LOCAL OPTION POLL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3093, 16 January 1909, Page 5

LOCAL OPTION POLL.

THE HUTT ENQUIRY. ALLEGED DISTRIBUTION OF LIQUOR.

The enquiry into the Hint Local Option Poll was resumed at Petcne, yesterday, before Dr. A. M'Arthur, and Messrs Jaujes and Riddel!, Stipe iidiary M;;gistrates. Samuel Perriman Skinner, carpenter, who was a scrutineer at the Lower Hutt booth,M to Z, said he saw liquor at that booth, He heard a tap at the window, and saw Mr Hodgins, a hotelkeeper. A jug of beer was handed in, and five glasses, at least, were drunk. Mr Ostler: Did any of the deputies drink it? Witness: Yes. Mr Skerrett: I object to this evidence and ask that it be struck out. Dr. M'Arthur: The court is unanimously of opinion that this evidence sluuld not be admitted. Alfred Edward Morgan, scrutineer at Lower Hutt said he saw Mr Palmer about lunch hour bring in a bottle, saying it contained "twothirds whisky." The bottle was placed On the stagtC Mr Palmer also brought in lunch. On a second occasion he brought in tea. Reexamined by Mr Ostler: He had no means of ascertaining whether it was whisky that was in the bottle previously referred to. He smelt liquor in the booth.

Lilian Anne Clark said she voted at the Oddfellows' Hall, Petone. She made a mistake in her local option paper, and asked for another. The deputy returning officer refused. She then struck out all three lines, made her paper informal, and put it in the ballot box. Walter Clement Bird said he was scrutineer at the Oddfellows' Hall, Petone, E to K. He saw Mr Palmer, publican, come into the booth during the polling with a hamper. He came up to the table and said that there was some liquor at the back of the hall if any one cared to go round for it. Mr James, S.M.: Who was the remark addressed to?

Witness: Apparently to all those sitting round the table. Continuing, under examination by Mr Ostler, witness said he did not know what sort of liquor the hamper contained. Palmer brought another hamper into the booth in the afternoon. Sydney Olliuer Kenny, scrutineer in the same booth as the last witness, stated chat Palmer, when he carre into the booth, remarked that there was light refreshments on the stage. Witness also stated that a voter told the deputy that he had spoilt his ballot paper. He was refused another, and later came out of the booth and put the paper in the ballot box. John Downing, farmer, Mungaroa, stated in evidence that on the day of the poll he saw Mr Henry Whiteman driving round with a jar and bottled whisky. One Edwards was chairman of the trade committee in the district. Mr Atkinson: Did vou hear him give any instructons about thf liquor you saw Whiteman bring to Wallaceville? Witness: Yes. Mr Skerrett objected. The evidence was not admissible. He was instructed that Mr Edwards had never been identified with the trade.

In answer to questions from the bench, witness said he had seen Edwards at meetings of supporters of the trade, and had heard him deliver speeches. To Mr Skerrett: The meeting he referred to was a public meeting called by publicans. He was voted to the chair. He was referring to a meeting held three years ago. Mr Atkinson wished to examine the witness as to the alleged instructions given by Edwards to VYhiteman, but the chairman of the Bench said Mr Edwards' connection with the trade would have to be more definitely established before this could be done.

Continuing under examinination by Mr Atkinson, witness said tint the liquor was placed in a shed about 150 yards from the YVa]]ae2ville booth. Nobody appeared to be in charge of it. He saw one man drunk under the trees. Charles K. Travel's, grocer's assistant, said he acted as scrutineer at" the Oddfellows' Hall, Petone. Prior to the election ha was present at a meeting addressed by Mr Carey Fitzgerald at Upper Hutt. Mr Edwards was chairman and delivered a speech, in his opinion, m support of licenses. At the booth in the Oddfellows' Hall Mr Mothes was present. A woman named Mrs Burridge came in to vote. Mr Mothes, addressing her, when she had her ballot papers in her hand, said: "That is the electoral box, and that is the licensing box, but that one (pointing to the licensing box) hasn't got a chance!" Mr Skerrett asked that Mrs Burridge should be recalled. She had stated that the returning officer did not speak to her. At this stage Mrs Burridge—the lady who previously gave evidence —appeared. Witness identified her as the person to whom Mr Mothes addressed the remark quoted above. Mr Skerrett then examined witness as to various interviews he had with the returning officer. —"Post." By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, January 15. Mrs Burridge, however, denied that Mr Mothes had spoken to her, though she heard him say "that had no chance." Other evidence was that a returning officer had left his book in charge of another person for a time, and that at the recounting of the votes a door had opened, and the papers were blown about the room in all directions. The inquiry is to be resumed tomorrow.