WESTLAND ELECTION PETITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1926, Page 3

WESTLAND ELECTION PETITION.

THE HEARING COMMENCED. 'Bv Telegraph.—Special to Guardian)GREYMOUTI T. March 8. The hearing of the petition lodged by Me .lames O’Brien (ex-member for Westland) against the election of Mr T. E. Y. Seddon. as member for Westland. commenced this morning at tho Supreme Court house Itefore Air Justice Stringer and Mr .Justice Ostler, sitting as an Election Court. I here is a large attendance of the public. .Mr W. Joyce (Greymouth) is appearing for tho petitioner (Mr James O’Brien) and -Mr .J. W. Hannan (Greymouth) and Mr J. A. Murdoch (Hokitika) for tlie respondent (Mr T. E. A. Seddon). It will he remembered that at the

general election held in November last, Mr Seddon was declared elected, having a majority of one vote, by the easting vote of the Returning Officer, over his opponent. Mr O Bricii. After reading the petition, the Court proceeded to hear ot ideuee in reference to vote-. Objecting to John Gain and his wife (Bessie) of Greymouth evidence was given that they Imd voted at Brooklands. Was for six Months there, and had come hack to Greymouth four times. On tin- four'll occasion remained permanently at Greymouth. Evidence was given by I). A. Macintosh. postmaster. Greymouth. that Robot. Blake, employed at the Rost OHie.:\ Greymouth. left for Westport on March Isth. 1925. left for Rangiora. June 18th. Duncan Alfred Mclntosh. Greymouth said Bold. George Blake was employed in the Rost Office. Greymouth. and was transferred to Westport on 13th. March. 1025. He left Westport for Rangiora on June loth. Did not return to Greymouth, and lias been employed at Raugiora ever siuev.'. E. W. Lnuisson. Clerk of Court, Hokitika. deposed that, Matthew Cain, of Kanieri. was a pensioner. He drew his pension from April to X,>vcm 1 ht. 11)2.5. at Blenheim, personally. In regard to Frederick Alex Thorpe, of Woodstock, he drew his pension for January to March. 1025. at Birkenhead. ami April to September. 1025, at Dargaville: and October 1025 at Birkenhead. Since then he received it at Hokitika. W. 11. Shannon, in evidence, said lie knew 11. E. Caldwell and Elizabeth, his wife, employed by witness. Caldwell left- Hokitika at the cud of March 102.5. lie did not know when his wifeleft. Had not .seen him since. Allan Baker of the Bank of New land, stated Mr Conte, manager of the Bank. left, for Wellington on 21th June, 1025, and had not come to tlie Coast since. Tie was in Wellington a month and went, to Kaikoiirai lor a month., then to Wellington and Dunedin. He was a relieving manager. Ho was stationed permanently when in Greymouth. Winifred M. Grilfeii. Postmistress at Stafford, deposed Gliarles Corbett Covie. a pensioner, resided about 20 months at Coldsborougli, and left m May. Tla- pension was paid I ill the 25l II September to his sister. He was awav on holiday then. I lie pension was transferred to Koiigahua. Alexander D. McGnvock. Conservator of Forests at Hokitika. deposed Vivian T. Fail arrived on 2D I I I January. 11)2.5, and left on May 1-lt.ii. 102. j. lie' went, from Hokitika to Tapaniii. lie had not ljeeii in Westland since and was still employed by the J-oreslry Department. He was a surveyor and moved about the country continually. William F. Hay was employed al Woodstock. lie arrived on sth January, 1925, and left Hokitika on 20 1 h May,' 1925. H was transferred in ILimner. 11“ was there about a month, and Ge n left the service. Charles John llarenm-t. farmer, was nil the Westland ml!. and voted at Athol as an absent voter, lie had farm on the Christchurch Road. !!“ sold the farm and retained ihe umber. He left the West Coast at the end el June last, and went to Athol where in mother and brother lived. He resided there till the middle of January, 192 >. He still had land at Kuwhnka. Ee did not register in Athol district. He valued his timber interest at £D>()O. and retained the cutting rights tor 1years. , ITareourt continued said he Had a hanking aeouiit in the Bank ot Neu South Wales at Hokitika, which re-

mainotl open. . John Fox. sawmiller. Hokitika, said Coral E. Fox was his daughter. Sho went to the Training College at Christchurch. two years ago as a student She went fur a term and returned home and then went back again. Went in January, 1925, and returned two or

