THE WAIRAU SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 223, 19 March 1912, Page 5

THE WAIRAU SEAT.

PETITION AGAINST RETURN OF R. McCALLUM. ALLEGED CORRUPT PRACTICES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Blenheim, March 18. The hearing of the petition against the return of Richard McCalhim as member for Wairau, commenced this morning before Justices Williams and Chapman." Mr. Sinclair is counsel for petitioners, and Messrs Skerrett, K.C., and Mills for respondent. The petition consists of 27 clauses, containing allegations of bribery, treating, and other corrupt and illegal practices. Two allegations, charging the supporters of respondent with importuning electors to vote for McCallum, have been withdrawn. Leave has been asked to introduce two fresh ones of bribery and treating. The point has been reserved, and the case is proceeding. _ The court reserved its decision on Mr. Skerrett's objection. The first charge taken was that on December 0. 1911, at Grovetown, Mr. McCallnm provided drink to a large number of electors at the hotel. Evidence was given that Mr. Mc- I Galium, 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 goiii" home, witnesses admitting this wa°s so. This concluded the evidence re the 'lrovetown charge, with the exception of ie witness who was not present. Mr. Sinclair then proceeded with the large that on the day of the first bal.ot large quantities of liquor were supplied to the electors at the grain store in Grove Road, .Blenheim, by R. Mc-Cal-lum or his. agents, for the purpose of inducing such electors to vote for Mr. McCalhim. The store, is owned 'by McCallum Bros., and is in the same grounds as the polling booth. John Hyndman, scrutineer for Mr. Duncan, one of the candidates, said that many of the electors who 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 heard at the booth.

Archibald McCallum, brother of the respondent, in reply to Mr, Skerrett, said that some days previous to the first ballot he met F. Dodson, aerated water ) manufacturer and brewer, and told Dodson he could use his office and telephona 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. He 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 driii'k for electors directly or indirectly at Mirza or elsewhere, Clause 10 of the petition stated that between the first and second Jballots A. McCallum gave certain elector at Mirza money to buy liquor, "in order 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 no-license meeting about liquor being in the grain store. The No-license League did not express' disapproval of liquor having been at his office. He did not know who brought the liquor to the store. Mr. Dodson' was at one meeting of Richard MeCalJum's committee. Mr. Dodson was at the grain store practically all day. ' 'Frank Dodson, brewer, said he attended two of Mr. McCallum's committee meetings. He was not working for 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 he 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 his knowledge no second supply of beer was obtained from the Marlborough Brewery. Edward Vincent Stace, who acted as deputy returning officer at Grove 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 Innes, wife of the licensee of the Grovetown Hotel, said that about fifty men had drink at the hotel on the night of December 6, after McCallum's meeting. Some weeks afterwards John Sutherland, who was chairman of McCallum'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 electing William Humphreys, secretary of the McKenzie Carrying Company, produced the books showing the list of vehicles hired by Mr. Masey, general chairman of Mr. McCallum's committee, on the days of the first and second ballots, the prices paid amounting to £3O 16s 6d. He consulted the then manager (Mr. Hogan) before sending out the accounts, which Macey returned on January 25th with the words, "I know nothing of this." Mr. McCallum objected to pay the account. He did not hear him tell Mr. Hogan that the vehicles had been given free for election days and he would not pay. The Court adjourned at 5 p.m. till 10 a.m. tomorrow.