THE HUTT HOTELS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 406, 15 January 1909, Page 8

THE HUTT HOTELS.

"..INQUIRY"INTO THE POLL. ■ .■■ ■■ ■';'■: '■■ '.!,':' OVER 100 WITNESSES. ;■ ASQME JOINTED ALLEGATIONS.;; .' ■".The inquiry into iho' Hutt: local ; option poll commenced yesterday afternoon" before I Dr.,A. M'Artliur;. S;3T., air. W. G. Riddell, S.M.jand ;Mr.;W.' J.;James,.S.M., at the Oddfellows'!;? Hall,' Petone.'. i The. arrangement > made'': :'is *: >'that : all ; evidence will : .-v- be',; : taken ';'• '. at'.','. Petone, ~ but legal: : . argument* : will:-. ..bo , : heard Vat ...the Magistrate! s> 'tourt, ;;W. oilington.' : The petitioners,: 5 the;No-License- party; were represented by Messrs.- A. R.! Atkinson and H. .H^'Ostler,:and? the Trade, we're'- represented by" Mr. Ci P.. Skefrett; ■■Ei'bii-;and;Mr., Blair and : Mr.'. W. ! J. Cra-croft-;Wilson; v";;'■ .{: . y ■ :.'■ '';"■ • i . ■ ■ . ''■ . "• .';..::;:;; •■;Th"6 ;: petition alleges'ihat , various; irregiilaritiesVoccurred : in-the preparation\of the ■ rolls, ; in ' the conduct 'of the; poll, , and' during the-official c.ount/::and,;aiso:before and after tne : daii:of.the poll,;whicli not only.tended to' defeat'the fairnesV of the poll, but materially, affected: itsVresult.' ,;. ':■'■■?::.-.''.'. . :i V;' : Mr.::"Atkiiisoii ; :;said;.itliat.the' , petitioners asked;'that:either;;No-License.'be 'declared carried 'or;that'-the poll- be held' to ■ be, void. that:ii'■w'ould' be-shownvtliat -thero Was 1 ' official 'carelessness'.' , ■'"Dealing '.with 'the he'.referrejl.to/.SI , persons who 'were'alleged:;.fo;:: have ;■ voted'twice,-and. ■ said'-that the- charges -.would nbt;\be : proceeded.'- with: They ; reg'retted. having';'• to make the:'charges against :;respebtable vl citizen's. r v' The. omission of fa'scrutiny; of'the .'foils "had something .to. 'do'^th'-the.imatteri;atfd I ,'this..would;be re-; f erred : to .'later.'-' .They', would' proceed; in; the .cases'affecting , V'. H; Sanson, Sj'Armitage, J: •Arnold; < -B6dmin, r C.; Hall, G; House, J. E;' Jacksoni R.' G.\ MaitmjfM. Milligan, .'A-^Hf:"!Prin'^6;.'Ji !; Wflßbp^!S'. ; ;L'.;;Belclier, and ■AV;E. Hodgetts.' : 'He.'alleged\that these per-, son's had been ;p'ers6nateQ;: r Regarding':per-. , sonsy.who ■ hadtleft■' the ; .district;- five -cases, 'those -'of 'tfy'Mv s Cameron','" E." J. ;Nowlaii, .H. J^lchplßQnj'-'H^LCooley^.and' s !.' Harvey would beTprooeeded^witli^';' -:': /'■■ :■ : '-' : "- : -' ; -, '.'■:'■ The.nextirregularity would not be covered' /exactly^.■inrvotM; r He£referr'ed.to.the appointT ,merit ;6f! Kenneth David-W v ebb, canvasser. It' 'was:'aUegedr - 'that' ; iW^bb : .;]llegally-;ent«rcd : a 'polling bbpthV;an3.^ ptirpbfl^-.;to'.'.reproTe-'rthe''bfficer!;,' and■'■.•' to., 'cdunfemand'.his? order also , alleged 'that;!.'the /returning'.' officer,-! and deputies. ab-'Eolv4'd:-.tb.emselv.es .-wiffioijtf;-properly-, appoint-' ;inE%;SUOTessbr)ia : . ; ■'-;-.:'•'.. '■"■': .'. : /; ; of the;: ballot. at: several'booths'WM'also'-.hrought forward. .The" l question .of. : allo : n , uig'''-Ecrutin^er.B'. , 'io i ':ibe:.'preT; isent'at'the. recount .wasr'alsp-mentionedj and! 'exceptionVwas 'taken io.the; paid cjerts;being'employed;:- ; Seven':.deputy'?returning/officers-; ■ were-accused : of. ; ;being. negligence in ;retaimng;Vpossession..:;of, ,tnp;-;,ballot papers,-, :.when'they : , shbuld,-,hayp;been- .sent; to. , the; retufning; officer; .1; Instead/,'Webb , was sent'- . in , -- a';:"coyereii;,'cgnyeyance ;to,- get them." ; :- In" iMuritai:vpne,>mbre;.ballpt;jpaper:was polled '-than'the ; numbervof;-,electors>ho voted: ; One of ..the paperß,y<Mr.t Atkinson ..continued, was ilostiaud:neyer/ ; found : ,ttf;.this.