THE STRATFORD SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1920, Page 4

THE STRATFORD SEAT.

PETITION AGAINST MR. MASTERS. IRREGULARITIES .ALLEGED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Jan. 24. An amusing mustake was made in serving in connection with the petition to upset the Stratford election. Mr. A. R. Masters, who was on- his honeymoon. was mistaken for his brother, Mr. Rj Masters, and while staying in ft Chtllsw church hotel, waß served with hii wrl& It appears that he was followed across; the Strait in order to effect service. • In the petition it'is alleged anon£ other things: (' (1) Mr. Robert Mew ten, by ftiftlelf} or his agents, was guilty of corrupt practices in connection with the elec< Hon. (2) That Robert Masters, on the even* ing before the election, or prior to a meeting held in the King's Cinem* Theatre, and attended by many hun« ilreds of electors gave to the electors then present valuable consideration by; providing them with entertainment in' the form of an exhibition of moving pictures with music, which wag paid for by Mr. Masters or his agents, in order to induce such electors to vote at the election. (3) That Robert Masters by the m*U ters alleged in the two last paragraph* committed the offence of bribery or alternatively was guilty of corrupt pr»e>i tices within the meaning of the Legig. lature Act, 1908. (4) Alternatively it is alleged if theconduct mentioned above did not amount to corrupt practice, Robert Masters was guilty of illegal practices whereby he; became and is incapacitated to serve itt the present Parliament.

(5) The payment made or alleged tdl be made in respect to the use of the programme of films and orchestra or band jon the evening of December 16 being made for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of Robert Masters was an illegal practice. Alternatively it is alleged that the payment was made for the purpose of exhibiting bills, addresses or notices, or for the w» of) the theatre building for the purpose of such exhibition, and was an illegal prac* tice. It is further alleged that a large number of persons who were registered as electors and voted in favor of Robert' Masters were not entitled to be register) ed as electors, or to vote) that at eerl tarn polling booths in Stratford, particularly booths numbered 1 and 2 votes were recorded on ballot papers is l sued without the electors' numbers on the roll being entered on the counterfoils; that not loss than 23 ballot papers were not stamped in accordance with the Statute, and did not bear the official mark of the deputy returning officerthat four ballot papers issued at the Courthouse, Stratford, bore a distinguishing mark not authorised by law that at the polling booths at Stratford and Inglewood the number of ballotpapers in the ballot box far exceeded the number of names marked off the roll It js finally claimed that on a further scrutiny one vote for every p rMon proved to have attended the King's Cinema entertainment on December letlt should be taken from the number of votes appearing to have been given to Robert Masters.