded as almost seditious. There was no statute or order stating that the Imperial Government had established a censorship over correspondence iv New Zealand, so that the censorship must be urder the control of the Minister of Defence. He contended that though the Empire was at war we are still under constitutional government and the censors had no right to interfere with correspondence that did not interfere with :aiiitary matters.

Henry Billy, secretary of the Protestant Political Association, gave evidence that he posted on Friday, July 6th, at a suburban post office, circulars to a number of clergymen. That post office was cleared at 11.20 p.m. He was positive that none of the envelopes v.-ere empty. In all there were posted at the same suburban office 2500 letters. He had received complaints that a number of envelopes were delivered empty. Cross-examined: He said he would not be surprised to hear that some of 'the letters were returned by the lettercarriers endorfced "Not" known."

Eric Keyworth gave corroborative evidence.

Three clergymen gave evidence that the enveloped letters in question were not delivered to them till Tuesday. John Lowe stated that he received by post an empty envelope. He made inquiries at the Devonport Post Office, and was ehown a number of similar envelopes, all of which were full.