H.—34.

1905. NEW ZEALAND.

CHARGES AGAINST CHRISTCHURCH POST-OFFICE OFFICIALS (REPORT OF INQUIRY RE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

INDEX.

Pa£e Commission .. .. .. .. .. ■ .. .. .. ~ ~ .. .. 1 Repobt .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. 3 Minutes of Evidence .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. _ _ .. 8 Authority under which Board was sitting .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 Charges against Mr. Willis read .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ \\ 8 Documents and papers handed to him .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ 8 Exclusion of Press .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ 8 Scope of inquiry .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. 8 Mr. Willis's reply to oharges .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. 8 Nos. 1-5, qualified admission ; No. 6, denial, therefore stands over .. .. ~ 1.8 Thomas Bose (representing Post and Telegraph Department) .. .. .. ' 8 Exhibits A (Declaration), B (Rule 1), C (Bule 44), D (Certificate of Perusal); .. '.'. '.'. B Department's case rested on rules, greatest weight attached to latter part of Rule 44 .. .. ..8 Mb. Willis called attention to oonstruotion of declaration, as affecting its meaning .. .. ..9 T. Rose (continuing) — Information given within scope of Mr. Willis's postal duties, but related to Treasury Department .. 9 Source of Mr. Willis's information shown by Auditor-General's inquiry ; witness guided by this, but oase not based thereon .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ g The Boabd (in answer to Mr. Willis) ruled that in any case charges could not be reduced, as he had'admitted them ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ _ _ g Witness (continuing) — Considered breach has been committed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. g Publication of information constituted the breach .. .. .. .. g Apparently no specific ruling re connection of Post Office officials with politics.. .'. .. '. \ 9 Telegram " offensive" .. .. .. .. .. .. .. __ _ ..9 Its mischevous nature evidently a cause of suspension of offioers concerned .. .. .. .. 9 Also its publication .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ g No definite regulations against sending telegram other than he had quoted .. .. .. .. 9 Well understood that officers should not interfere with politics .. .. .. 9 Knew nothing about Seddon voucher .. .. .. .. .. ~ g Referred to Rule 44 .. .. .. .. .. .. .' '' g Mr. Willis's length of service and record .. .. .. .. .. .. ),' .! 9 His opinion of relative gravity of oharges as compared with other oases .. .. .. .. 9 To give information in manner Mr. Willis did would always be breaoh of regulations .. .. '.'. 10 Relation of offence to present Government irrelevant .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 If necessary, information should have been given through superior officer .. .. .. .. 10 Mr. Mcßeth competent to handle case .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 Witness suggested that Mr. Willis should have dealt with matter at date of its occurrence .. .'.' 10 Declaration in Act of 1866, and had probably been in use all along .. .. .. .. .. 10 First paragraph was a general one.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .' '.'.lO The Boabd : Relevancy of other breaches— Specific regulations v. general relations between master and servant .. .. .. .. .. 10 T. Rose (continuing) — Meaning of word " charge" in telegram .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 Object of sending telegram .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ \\ '.. 10 i.—H. 34.