HUTT LOCAL OPTION POLL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 449, 16 January 1909, Page 3

HUTT LOCAL OPTION POLL.

Enquiry at Petona.

Wellington, January 14,

The enquiry into the Hutt Local Option Poll was opened in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Petone, at 2 p.tn., today, before Dr McArthur and Messrs W. P. James and W. G. Riddell, Stipendiary Magistrates. Messrs A, R. Atkinson and H. H. Ostler represented the petitioners (the No-License Party), and Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C., with Mr Blair and Mr Cracroft Wilson, appeared for the respondents. The public attended inconsiderable numbers, great interest being taken in the proceedings. Mr Atkinson opened the case at length, going exhaustively into the allegations of the petition. He claimed that either No-License was carried or that a fresh poll should be ordered in consequence of irregularities which had taken place. Thirteen voters had been impersonated. In some cases the deputy returning officers might have struck out the wrong names in checking off the roll. The petitioners would show that five persons had voted who were not entitled to vote, because they had not resided in the electorate at any time within six months, prior to the election. It would be shown that the ballot papers from different booths had not been sent to the returning officer by the deputies with that despatch required by the Act. It would be alleged that a voter had been offered £5 for his vote, and that a certain individual had promised a tradesman an order for a carriage if continuance were carried. Further, he would endeavour to show that beer had been illegally sent to certain polling booths, and that beer had been given free to voters on the day of the poll. Petitioners would also show that one hotel in the district had been illegally open on the day of the poll. Most of the evidence taken today was of persons in whose names it is alleged there had been impersonation. All the witnesses said they had voted only once, and told the Court at what booth they voted.

The papers will be examined subsequently at Wellington.

Later

At the Hutt local option poll enquiry to-day a witness who was scrutineer at the Lower Hutt booth said he saw liquor at that booth. He heard a tap at the window, and saw a hotelkeeper there. A jug of beer was handed in, and five glasses of beer at least were drunk.

Counsels for respondents objected to the evidence on the ground that the matter was not specifically mentioned iu the petition, and the objection was upheld.

Another witness stated that he saw a bottle brought into the booth. He had no means of ascertaining whether the bottle contained whisky, but he smelt liquor in the booth. A third witness deposed that he saw Palmer, a publican, come into the booth during the polling with a hamper, and heard his remark that there was liquor at the back of the hall if anyone cared to go round for it.