THE WAIRAU SEAT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 71, 19 March 1912, Page 5

THE WAIRAU SEAT.

PETITION AGAINST RETURN 7 OF 11. McOALLUM. ALLEGED CORRUPT PRACTICES. (For Press Association.! Blenheim, Marcli 18. The hearing of the petition against the return of Richard McCallum as member for Wairan, commenced This morning before Mr Justice Williams. The first charge taken was that on December 6, 1911, at Grovetown, Mr McCallum provided drink to a large number of electors at the hotel. Evidence was given that Mr McCallum, after addressing a political meeting, invited the men to have a drink, about fifty proceeding to the hotel, where they were supplied, Mr McCallum being present. Mr Skerrett, in cross-examination, sought to show that it was customary, after meetings and entertainments in the Grovetown Hall, .for the male residents to go to the hotel for drink before going home, witnesses admitting this was so. This concluded the evidence re the Grovetown charge, with the exception of one witness who was not present. Mr Sinclair then proceeded with the charge that on the day of the hrst ballot large quantities of liquor were supplied to the electors at the gram store in Grove Road, Blenheim, by R. McCallum or his agents, for the purpose of inducing such electors to vote for Mr McCallum. The store is owned by McCallum Bros., and is in the same grounds as the polling booth. John Hyndinan, scrutineer for Mr Duncan, one of the candidates, said that many of the electors whj visited the booth appeared to be under the' influence of liquor. Witness went to the door of. the booth and saw a crowd of men round about the grain store, talking loudly, their voices being hoard at the booth.

Archibald McCallum, brother of respondent, in reply to Mr Skerrett, said that some days previous to the first ballot he mot F. Dodson, aerated water manufacturer and brewer, and told Dodson he could use his office and telephone in the grain store in connection with the licensing poll. He saw no drink or drinking on the morning of the first ballot. In the afternoon he saw some liquor and empty bottles in the office. Ho was no party to supplying, or paying for the liquor. He gave no person drink on that day and had none there himself. He denied that he gave anybody money to buy drink for electors, directly'or indirectly at Miraa or elsewhere.- o Clause 10 of the petition stated that between the-first and‘second' ballots A. McCallum gave certain electors at Murza money to ,biiy{ liquor, ''h’h l older to treat and bribe such electors to vote for the said Richard McCallum.” In answer to Mr Sinclair witness denied that he was severely cross-examined at a uolicense meeting about liquor being in the grain store. The No-license League did not express disapproval of liquoryliavingi-boon at his office. He did not know who brought the liquor to,,the store. Mr Dodson;’ was-'at’ due' inoeting of Richard McCallum’s committee. Mr Dodson was at the grain store practically all day. Frank Dodson, brewer, said ho attended two of Mr McCallum’s committee meetings. He was not working lor Mr McCallum’s return and took no beer to McCallum Bros.’ grain store, but got some from an employee of the Marlborough Brewery, opposite the flourmill, and in company with four others drank it. He saw no second supply brought over later in the day, and was not acting on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers when lie secured the beer. No women were supplied with liquor at the grain store during the day. Tom J. Ball, an employee of the Marlborough Brewery, said that after lunch on the day of the first ballot, Mr Dodson asked him to bring over some beer to Mr A. McCallum’s office. A fellow employee named Lindra carried the beer over, and several participated in it. To Ids' knowledge no second supply of beer! was obtained from the Marlborough j Brewery, | Edward Vincent Stace, who acted j as deputy returning officer at Drove Road polling booth on the day of the first ballot, noticed about half a dozen electors under the influence of liquor at the polling booth. This concluded the evidence on the Grove Road charge. Rosina limes, wife of the licensee of the Grovetowu Hotel, said that about fifty men had drink at the hotel on the night of December 0, after McCallum’s meeting. Some weeks afterwards John Sutherland, who was chairman of McCallnm’s committee and chairman of the meeting, paid 25s for the drinks. Other candidates after their meetings paid for drinks for friends. In regard to the charge of making contracts for payment on account of the conveyance of electors to and from the poll on both polling days for the purpose of promoting Mr McCallum’s election, William Humphreys, secretary of the McKenzie Carrying Company, produced the books showing the list of vehicles hired by Mr Macey, general chairman of Mr McCallum’s committee, on the days of the first and second ballots, the prices paid amounting to £3O 16s Gd. Ho consulted the then manager (Mr Hogan) before sending out the accounts, which Macey returned on January 2oth with the words, “I know nothing of this.” Mr McCallum objected to pay the account. He did not bear him toll Mr Hogan that the vehicles had been given free for election days and bo would not pay. The Court adjourned at 5 p.iu. til! , 10 a.m. to-morrow.