PALMERSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1734, 15 June 1886, Page 2

PALMERSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTION

(to the editor daily standard.} Sir,—- In your Saturday's report of the proceedings connected with the- above matter, your reporter has allowed several errors to creep m, doubtless from his excited imagination, and not' from any desire to mislead your numerous readers. It is said that I began to deliver the voting papers m a hap-hazard way until Mr G. E. Hawkins interfered, when I handed them , over to Mr Abrahams, (who was onn of the scrutineers, .and, indeed, the. most active one at the first). I did begin to deliver the papers; I did hand them over to Mr Abrahams, who was the only person offering' to aeeist m their delivery. All this was done quite independent of any excitable remarks whtch may have been mad« by Mr Hawkins. I was chairman of the meeting, and did not hear of any person or persons as reported, having been nearly crushed to death at the door, and I am quite sure your reporter, who was further away from the door, than I was, could not have noticed anything of the kind. The voting papers which after wards arrived (as reported), were not distributed indiscriminately amongst the crowd-, some thereby getting his paper, aud otliers being refused any at all. Before the ballot box was removed from the room where the voting was carried on, the question was repeatedly put by myself as to whether every one entitled had received a voting paper. In addition to this announcement I went about the room and made inquiries,' when I found each person had been supplied. I do not believt any person got twopapers. Some designing person may have obtained a second paper from Boma other voter for . the purpose of creating a little trouble m the future, but I am not responsible' for this kind of conduct. One thing Ido know there was no instance m -which/any yotet ~nut two. papers into the ballot box. This important part of the programme was very carefully watched by Mr Sutton and myself during the whole of the voting. I admit the meeting was a rowdy one m the extreme, and taken as a whole, most disgraceful, and that certain persona behaved m a most obj"ctionablo and uncultured manner. Still the voting went on m spite of all interruptions, and the election, m my opinion, was conducted, very properly, 60 far as voting, was concerned. In add itiou to your report I ,also noticed a paragraph Twtiich states that Mr Colville wished to vote that but would not be allowed because his wife had voted ; then follows the announcement, that, although objected to by the scrutineers, he insisted on voting. Mr Colville asked me if he could vote for his business premises, as his wife bad voted for har dwelling. I replied yes, and quite expected ..him .. ttj* vote. Another paragraph states Mr, Maule was refused a voting paper, because he did not come at a proper time. This is wrong entirely. Mr Maule obtained a paper befor* the ballot was closed, and used it to my certain ' knowledge. In fact, Mr Sutton detained the box fully two minutes for the express purpose of receiving Mania's paper. I simply name the. above facts- m justice to myself and the scrutineers, who had to perform, and who did perform, a very important duty faithfully. I also'know that your reporter was labouring under extreme excitement at the time he, was writing, and doubtless was led along by his imagination.' 1 ana also well aware of the varions proceedings during the ■ whole of {he evening, and am fnlly conyinoad that the olection was carried out m its integrity, and have notified the ' same to the Wanganai Education Board. — lain, etc., . . James Linton, Chairman of lata meeting.