BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT

MR. BELL'S ATTITUDE WILL NOT UPSET POL] (By Telegraph.) j (Special to "The Evening Post.") i AUCKLAND, This Day. On being interviewed yesterday Mr. Allen Bell stated that he had not taken any stops whatever to upset the Bay of Islands election. Such a course was regarded' by him as unsportsmanlike, more especially as the unfortunate muddle had not been caused by his opponent, who, by the law, would be compelled to pay the costs, amounting probably to several hundreds of pounds. Speaking personally ho had no wish to represent the Bay of Islands on the vote of the returning officer, or as a result of a petition to upset the election, which he claimed could be done on at least a dozen grounds. Hejelt that his representation of -the electorate was not in any way reflected in the recent vote cast. In fact, when the news reached him that he had been elected by one vote he had immediately; written to the Prime Minister asking permission to resign the seat and bring on a by-election, which, stripped of the various side issues, would reflect tho opinion 'of his constituents. With regard to his personal work, as far as he was concerned, the: .whole matter was now left in the hands of his friends and supporters, whom he had informed that ho would not be a party either directly or indirectly to upsetting the election, but that lie had no objection whatever to an investigation of tho votes by two Supreme Court judges as provided by law. This would give his opponent, like himself, a fair sporting chance. If. under the unfortunate conditions that had arisen Mr. Bushworth was prepared to resign and again contest the seat he would be more than pleased.