THE WAIRAU ELECTION PETITION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1392, 19 March 1912, Page 5

THE WAIRAU ELECTION PETITION.

HfiARINO COMMENCES. ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBERY AND OTHER ILLEGAL PRACTICES, THE EVIDENCE, (By TclcErapli.-rrcEa Association.) Blenheim, March 18. Tho hearing of the petition of Williaii Can , , John O'Sullivnn, and John Lanlcow against tho return of Richard M'Callum. as a member of the House of lfcpresentalives for tho Wairau electorate commenced this morning before Sir Joshua 'Williams and Mr. Justice Chapman. Mr. Sinclair was for tho petitioners, and Mr. Skcrrett,' K.C., with him Sir. Mills, for respondent. Tho petition consists of twenty-seven clauses, containing allegations of bribery, (renting, and various other corrupt and illegal practices. Counsel for petitioners withdrew two allegations charging supporters of respondent with importuning electors to vote for Mr. M'Callnm, us they did not amount lo intimidation, and asked leave- to introduce- two fresh ones, the charging M'Calhiiii with bribery at Scddon, and the second with treating electors to refreshment ii\ lilcnheim. Decision on this point was reserved. Mr. Skerrett argued that the clauses which alleged treating at Cirovetown ami Scddon should be struck out, <is particulars were not. given as ordered by Sir Joshua Williams at the preliminary hoaring. I'rank Hodsou, brower, said he attended two of M'Calliim'si committee meetings. He was not working for M'Calluin's return. He took no bra , to M'Callum liros.' grain store on (ha day of the first ballot, lie got some from an employee of tho Marlborough Hrowery opposite the flflurniill and in company with four others drank it. He saw no second supply brought over laler in the day. He was not acting on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers when he secured the beer. Xo women were supplied with lifjuor at the grain store dining the day. ■ Tom J. Ball, employee of the Marlborough Brewery, said that after lunch on the day of the first ballot Dodson asked him to bring over -onie beer to A. M'Callum's office. A follow employee, Ilendra, eirried the beer over and several participated in it. To his knowledge no second supply of beer \v:is obtained from the Moi'loorough Brewery. ~ Edward Vincent Since, who acted as deputy returning oßicer at Grove Koad polling booth on the day of the first ballot, noticed about h,nlf a dozen electors under the influence of liquor at the booth. This concluded the evidence on the Grove Road charge.

Kosina Innes wife of the licensee of the Grovctown Hotel, said about fifty men had drink at the hotel on the night of December (i alter M'Callum's meeting. Komi- weeks afterwards John Sutherland, who was chairman of M'Callum's committee and chairman of the meeting, paid twenty-five sltillincs for the drink'. Other candidates, after their meetings paid for drinks for friend-:.

In vpjfml to the charge of makin? contracts for payment on account of the conveyance of electors to and from tin poll on both pnlli'.iK day-: for the purpose of prnmoting M'Callum's election. William Humphrey.-, secretary of the M'Ken7.ie Carrying Company, pmduced booki showing the list of vehicles hired by Macey, genera! chairman of M'Calluiu'* committee en the days of the first anil second ballots, and the prices paid, amounting to .CTO IGs. (Id. He consulted the then manager (Mr. Hogan) before sending out the account which Macey returned on January 23 with the words: "I know nothing of this." M'Callum objected tn pay the account. He did not heat him tell Hogan the. vehicles had been given free for the. election days, and he would noh pay. The Court adjourned at 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. to-morrow.

THE ALLEGATIONS

The following specific allegations were ninde:—

1. That at Grovclown on November 12 M'Calluin, after addressing a largo number of electors, concluded by saying "Mr. Sutherland (his chairman of committee there) will shout," and 11 largo party aocompanied by M'Calluin and Sutherland ropnired to the Grovetown Hotel, where they were treated with drink for which. M'Calluin directly or indirectly paid a largo sum of money, it being nltnast impossible to get the "whole of the party, into tho hotel. 2. That during the election and on polling day certain .largo numbers of electors at Picton, llaveloek, Murlborough, Okaramio, Seddon, and Mirza were treat--ed with meat, drink, entertainment, and intoxicating liquors- by M'Calluin for the purpose of influencing electors. 3. That tho polling place at Grove Road, Blenheim, was the grain store of Archibald M'Cnllum, a brother of Richard M'Calluin, and that there largo quantities of intoxicating liquor wero stored for treating and bribing the electors by Richard M'Callum or his agent. ■t. That liquor-was supplied to elector! at Seddon on both tho first and second, ballots by M'Calluin or his agents. 5. That erne Humphreys, a prominent supporter of M'Calinm at Seddon, waylaid and importuned electors and supplied them with beer from tfO-gallon casks stored in the Town Hall at Seddon. (i. That at Alirza Archibald M'Calluni, brother of Richard, and a member of hi* committee, gave certain persons money to buy liquor in order to treat and bribe the elector.". 7. Thai M'Calluni made contracts for payment on account of the conveyance of electors to the poll, and that motor-cars iittd vehicle* ohltii.iiiily used in connection with the licensing poll wero really used for promoting M'Oalhjin's election, and wni'o under (lie direction uf Frank Bull, secretary to his committee. 8. That .lamps M'Kinley, a member of M'Ciillum's committee, on tho day of the second ballot, ►lend thu greater part of tho day in front of the principal polling placw in Ulenhi'im and urged electors lo "strike out the top line," meaning Duncan's iifimp., which was on top of M'Cnl* lui.uS pi! .the biillnt paper. it. That Alexander M'L'iuchlnu, a lneinJ;cr_of..Jl'.C.iJlui>)' , i .coiiiinilt-eo ni. Springlands stood outride the booth on the day of tin!, second ballot urging electors in "strike out die top littu" unci gi™ - Dick a vote. 10. Th.lt M'Callum was guilty »f corrupt practices at the first bo I lot. because, his tiilnl i-xpi'iii-pii exceeded .£2Ol and at the second ballot exceeded .tSO, the mnxinuim allowed by law. 11. Th.it William Henry Maccy, acOini;ch'iiirmnn i;f the committee for M'Callum, Blcnliciin, offered ami promised money to one Frank Morrison with a view of inducing him to procure vote, and tliiil. dirrotly or indirectly Morrison was subsequently paid the money to offered. 12. That Frank Morrison was subsequently engaged as canvasser by M'Calluin fioin Dew.nber 10 to II and that while so engaged Morrison addressed the electors at Honwicktown and impressed them that it was tht'ir duly as good citizens lu vote for M'Callum in the interests of pure, administration and good government. 13. That Alexander M'Lauchlan mado several wagers on tho result of tho election. M. That Georgo Wright (Sctldou). a, J. 1 ,., and a strong supporter of M'CaU him, made a bet of ,£3O on tho election, therohy causing :nauy votes to bo east for M'Cnllum. 15. That M'Calhim was guilty of corrupt practice in employing Joseph William Humphreys, a school teacher, Seddon, as a paid canvasser in fact or by promise. Mr. Sinclair applied to have tho petition added to by the inclusion of two additional charges:— 1. That a promise w.is made to William Smith Drydon and his wife re getting , compensation for Brvdon in respect to an injury siift'erod wliilo in Government employ. 2. That parties of electors were treated (0 meat and entertainment at Loloma Tearooms, Blenheim, by respondent on December V and 1-t. Sir .Joshua Williams «nid he saw difficulty in acceding lo the. application. The matter would bo reviewed, and in the meantime the Court would hear Mr. Sinclair.,