ELECTION INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2450, 1 May 1915, Page 8

ELECTION INQUIRY

BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT BRIBERY ALLEGED (By Telegraph.—Press Association,) Kalkohe, April 30. The inquiry into the petition to upset the return of Mr. Vernon Reed for the Bay of Islands seat, opened to-day, before Mr. Justice Chapman and Mr. Justice Hosting. Sir John Findlay, K.C., in opening for tho petitioners, pointed out that Reed polled neaxer one-third than onehalf the total votes in the 1914 election, whilo in a straight-out fight m 1911 Reed polled 2671 and Wilkinson 2488. Reed, therefore, had reason to fear his chances of return would be greatly imperilled unless Wilkinson retired from the 1914 election, seeing that he had himself deserted from the Liberal to the Reform Party since 1911. At a meeting in April, 1914, the Reform delegates chose Wilkinson as the official candidate by 13 votes to 5. SubseJ. C. Johnson, a supporter of Reed, met Wilkinson, and, on behalf of Reed, offered him a seat in the Council if he retired. This offer was never withdrawn up to November 30, 1914. Reed also made an alternative offer to retire himself iu twelve months in. favour of Wilkinson if. the latter would assist him in securing a. seat at the General Elections. Further, a few days before the election, John Jacentho, on behalf of Reed, approached Wilson s behalf of Reed, approached Wilkinson s son's election expenses if he would retire. Kie offer was rejected. Sir John Findlay submitted that the various offers and promises camo distinctly under the definition of corrupt practices, which included bribery, treating, and undue influence. He quoted the case in which Mr. Wilford was unseated from the Hutt because he wrote to Mr. Seddon recommending the appointment of a man as nightwatchman. Only one vote was affected there, whereas the retirement of Wilkinson meant hundreds of votes to Reed. Sir John Findlay stated in support of the contention that' a principal is responsible for the corrupt act of his agent, that he knew of no English case in which a principal, even when entirely innocent of. knowledge, was not disqualified from standing again during the whole term of Parliament. Sir John intimated that he might not pursue the other allegations in the petition. In reply to Mr. Justice Chapmanj he expressed doubt if the first two counts constituted penal acts. George Wilkinson stated that Johnson met him at Mangonui in May, 1914, and on'behalf of Reed offered him a scat in the Council, with the alternative offer from Reed to retire in favour of the witness in twelve months if lie (Wilkinson) would retire from the contest. Johnson also said he came with Cabinet pledges and promises upon which witness could absolutely rely. Witness refused to entertain the alternative' and stated he could not entertain tho Council promise until he had received the consent of his supporters to retire in Reed's favour. On resuming in the afternoon Sir John Findlay announced that he did not propose to proceed with tho allega(tions relating to the offer of a postlr.astership and money to Austrians in return for votes. Wilkinson, continuing his evidence, stated that the Council offer by Reed had never beeii withdrawn. Witness | said Johnson, referring to a letter received by him (Johnson) from Mr. Massoy, said the gist was that Johnson was not sent up by Cabinet authority to Mangonui. Cabinet had not given the matter any consideration; Witness said the day after the meeting of Reform delegates at Ohaewai Mr. Massey asked him (Wilkinson) which he would prefer—a seat in the Upper House or to fight the Bay of Islands election. Witness replied that ,he was not" at liberty to accept the offer of a teat in the Upper House, until released by his supporters to whom he was pledged, Witness explained that he did not consider the Premier's words amounted to an actual offer. Mr. Massey said: ''If you have made up your mind go on, . I will see that justice is done." Witness did not communicate again with Mr. Massey in reference to the Upper House. Witness said he did not take Mr. Massey's offer to be in the nature of a bride, but certainly regarded Mr. Reed's offer as a bribe. Prior to the Ohaewai meetiug Mr. Paape, Reform organiser, had advised ;him to accept a seat in the Council, which would certainly be offered. His candidature.was announced after a second meeting of delegates on June 4, prior to which he had telegraphed to the Premier asking him to decide about the choice of an official candidate. • < Edward Saunders, of Kaitaia, farmer, said Mr. Reed held a meeting at Kaitaia iu November, at which he explained that Mr. Massey and Mr. Allen had denied in the House having made any offer of a Council appointment to Mr. Wilkinson, and added that the offer was entirely his own. Ho had sent Johnson' to Wilkinson, asking him to take'a scat in the Upper' House and retire from the contest to avoid votesplitting. He (Reed).felt sure he could get the seat for Wilkinson in the Council. The witness, on being cross-examined, admitted that Reed had suggested that Wilkinson's appointment to the Council would be owing to the non-represe-sentation of North. Auckland in that body. Richard T. Wrathall, settler, of Mangonui, gave evidence as to the use of similar words by Reed'at Mangonui. Edward John Samuels, agent, of Oruru," stated that he had .acted as Wilkinson's secretary. John Jacentho visited liim in November, and made an offer that if Wilkinson would stand down all his election expenses would be paid, adding that he knew Reed would not stop at a very, large amount to secure Wilkinson's withdraw il. The case was adjourned untilto-mor-row.

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