three times during the year, remaining i several weeks. Bhe was home at Hokitika since November. When at Christ- , church resided at the Catholic Hostel. William Henry Gualter said lie resides at Kahikatea and the family resides at Cohden. He works at a null and returns home for Sunday, lie lias been on the AVestland Roll since 190 G. His wife owns the house at Cobden. James Alexander Chesney, Chief Clerk. Hokitika Survey office, deposed Ccderick Heinz left Hokitika on 9th February. 1925, for Christchurch Survey Office on transfer. Alary Anne Hopkins, widow, residing at Greymmitli, deposed that as an absent voter she voted at Wellington, Went to Wellington in January and returned to Greynioutii in January. Left AAellington at the end of Juno for Napier, thence to AVangaiiiii. She was holiday making, and then returned to her home here. j„ the ease of Constance Gotliard, Mr Joyce gave no evidence. Mr Murdoch applied for tile striking oil of the name. Consideration was held over. Henry Leslie Michel, jnr., evidenced that lie knew James Duncan Murdoch, a medical student, of Dunedin, who resided in Hokitika for several periods and resides in Dunedin lor the rest of the year. To Mr Murdoch—l know lie comes home every vacation. I could not sav that lie was away from Hokitika for three months continuously. His Honour said there was no need to call Mr Murdoch jnr. William Henry Phillips, hoardinghouse keeper. Grey mouth, said he knew Frank Dyer Xewcombc. lie left on Ist August.

On the question of Alfred David Phillips, no evidence was offered by Mr Joyce. It was agreed by Mr Murdoch to strike off.—Consideration deferred.

Edward Austin, hotelkeeper, evidenced that William Reunison and his wife left Greynioutii on July 14th lot Wellington, lie thought they then went to Nelson.

Janies MeCleary. Hokitika, evi denec-d that Frances D. Rolfs lelt oi 30ta June for Seaelille cm transfei.

AYilliam B. Rowan, storeman. AYoolston. deposed that with his wife lie was registered on the AVestland Roll. He left for Christchurch on Ist June. He was in Linwood and his wife was at Spreydon. On the 10th August ho took over a business at Woolston. Linwood is in the Avon district, and Woolston in the Lyttelton electorate, and Sprevdon in South Christchurch. Benjamin Sword. District J raffle Manager, residing at Ricearton. left Grey mouth on lltli April. Transfoncd family and effects and took up permanent residence on 30th April. Till stli August resided at St. Albans and from then till now resided in Ricearton. To His Honour—” Did not register in St. Albans as in a few days he was removing to Ricearton, Janet Sword,

his wife was in exactly the same position. Three weeks before ho left St. Albans lie had arranged to leave the electorate hut was advised by the registrar at Hokitika to retain his Westland status. Air Joyce—“ Then you thought your position was crooked?” Witness “No;” he wanted to do tlie right thing. Air Justice Ostler—The term “crooked ” was not a proper term under the circu instances.

John Tindale. road foreman. Punnkaikai, deposed he lived in a tent. His home was with his people at Greymouth. He went into Greymouth every month. He had been working there for the past three years. He had no permanent address except at Greymouth. He was overseer of works in the Punnkaikai district. Kathleen Braidwood, matron. Grey Hospital, deposed Li 1 tit li Frances Turner was a nurse at Greymouth hospital after January. She left tlie hospital at the end of Alay, 1925 (evidence agreed as insufficient).

Alary Vrt-n deposed she registered on sth August and left for Rewanui next day. AYas still there. AVas in Greymouth for three weeks before registering. Was in Runnngn for four months before that. Before that was in Greymouth for two years. AYlteii she vent to Rinianga site took a place as a domestic servant.

Irene Estelle Walmsley. deposed that when < nrolled she was a spinster tit Grov Hospital. Was granted leave of absence on Alay 25. 1925, for three months. Went to reside at her home at Cheviot. Got extended leave owing to her mother’s illness and returned to hospital on December Bth.. and icsmned. Always had the intention of returning to her occupation. Barbara Charlton deposed she resided at South Beach. Her husband vaa borer, near Cromwell. Otago. Her husband was home in October last for a fortnight. In February 192-5, for a bon t two mouths, their home was here, lie was mostly on the Const. John Boyd deposed he was an electrician. Knew Joint Patrick Fleming who came with sleep from Timaru on HOth. July. His wife came about a month after. .Mills came about 19th. July and remained here. He eoiilt not say where Fleming and his wi'. or Mills were prior to when he met them. In the ease of N'cilsoii no evidence was offered. The Court adjourned till two. LATER. At the opening Air Joyce reviewed the circumstances and said the petition was based on matters of fact. In the ease of Riqvrt Duuford, convicted of dual voting, both his votes were disallowed. The petitioner alleged that .sonic vote's from Westport had not been counted in the scrutiny. Mr Alurdnch said regarding the allegations that names should not have been on the roll because such person had keen away from the district for more than three months preceding the election, such persons did not atltou.vilieafly I’Dcome registered on the roll of another district-. The persons mav have been travelling eoiitinuousI;- . (To lie Continued.)