ALLEGED WRONGFUL ELECTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 79, 29 April 1909, Page 2

ALLEGED WRONGFUL ELECTION

THE WESTERX MAORI SKAT. liv Telegraph.— Press Association. Auckland, Last Xight, Mr. Henare Kaihaii, M.P., is preparing to put up a keen fight at tlie hearing of I'epene EKetono's petition against .his election as representative of the western -Maori dislrici. The petition. is to be heard at Hamilton before two judges of the Supreme Court on .May 1(1. >pcakiiiir lo a press representative to-day, Mr. Kaihaii, who has represented the western Maori district in Parliament for the last eleven years, said that Pcpeio lactone's chief objection was tluit the system employed at the ballot on the occasion of the last election was not in accordance with the law. Since lHfi-l, -Mr. Kaihaii says, it lias been the custom at native elections for the returning officer to ask each native on entering tlie booth his name, tiis tribe, and the name of the candidate for whom he desires to vote. Tile custom lias been for tlie returning oll'icer to enter up these particulars, and to. in many cases, dispense with the need of ballot papers.; Tlie petition to upset the last election is based on the ground Unit ballot papers should have been used, and that tie course of p'rocedurc employed had been irregular." If this is so, it is no fault of mine,'' added Mr. Kailiau. "As far as 1 can understand the election was carried out in accordance with trie, custom which has prevailed for years. It there has been any improper procedure making tlie election invalid, then all the other candidates will be in tile same position as myself. Personally, 1 have no fear of the outcome of a second election if it is necessary."