ELECTION PETITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 58, 9 March 1923, Page 7

ELECTION PETITION.

WESTERN MAORI SEAT. CORRUPT PRACTICE ALLEGED. <Bj Telegraph.—Press Aesorfatjon.i TACRANCJA, this day. The hearing of the petition lodged against the return of Sir Maui Pomare is continuing. Paero. a native woman, said that when she went to vote at Tutakina she was asked by a Maori. Hupa. to vote for Tuwhuknri. one of the candidates, but «he replied that she intended to vote fir Ratnna. Another voter. Kalmriki Eruera. stated that she was asked liV Hnpa why she was not voting for Sir Moui PoTnare. Hush Smith, an employee of the Stnr Hotel, who was on dntv on the day of the election stated tlmt he did not see «ny natives served that dny. If a native n»med Tauwhiti Ntratai swore ♦ hat he had liquor in the hotel on polling day he was swearing falsely. Constable A. Skinner, stated that on +lie day of the Maori election* lie was in Tnurnnea and was occasionally in and out of the hotels. He was in and out nf the Stnr Hotel thnt duv. and saw a "stive named Roto workinsr in the bar. He was not drinking. He did not see nnvthiner to indicate that liquor was sunnlied to native* nt the Stnr Hotel. i Mita Kongo Taneinwa. stated that he sent a telecram to Sir Maui Pomare on behnlf of the Maoris who hid been put off the railway works. Witness received a toletrram from Sir Maui Pomnre, who intimated he wss interesting himself in the matter. Witness was at the meeting on November 19 at MitaPhi to which Sir Mmii Pomare was called.- He met Sir Maui Pomare in Tauransra before the meeting, and he ■"•id the boys would be reinstnted. At the meeting at Matapihi Sir Maui Pomare said the men would be re-em-Pl6yed. He did not hear Sir Maui Pomare make anything in the nature of a threat to the effect that people who voted against him would be punished. Mr. Myers applied to have clause 4 in reeard to supplying a bottle of beer to Teirikia, and clause 6 regarding treating at the Star Hotel, struck out but Hie Court ruled that as counsel for the petitioner had not intimated that the evidence on these charges had been exhausted, they could not be struck out at the present stage, at any rate.

TO-DAY'S EVIDENCE.

REFUTATION OF ALLEGATIONS.

(By Telegraph.— Preßß Association.)

TAURAXGA, this day. Further evidence was given this morning- ■rjH-urdinQr the meeting at Matapihi, at which Dr. Pomare was said to have threatened to punish natives who did not vote for him. The evidence was a denial that any such threat wae made. The greater portion of the morning was taken up with evidence refuting'the allegation that natives were treated to drink at Muir'e mine during Dr. Maui Pomare's meeting there. Geo. Muir, managing director of Muir'e Goldmining Company, denied that any whisky was served to natives either in the house or outside, and said any statement to the contrary wae an absolute falsehood. Mr. Xol>le, mine manager, also testified that no drink whatever was consumed, and he must have seen any if it was served. Several other witnesses were also examined as to the alleged occurrence, and asserted nothing of the kind took place.

Mr. Skerrett (for petitioner) said two srirls who were alleeed to have served liquor had not been able to be seen since the occurrence, and the Bench decided to summon them to attend court. Subpoenaa were thereupon issued and a, motor-car despatched to Muir's house at the mine, where- they are employed, to bring them to court.