Ballot Papers.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXV, Issue 255, 26 November 1903, Page 4

Ballot Papers.

WELLINGTON LICENSING COMMITTEE ELECTION. PARLIAMENTARY ENQUIRY. In the House of Representatives on Saturday morning, the Petitions Committee (A to L) reported on the petition of the Rev. F. W. Isitt, praying" for an inquiry into the extraction of a. ballot paper during the Wellington Licensing Committee election. The report of tbe committee was as follows : 1. That the committee, having taken evidence from various witnesses, finds that Mr Isitt at seven minutes to nine a.m. on the morning of the day of tbe election for the Licensing Committee in the city of Vfel lington, and prior to the opening of the polling booths thereat, was illegally in possession of a stolen ballot paper, such paper being printed for and intended to be used at the said election.

2. That the committee examined Mr Isitt as to the manner in which the said ballot paper came into his possession, but though he alleges it ,was given to him, he at different periods of the inquiry absolutely declined to give the committee the name of the person from whom he received the said ballot paper. 3. That the committee is of opinion that -the said ballot paper was stolen for the purpose of manipulating the result of the said election, and thus defeating the will of the electors.

4. That the committee finds that Mr Isitt, on or about December 29, ISO2, wrote to eleven of the returning officers in the colony requesting them to supply him with copies of the ballot papers used in their respective districts at the local option poll. Mr Isitt admits having received such ballot papers from three' of tlieso returning officers, but at the inquiry positively declined to give the names of any of these returning officers who had thus illegally supplied him with such ballot papers. 5. The committee is of opinion that these ballot papes could have been used as a ground for upsetting the local option poll in some of the electorates.

6. That the limited time at the disposal of the committee makes it impossible to fully investigate at this late period of the session, the serious import of tho issues involved m the prayer of the petition. 7. The committee therefore recommend that the petition, with the evidence taken thereon, together wittf the report of the Commissioner, be referred to the Government for consideration, and further recommend that the Government be revested to make further investigation into the matters above referred to. nixl the other irregularities, as prayed for by the petitioner