LOCAL OPTION POLL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3098, 22 January 1909, Page 3

LOCAL OPTION POLL.

THE HUTT ENQUIRY. The enquiry into the conduct oil the Hutt Local Option poll was resumed yesterday at the Oddfellows' Hall, Petone. Mr Blair, solicitor, gave further evidence. In answer to questions by Mr Skerrett, witness said lie remembered a pap?r wi!h the words '"1 vote" struck out in one line. The paper was taken from a sealed bundle and the seal was intact. If it wsra altered, as suggested, the alteration must have been made bc-foro the paper reached the Oddfellows' Hall, vvhexe the official count took place.

To Mr Atkinson: He was instructed by Messrs Skerrett and Wylie to act at the recount. His instructions were to look atfer the interests of the Continuance party. Excepting two short intervals —not more than fifteen minutes altogether —he was piesent during the whole of the count. At the count Webb worked th2 numbering machine, and Bryce took the papers from him. Continuing under cross-examination by Mr Atkinson, witness said he had had no experience previously of a numbering machine. He was not in a position to say no strong drink was in the room (on the stage) dur- 1 ng the count, but he did noc se3 any. He was representing the Trade, and if there had been any liquor no doubt he would have been asked to have some. The possibility of two j careful people making a mistake of 22 in a count would be very remote, he thought. It might be an error in placing. James H. Woolley, clerk in the employ of the Petone Borough Council, said he acted as deputy returning officer for the Parliamentary election at the Oddfellows' Hall, Petone. He was in a position to hear any conversation that took place. He remembered Mr Burridge coming in to vote, but did not hear the returning officer making the remark: "This box has no chance."

Patrick Casey, who said he was interested in hotel property at the Hutt, but was not a hofcelkeeper now, stated that there was a small barrel of beer in a room in the Town Hall, Lower Hutt, for the committee, and, those who were working for the Trade. On one occasion Mr Hodgkins gave him the key of the room in order that he might get a roll for a man who was in charge of a trap for taking workers to the booths. Charles H. Williams, licensee of the Provincial Hotel, Upper Hutt, denied that the bar of hia house was opened between noon and 7 p m. on election day. He had served no liquor. The stables near his hotel were leased by William Edwards, and have been in his possession for eighteen months. Witness had nothing to do with them on the day of the poll. Richard Mothes, Returning Officer for the Hutt Electoral District, said application was made to him to appoint scrutineers at the official count. Mr Mansfield, the Chief Electoral Officer, informed him over the telephone that there was no such power. Witness afterwards informed Mr Piper and Mr M'Ewan to this effect. On the same day Skerrett and Wylie applied to have scrutineers appointed for the other side. Ha gave them the same reply as he did Messrs Piper and M'Ewan, and agqin got into communication with Mr Mansfje;rl. Witness read a telegtam from Mr Mansfield which stated:—

"Continuing our conversations by telephone, there is no provision in the Licensing Act for the appointment of scrutineers at the Local Option poll count. ... In the interests of the parties, however, you could appoint as your assistants, under section 2of section 140 of the Act, two persons who would act as representatives for each side, and notify both sides to nominate two such persons." The result wan that the Rev. Mr Williams and Mr Blair were appointed.- Witness had no interest whatever in the poll. It did not matter to him whether No-License was carried or no\ The man Cowie (an alleged partisan of the Trade) had been a total abstainer for five years. There were twenty-four deputies for the licensing poll, and, as far as he knew, sixteen of them were total abstainers.

Mr Skerrett: Is there a tittle of truth in the allegation that you appointed partisans of the Trade. Witness: hone. He appointed conscientious men to act at the scrutiny. During his absence for lunch his chief clerk, Mr Cowie, was in charge. , He had not the slightest suspicion that any paper had been tampered with. Witness emphatically denied that there was a drop of liquor in the hall during the count. The cha.-ge that he had allowed liquor to be brought in was one of the grossest misstatements that could have been made. It was a mistake to say that one ballot paper had been lost. .The error of placing 22 papers for NoLicense in a bundle of Continuance votes must surely have been made accidentally. The Rev. Mr Williams took what notes he pleased during the scrutiny, and saw the bundles sealed. He had no recollection of making the remark attributed to him in the Petone booth when Mrs Burridge came in to vote. To Mr Atkinson : As far as his memory served him, the trouble over the scrutineers was the first difficulty he had with the No-License party. Witness had no trouble with the other side. Eighteen years ago he held a publican's license, but since then he had no interests in hotels. —"Post."