THE JUDICIAL INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 49, 27 February 1923, Page 3

THE JUDICIAL INQUIRY.

EDEN ELECTORAL PETITION. (.Continued from page o.i '„ PROMISE OF FRUIT DENIED. Wm. Percival Levy, land agent and seed grower, Glen Eden, detailed the matters leading up to the appointment of the political committee and produced the minutes of the meeting of November :?. The election committee met on November 15. when sub-committees made reports. Two or three ladies were present, and there was a suggestion of a turmal entertainment —a ladies' after•noon. At a prior gathering on November S> ? the ladies' meeting had been mooted—a ladies' political afternoon or meeting, to be addressed by Mr. Parr. At the meeting of November 15, after the business, there was a discussion as to whether there should bo a s-icial. Witness had already explained Mr. Parr's letter regarding the non-incurring of expenses, and it was pointed out clearly that the ladies' afternoon raust be quite separate from the* committee. Mr. Justice Hosking: That was prefaced by the explanation that you could not spend any money?— Yes. It was arranged, said witness, that the ladies should take over the meeting on their own account. The ladies were to communicate with other ladies in the district, anil witness was asked to write to two at Oratia. which he did. and also to one or two others who were mentioned. At the ladie*' general meeting: ne anil Mr. Shepherd went solely to give the thing a start. Mr. Justice Hosking: To give it a public meeting form? Witness denied that Mr. Shepherd told the meeting he would arrange for ! strawberries if the ladies furnished the tea. Nothing of the sort was mentioned. THE REQUEST FOR STRAWBERRIES. Later witness met Mrs. Riotley. who said he was the handiest mun in the district: that.they wanted some straw- ! berries, and would he order 2A or :s I crates of strawberries, as he was the most likely to see the growers. He undertook to do this, also to get his typiste to type l">0 invitations. Next day he remarked to Mr. Shepherd that he was very busy, and as the ladies' committee had ordered 150 postcards at lid each, he thought the price of a few invitation cards would not be much more. The inquiry was still proceeding when the "Star"' went to press, but was expected to conclude late this afternoon.