Westera Maori Seat.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1923, Page 3

Westera Maori Seat.

[flv TI I .LI'.URAC!: - -I*Kit CRESS ASsOUJAI'ION j

AUCKLAND. .March 1 I Tire hearing of the election petition against lion I’omm-e's return was resumed. Mr Skerrett put in a letter from a elerk ill a solicitor's office iiv Pomare. suggesting that tin license ol a native interpreter, Marumaru. should l.e withdrawn, this being one ol the allegations of the petition. William ((ladstone. reiiring ulliior.

gave evidence that at only four of the 180 ballot boxes were the counterfoils detached. Witness was the only person who saw the enunterhu!-. Due reason tor lint delaehin (hem was I - prevent confusion in the event ui a cheek being made of any vote.

Mr Skerrett pointed out that deputy returning officers and serntineers wont-! see ilie counterfoils. The same practice wa.- adopted in elections eiii-e 191-b Taupatoa llaumao ol Manutalii. said he was interested in the ownership ..1 two blocks of land al Makoia ami Haputa.hi. At a meeting the day before the election. Tupito who was to he deputy returning officer, addressed witness and others, stating those owners who voted for Ratana would have their names excluded from ib - deed of -ahof the two blocks AUCKLAND. March 15.

The election petition wa- e.iiit Bitted. Justice I basking .-aid the Court would hear further argument on the admi-- 1 - hility of evidence in reference to the method of voting and the allegation i!mt secrci •. wa. do- I -ived. Assuming the irregularity to la admissible D.e topical result would he lo bring it within section !bh I hat might relieve the Court having to decide the thorny question of amendment ol the petition. Tupito Maruerc, described by other witnesses as one ol I’mnare s eliiol oiganisers, gave evidence that in 1912 he and another were appointed hv tlk 1 natives to look after their interests in matters of law amt propei-iy, and lie was authorised to till such a capacity in 1913. He denied he was one of the canvassers for I’onmtv in the 1919 election. At a meeting held near \taugauui last Septemher. lie suggested that Ratana. junr. slnntk! he -el aside, as he had not the on pm ivy to < -al wB > law matters, and that Romaic had. Witness denied the suggestion that e<>

had at other tm-efings actively advaneed Ponian s uandida:nn». lu' spoke ill support of I’oniare of In- ow n volition.

LONDON. Mu; eh II i|v t;ail’s" athletic writer "i ring 'to nnbhe school athletics, savs much is expected ol the New /«■- Ipiulor, V. D. Powell of ( hfton ( ollege jii the sprints and jump-, in which he nxcc!lcd ill 1022. ARABS DESIRES. I LONDON, March 1-1. Delegates of various Arab Sm-> ".ft in London and resolved to endeavour by all constitutional means t > secure complete independence of Arab m Syria, Palestine. Iraq. Henjnz. and other Arab States, and to lorm a , onfederation thereof.