APRIL 3. THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1133

16th, 24th, and 1st days of each month—covering the postage due on papers posted during the periods ended the 7th, 15th, 23rd, and last days of each month. Settlement thereof must be effected within forty-eight hours, failing which the concession may be withdrawn. Any delay extending beyond the period fixed must be at once reported by telegraph to the Secretary, General Post Office, with a request for instructions. Postmasters will be held responsible for any loss resulting from a failure to comply with this rule.

(5.) When payment is made, the amount must be affixed in stamps to the back of form Acct. 397A and cancelled. The form must then be forwarded to the Chief Accountant, General Post Office, Wellington, with a covering memorandum on form Acct. 403, and supported by the certificates lodged by the publisher or distributing agent when the papers were delivered to the post-office. In the case of sub-offices the form must be forwarded through the chief office of the district. This form and the account rendered will be prepared simultaneously by the manifold-writing process, the forms being bound together in pads.

(6.) It will not be necessary to count each batch of newspapers, but they should be counted at irregular intervals, and any inaccuracy brought under the notice of the publisher or distributing agent, who must be called upon to make good the amount understated on the certificate. If there is reason to suppose that the understatement was made with intent to deceive, the facts should be reported to the Secretary, who will advise as to the action to be taken. Any misstatement, whether intentional or otherwise, may lead to withdrawal of the privilege.

Newspapers posted under this arrangement must be stamped with the “Paid” stamp.

469. Frequent examination of newspapers passing through the post must be made to prevent infringements of the newspaper regulations. Newspapers containing insets must be taxed. If, however, such insets are of same size, &c., as other sheets of newspaper, and bear the title and date of publication at the top of each page, the newspapers must be passed at ordinary newspaper rates. One or more copies of each issue, especially those posted for transmission by early morning mails, should be examined. The opening of newspapers for any purpose than to ascertain whether the regulations are being infringed is absolutely forbidden.

470. Any newspaper, packet, or parcel containing any printed or illustrated matter which is of an indecent, immoral, or obscene nature must be intercepted and forwarded to the Dead Letter Office. The following extract from the Police Offences Act, 1908, is reprinted for the information of officers of the Department:—

“43. (1.) Whoever sells, offers, distributes, or shows any printed or written matter which is of an indecent, immoral, or obscene nature, or which the Court shall be satisfied is intended to have an indecent, immoral, or obscene effect, shall on summary conviction be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds.

“(2.) Any advertisement or other publication relating to any venereal or contagious disease affecting the generative organs or functions, or having reference to any nervous debility or other complaint or infirmity arising from or relating to sexual intercourse, or which the Court shall be satisfied is intended to be of that nature, shall be deemed to be printed or written matter of an indecent nature within the meaning of this section.”

[Read here section 30 of the Post and Telegraph Act, 1908.]

Chief Postmasters, Postmasters, and other responsible officers will apply the definitions given in these two extracts strictly, but with a view to causing as little inconvenience to the public as circumstances will permit. Books, either by themselves or contained in packages among other books, clearly and evidently on

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