THE WAIRAU SEA

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10532, 19 January 1912, Page 5

THE WAIRAU SEA

DETAILS OF THE PETITION. ALLEGED OORJRUFT PRACTICES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) I BLENTfc.x, Last Night. In accordance with the Act, the petitioners against Mr Richard McOallum's election for Wairau advertise the full tex/t of the grounds' of the petition in the "Express" tonight. 'Hie petition is a very lengthy one, comprising twenty-seven clauses. Summarised, the ground-s of the proceedings are ■ as. "follows: —Mr McCalJum is alleged,to have been guili ty of bribery by treating, using., unJ due influence, intimidation- ;of .ithe and, other corrupt and illegal practices, whereby l an. honest, pure; fair election, was.not holden ;' therefore it should: be deelai-ed'void. It is alleged that after a meeting of electors at Grovetown. Mr McOallum announced that his chairman of the committee would "shout" ; that they proceeded to a hotel, where Mr McCallum addressed the electors and supplied them with drink and enter- | tainment, paid for directly or by an agent. At Pieton, Havelock, Marlborouglh Town, Okaraimo, Seddoil and Miraa, Mr McOallum provided meai.r drink and intoxicating liquors to large numbers of electors-, for th'purpose of influencing their votes. At Grove- Road, Blenheim, there was a polling place at a grain store of Mr MoCal'lunvs brother, where large quantities of liquor were supplied.to Uhe electors, to. which. Mr McOallum was an accessory." Large quantities j of intoxicating liquor are alleged 'to ! have been supplied to the electors at j Seddon. It is also alleged that an agent of Mr McOallum there importuned the eilectors to vote for Mc- \ Call urn, and supplied them with liqj uor supplied by MeOalVm. A mem--1 her of McCallium's committee is aJIkged to have given electors at Mirn* !i"iify -,vith which to buy liquor. J Prior to tlte second' ballot, McOallum • : k raid to have made contracts for / the payment for the conveyance <." fii.M'iori- f< ;uid from the polling booth at the elections. The secretary of Mr MeCalhim'.s committee is alleged to have beeji -sot'.n to in.struct the drivers of such conveyancer: to convey file electors to the poll to vote for McOallum. Other grounds alleged in the petition are'that a prominent member of MoCailum's committc stood at the principal bootlh, accor-t ' inq: tIh 1 ."let-tors, and urging them to vote for McOallum, thus intimidating the electors'; that tne same thing occurred at another polling place; that McOallum was guilty of a corrupt practice at the first ballot, ijiar-nuich «s his total expenses exceeded £2OO, and at the second ballot the total expense exceeded £.">o; that McOallum promised, and that his chairman of coni.imite-es offered money to a paid '■.•inv:!>r f '-r tc procure votes, .and that ■the promised money was paid after - 111--' election. Onuses are also inserted, alleging that'bets were mad© by numbers "of McOallum'* committee and prominent f-.nportpr's, thereby influencing the votes of electors.