HUTT LICENSING POLL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9347, 16 January 1909, Page 5

HUTT LICENSING POLL.

Per Press Association. Wellington, January 15. The examination of witnesses was continued to-day. Wm. Sussex, blacksmith, said he saw a cart going through the streets of Petone on election day with a large tank and the word "Beer” written on it. Mr Skerrett: "Yon have no objection to tanks as tanks?” Witness: "No.”

"Would you contradict the statement that the tank was being conveyed in the cart in the ordinary way of business?”

"No.” "Do you object to beer?” "I don’t think liquor is good for people.” "Yon object to the word "Beer” being written in chalk?” "It will, soon be an offence to drink beer?”

"You may think so.” John Downing stated that on the day of the poll he saw Mr Henry Whitman driving round with a jar and bottle of whisky. One Edwards was chairman of the Trade Committee in the district. Mr Atkinson: "Did you hear him give any instructions about the liquor you saw Whiteman bring to Wallaceville?”

Witness: "Yes; the liquor was placed iu a shed about 150 yards from the Wallaceville booth. Nobody appeared to be in charge of it,” He saw one man drunk under the trees.

Chas. K. Travers said lie acted as scrutineer at tlie Oddfellows’ Hall, Petone. Prior to the election he was present at a meeting addressed by Mr Oarey Fitzgerald at Upper Hutt. Mr Edwards was chairman, and delivered a speech which was, in his opinion, in support of licenses. At the booth in the Oddfellows’ Hall Mr Mothes was present. A woman named Mrs Burridge came in to vote. Mr Mothes, addressing her when she had her ballot papers in her hand, said; “That is the electoral box and that is the licensing box, but that one (pointing to the licensing box) hasn’t got a ci)3nG6 Mr Skerrett asked that Mrs Burridge be recalled. She 1 had stated that the Returning Officer did not speak to her. , The Bench directed that Mrs Burridge should be sent for in order that witness might identify her. Witness also gave evidence as to Palmer entering the booth ■ with a hamper. Mr Skerrett: “How do you account tor the fact that Mrs Burridge stated in evidence that Mr Mothes never spoke to her?” “I cannot.”

Mr Skerrett: “I ask that this witness be prevented from leaving the hall till Mrs Burridge arrives.” When Mrs Burridge, the lady who previously gave evidence, appeared witness identified her as the person to whom Mr Mothes addressed the remark, quoted above. Mr Ostler recalled Mrs Burridge to the query: ‘‘Did Mr Mothes speak to you?” She replied. ‘‘No. he did not speak to me ; but I heard him make the remark that this box has no chance.”

Thomas Townsend was called to give evidence as to the standing that Webb had at one of the booths, and was asked as to the admission made by Webb to him. Mr Skerret objected, and was upheld.

Mr Ostler questioned witness as to whether Webb was a known partisan of the liquor party. Dr. McArhtur said a person could vote conscientiously one way or the other and yet not be partisan. The Bench could not allow the question. Witness said he saw the door of the Provincial Hotel, Upper Hutt, open on the afteinooh of the day of the election, and noticed a man under the influence of liquor coming out.

(Jhas. Heury Lepper, who drove the previous witness to Upper Hutt, said he did not notice anything peculiar about the hotel. David W. Blair said that on , the day of the poll he was at Trentham and Upper Hutt. At the latter place he noticed the door of the Provincial Hotel open. He saw men coming out, and saw two'men drank. Witness himself had partaken of beer in the stable near the hotel. B. J. Rothwell, clergyman, Lower Hutt, said he was outside the polling booth at Lower Hutt all day. He saw a barrel of beer taken into an empty shed in the same building as the polling booth at about 8 o’clock in the morning. Several menJSwere coming ,in and out of the shop daring the day. Some came out wiping their mouths as if they had been drinking. To Mr Skerrett: Arrangements were made by the No-License Party to provide refreshments for those who were working for them on polling day. Mr Skerrett: "And did yon not see any of them coming out ,wiping their mouths?” The witness admitted that he did.

Mr Atkinson: “Did the NoLicense party provide free tea for the voters?” Witness “No.” John Mcßwkn, Mayor of Petone, said he saw a collection of bottles at the Petone School booth the day after the election. Robert De Ridder said that at the Epunl school room the booth was not arranged so as to preserve the secrecy of the ballot. The Rev. Edward that he had been unable to see the roll, the Returning Officer saying it was being used and would be'wantad for the remainder of the day. The Rev. Thomas A. Wilson, a No-License scrutineer, said the Returning Officer at Lower Hutt had left the booth during the day, and asked a Mr Gardner to act for him. Witness was poll clerk at the official recount, A hitch took place in the counting, two papers being missing. During the search the door was opened and the whole of the papers were blown about in all directions. He discovered one paper which had been stamped twice. This accounted for one of the papers. The inquiry will be continued tomorrow.