THE WAIRAU SEAT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14307, 19 March 1912, Page 10

THE WAIRAU SEAT.

PETITION' AGAINST THE UETUIN

OF MR J!. MeCALLUM. CHARGES OF BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION. (riIESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) BLENHEIM, March IS. The hearing of tho petition of William Carr, John o'Biillivan, and John Lankow against tho return of Richard McCallum as member of tho House of Representatives for tho "Wairau electorate commenced this morning before Sir Joshua Williams and Mr Justice Chapman. Mr Sinclair appeared for petitioners, and ilr Skerrett, K.C., with him Mr Mills, for tho respondent.

The petition consists of 27 clause 3 containing allegations of bribery, treating, and various other corrupt and illegal practices. Counsel for tho petitioners withdrew two allegations charging tho supporters of respondent with importuning electors for votes for Mr McCallum, as this did not amount to intimidation. They asked leave to introduce two fresh ones, tho first charging Mr McCallum with bribery at Soddou, and tho second with treating tho electors to refreshment in Blenheim. Decision on this noint was reserved.

Mr Skerrett argued that the clauses i.Ileging treating «t Grovetown and Seddou should be struck out, as particulars were not given as ordered by Joshua Williams in tho preliminary hearing.

The Court reserved its decision on Mr iSkerrett's objection.

The first charge taken was that on December Oth, 1911, at Grovitown, Mr MeCalluui provided drink to a largo number of electors at an hotel. Kvidenco was given that Mr McCallum, after addressing a political meeting, invited the'men present to have a drink, about fifty proceeding to tho hotel where they wore supplied, Mr McCallum being present.

Mr Skerrett, in his cross-examina-tion, sought to show that it was customary alter meetings and cntertuinincnts in the Grovetown Hall, for tlio inalo residents to go to the hotel for a drink before going home, witnesses admitting that this was so. This concluded the evidence concerning the Grovetown charge, with tho exception of that of ono witness, who was not present. Mr Sinclair then proceeded with tho charge that on the day of tho first ballot, largo quantities of liquor were supplied to electors at a grain store, in Grove road, Blenheim, by Mr McCallum, or his agents for tho purpose of inducing such electors to vote for Mr McCallum. The store is owned by McCullum Bros., and is in tho saino grounds as tho polling booth. John Hyndinnn. scrutineer for Mr Duncan, one of tho candidates, said that many electors who visited tho booth appeared to be under tho influenco of liquor. Witness went to tho door of tbe booth, and saw a crowd of men round about tho grain store, talking loudly, their voices bcihg heard in tho booth.*

Archibald McCallum, brother of respondent, in reply to -Mr Jskerrett, said that somo days previous to tho first ballot ho met Frank Dodson, aerated water manufacturer and brewer. Ho told Dodson that he could use his office and telephone in tho grain store in connection with tho licensing poll. Ho saw no drink or drinking on tho morning of tho first ballot. Iv tho afternoon he .saw somo liquor and empty bottles in tho office. He (witness) was not a party-to supplying or paying for tho liquor. He gavo no person drink on that day, and had nono thero himself. Ho deiiied that lie gavo anybody money to buy drink for electors, directly or at Merza or elsewhere.

Clauso ton of tho petition stated tii at between the- first and second ballots, A. McCallum gave certain electors at Mirza money to bny liquor, "in order to treat and bribe such electors bb vote for tho said Richard McCallum."

In answer to Mr Sinclair, witness denied that he was severely cross-ex-amined nt a No-license meeting about liquor being in his grain store. The No-lieenso League did not express disapproval of liquor having beon at his 6fnco._ Ho did not know who brought the liquor to the store. Dodson was at one meeting of Richard McCallum's committee. Dodson was at the grain storo practically all day. Frank Dodson, brewer, , - said i;e attended two of .Mr McCallum's committee meetings. He was not working for Mr McCallum's return. He took 3:0 l«eer to McCallum Bros. , grain store on the day of the first ballot. lie got soino* from an employee of the Maryborough brewery, opposite the tiourmill. and, in company with four others, drank it. Ho did not see a second supply brought over later in the day. Ho was not acting on !ioh:>lf of tho licensed victuallers wlwn ho secured tho bec-r. Xo women w<?r<» supplied with liquor.at the grain storo during tho day.

Tom J. Ball, an employee of tho Marlborough brewery, said'that after lunch on the day of the first ballot, Frank Dodson asked him to brinp over seme beer to A. MeCallum's office. A fellow-eniployco carried some beer over, and several people participated in It. To his knOAvledge no second supply of beer was obtained from the Marlbwongb brewery.

Edward Vincent Staco, who acted jus Doputy-Koturnhig Officer at tin . Grove road polling booth on the day of the first ballot, said he noticed about half a dozen electors under the iniluencc* of liquor at tho booth.

This concluded the evidence on tiio Grove road charge.

Kosina Junes, wife of tho licensee of the Grovetown Hotel, said about <ifty men had drink at the hotel on the , night of December 6th. Mr McCallum's meeting. Some weeks afterwards, Mr John Sutherland, who was chairman of Mr McCallum's committee, and chairman of tho meeting, paid Sos for drinks. Other candidates, after their meetings, paid for drinks for friends.

In regard to the charge of making contracts for payment on account of tho conveyance of electors to and from the poll on both polling days, for +he purpose of promoting Mr McCalluTn's election, William Humphreys, ««;r«ytary of tho McKenzie Carrying Company, produced his Iwoks, showing l!;o list of vehicles hired by Mr Macoy, general chairman of Mr McCaHum's committee on the days of the first, and second ballots, and the prior; paid, amounting to £30 lCs 6d. He * consulted tho then manager (Mr fcJogan) before sending out the account, ivhich Mr Macey returned on January ?3ih, with the words, "I know nothing of this." Mr R. McCallum objected to pay the account. Ho did not hear him tell Mr Hogan that the vehicles had been given free for the election days, and he would not pay. Tho Court adjourned at 5 p.m. r.iitil 10 a.m. to-morrow.