F.—B

62

[W. R. MORRIS.

66. But he is a Postal officer none the less?—Yes. 67. If lie came down to work at 10 o'clock in the morning, would some one not have something to say to him? —Not if he was doing work relating to his duties as Censor. 68. Do you control his hours of work ?—Yes. 69. His hours are from 9 to 12 on Saturdays?—Yes, I think so. 70. And during that lime he would have had time to see whether those letters were or were not innocuous? — I understand that the withdrawal of the prohibition did not reach him till Monday. 71. We have not had that. This complaint of Mr. Elliott's is not the only complaint' of this kind that you have had recently?—1 am not aware of any particular case. There may be cases dealt with by district officers which do not come under my notice. 72. Was there not a. complaint that 205 petitions in favour of six-o'clock closing were posted ill Morrinsville and over a hundred abstracted in the course of post?—1 never beard of it. 73. Would you hear of it?—1 would hear in a, case such as that, but nothing of what you mention has come under my notice. 74. Is it possible that the matter was dealt with by the. Assistant Secretary?—It is; but 1 should be very surprised. 75. Is it possible that an inquiry could be going on without you hearing of it 1 —I should be very surprised if it did. 76. His Worship.] Are your duties defined? —No. 77. Is everything submitted to you?—No; I leave it to the discretion of (lie Assistant. Secretary. 78. Mr. Ostler.] Do you know of any inquiries being made at Morrinsville? —No. 79. You have said that you do not care what a man's religion is so long as he does his work? —That is so. 80. And you would not know how many Catholics are in your service? —1 have not the slightest idea. 81. Have you never heard of friction between the Catholics and the Protestants in your office?—Nothing has ever been brought under my notice. 82. Have you never heard of trouble in the Auckland Post-office? —Never. 83. Is there never any friction about promotion?—There is always friction about promotion. Mr. Ostler. 84. On any religious grounds?—No, not on religious grounds. 85. Have you ever heard of any post-office in New Zealand where, when they wanted extra boys, they have sent round to the Roman Catholic schools and told them? —Never. 86. Do you know that a return was asked for in the House of Representatives recently, asking how many Roman Catholics were employed in the Auckland Post-office?—Yes. 87. Has that return been given?—No, not as far as I know. 88. I suppose your office is charged with the duty of preparing that return? —I do not see how it can : the officers have nothing to guide them. 89. Could you not ask the men employed?—I think it would be a very objectionable thing to do. 90. Can you tell me how those pieces of stamp paper wine gummed on to those ministers' letters ■ Mr. Gray: How many were there? 91. Mr. Ostler. J About twenty. (To witness.) Well, can you tell us?—I have heard a suggestion that it was done by the persons posting (hem. \ 92. Has the Post Office got within if any device for opening closed letters?—No. 93. What method does the Censor employ to open letters?- -I have not- the slightest idea. 94. Is there no mechanical device for the purpose? —No. 95. ! mean, is there nothing in the room in which the Censor exercises his functions in the form of a device for opening sealed letters?—No. 96. Should not those letters, having been submitted to the Censor, have been stamped " Passed by the Military Censor " ?—I do not believe they were stamped in every case. 97. But what purpose could (he Censor have in stamping some and not others? —That you will have to ask him, as I do not- profess to know. 98. With regard to the stopping of The Menace in J 914, can you tell us who complained in the first case?—No, I cannot. 99. You had nothing to do with the complaint? —No. 100. I suppose you keep in your Department a complete file of those complaints?—Yes. 101. It would follow, then, that there was a record of all complaints?—Yes. 102. Also a record of the advertisements to which the attention of the Postal officials has been drawn? —Yes. 103. I. am going to ask you to produce (hat file : will you do so?—If T am ordered to do so. 104. Your counsel has said that you do not want to hide anything: you agree with. that. do you not? —That is so. Mr. Gray: I do not object to produce anything so long as it is relevant, but how can it be relevant when you are dealing with matters which happened in 1914? Witness: We would prefer to put it in, although it- may not be relevant. 105. Mr. Ostler.\ With regard to the evidence given by Mr. Sea-brook in reference to the stopping of the letter going to The Menace in February, 1917. I understand that you do not know anything about it? —That is so. 106. Then, you do not know the reason for the actions of the two Postal officers? —No, 1 do not.