NO PETITION

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1928, Page 8

NO PETITION

BAY 'OF ISLANDS SEAT. MB ALLEN BELL’S DECISION. AUCKLAND, Dee. 7. While declining to lodge a petition against the return of Air H. M. Rushworth for the Bay of Islands seat, Air Allen Bell suggests Unit his suceesslul opponent should resign and contest the by-election. He would also he agreeable to have a recount 'by two Supreme Court Judges. Air Bell, on being interviewed, sated that he had not taken any steps whatever to upset the Bay ol Islands election. Such a course was regarded by him as 'unsportsmanlike, more especially -as the unfortunate mejddle had not .been caused by his opponent, who would by law 1 he compelled, however, to pay the costs amounting probably to several hundreds of pounds. Speaking personally, he had no wish to represent the Bay ol Blands on the vote of the Returning Officer, or the result of a petition to upset the election, .which lie claimed could be done .on at least a dozen grounds. Ho fdr. that his representation of the electorate was not in any way reflected in the recent vote least. Tn fact, when the news reached him that he had been elected hv one vote he had immediately written to the Prime Minister asking permission to resign Hie seat, and bring on a byelection. which, stripped of the various side-issues, would reflect the opinion of .his constituents with regard to his personal work. As far as he 1 was concerned, the whole matter was now left in the hands of his friends and supporters, whom he had informed that lie would not be a party, either directly or indirectly, to upsetting the election hut that he had no objection whatever to an investigation of the votes by two Supreme Court Judges. as providr/.l by law. This would give his opponent, like himself, a fair sporting chance. • Tf. under the tinf'vrtunate conditions that had arisen. Air Rush worth was prepared to resign raid again contest the seat, h 1 would be more than pleased.