Aug. 8.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2063

“ 3. Every person commits an offence, and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of fifty pounds, or, when the offence is wilfully committed, to a fine of one hundred pounds or to imprisonment for three months, who—

“ (d.) Sends or causes to be sent, or attempts to send, through the post an indecent document.

“ 6. . . . Any document or matter which relates or refers, or may be reasonably supposed to relate or refer, to any disease affecting the generative organs of either sex, or to any complaint or infirmity arising from or relating to sexual intercourse, or to the prevention or removal of irregularities in menstruation, or to drugs, medicines, appliances, treatment, or methods for procuring abortion or miscarriage or preventing conception, shall be deemed to be indecent within the meaning of this Act.”

[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 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 the subjects herein forbidden the post, may be detained without hesitation; but others which are believed to transgress the law, but not so evidently, should form the subject of special representations to the Secretary.

351. When a packet is posted in violation of the book-post, pattern-post, &c., and is detained, an effort should be made to trace the sender, who, if found, should be requested to pay the proper postage. If he will not pay, the packet should be returned to him forthwith. If the sender cannot be traced, the packet should be sent to the Dead Letter Office. But in the case of a packet addressed to Australia, if the sender be unknown, the packet should be diverted to the parcel-post, and be forwarded to its destination as an irregularly posted parcel in accordance with the latter portion of Rule 606.

352. (a.) If a letter is posted which there is good reason to believe contains anything likely to injure the contents of the mail-bag, or any officer of the Post Office, it must be detained at the office at which it is observed, and a report made to the Chief Postmaster, who will inform the addressee or, if the addressee be not found, the sender, if identifiable, and intimate that it will be delivered on application. If not claimed within a month it must be disposed of as may be directed by the Secretary. Anything offensive may be destroyed, but a report must be furnished on the subject.

(b.) A packet containing clinical or pathological specimens sent by letter-post should not be stopped and destroyed unless it fails to comply with the regulations published in the Guide as to packing, or unless it has been damaged and is considered to be a source of danger to Post Office servants. If the packet is properly packed, but is not marked by the sender as directed in the Guide, it should be forwarded to the office of destination for delivery, with a request that the cover may be obtained and forwarded to the Secretary, with the name and address of the sender, in order that his attention may be called to the omission. When a packet is stopped on the ground of insufficient packing, or because it has been damaged, a report of the stoppage should be sent to the Secretary stating the address of the packet, the place and date of posting, a description of the packing, and the name and address of the sender if known.