-day. : .A.'.sea'rch, was institubed-,vapd, : as-a. gale was. blowing, a 'number; of; paperjr: were scattered.':' A "paper; .humbe'red''ll7os,'..was:vfbund-, under a'.taljle,' .but'the; other ;was;,not. -(;There was '-.ah; ajlega- ■ .Mod one; paper; was ■tampered, with,'- or after -having- toe'eir checked ;the: votes ; recorded' in'iCliad^been.:Wrongly read/-"ln , :the-:altered .countihg.-there'^was^^positive proof ; :of the'icarelessness,of;the:count,' 'and! 22: Np-Lic'erise votes' :were:'foun , d:'in; l a?bundle''of ; dod''Cohtimian6e; .vo%s.''.-:;lt':w'as'-'the returning officer, , it;wouldwho<;put. them'; there,:.' : He- sub-' mittta ihat'."the , 'tafelfessness displayed should .nb'i'"ailowia; poH" fo'b'e "valid while .the. margin; was'so smalUV'V;';-;:'';,-; '-y^'')!';:;r-i ! - Estreat Demonstrations' and' Frep-Uquor.^ •: • ; iAs ■■to' demonstrations,' on : polling 'day,- one, ,Upper :HuttjV hptelkeeper,:drovo ;a:i;inoter;.:c'arv,VithV;yoters,> and ; on-: : the' - car" ■^jas-displaiyed;-a. ilargeT- effigy; representing- a. iworkingmaii ■hblding'up fepbt'of beer,/with; ■the;lword,V'.'Liberty".' written in vlargo - : oharv acters'theteorijiim:',contravention' to -Sectjou i 35 of, the, : l/icenßihg' Aot,' 1908.. Alsbj' duriug ; .the'f-hourav.-of ;polhrig,- some : . pefsph';drbve a ■.conveyance i through:; the ■ -streets .''of -; Petone,;. 'Conta'imngi a 'large'.Equare: tankV-.on ; whioh; :was : .'displayed a'similar- ; effigy,' and.with"-the word J : ;'Bee'r".f iWritten. - ip.?, large characters. •thereon. 1 ;, KThomas';':Harley;- it 'was' alleged,'offered £s;for- ; a;vp%-and HI J/Palmerpro-:mise.d,.an:.order-;for.a i carriageif Coritiriuance :w.as":'. beer, -Palmer •'senfc.'.'l'intoxicatin'g:-' Hhe ,. State ■School,:;,-■:Petone , ,'::.'Which■•;: 'was.: , used :-..'is-a-.'.b'both, and:it,;Was; alleged-that h e - illegally! entered ,a;;booth : and;conveyed lviich wa,s •' consumed .'by. theVret'urning- officer ,and : ■Bomeipf,th.e; ; deputieß- ; and'some of. the' scru--tineers.:.fcr:'.thei; : Trado: ;; Free:beer;- he -said; influenced!thei poll at-Alcatarawa, as th'e'fig-ures.vshpwed.;"that>-niore,:,voted' Continuance: thari'-'atCthe' previous -election; l The Proving icial: Hotelj.TJpper 'Hutt, ;'waß'. open on: tW af-' .terhdqn^'ofvopolling l ;^^day, ; ;and,- a''■: considerable' 'quantityj-'.of : -drinking, took,, place there,; in.toxicating f.one;; inan. :•:-These" .allegations,. he-ijsubmitted,-should, - upset'.- the .-.poll or.-at any .rate :put ; the onus of proof on defendants to> ;show:that...the:poll;was.npt: affected.: ;Para 7 ! graph:4s,{.alleging,that ■• liquor was'taken.-tb' the.Epuni ibboth -and', free .drinks 'given ,to ; ielectors|:,waßvWitKdrawn.;;-;,.; .'■'«.:_.:":; ,--;-v/ :,. :': ■ Dual Vptlngw^',. .-:•"; ■; :/{ ■. -.Mr..Atkinson:.then' ( asked for a ; marked roll with , a-view! of proceeding --with-, alleged \ cases,of;impersonation; ■-,". . . '. :'-~ : \ .■.•• '-.'.The. ballot -papers : ; were;produced, > and Mr.: r'Atkinson: said...i;nat seeing the,.delicate,nature ■ of'.the: case-vnone but'-solicitors, ?clerk ; of the : Court,' , '.and.'.the.:Bench ..touch; the' papers. :•■:, i .'.'Dr.vM'Arthur.opncurred..;. - ■'. "•••'-■.'"" , - :■ ; r-The Returning'- Officer (Mr. ■R. • Mothes) iproduced V.his ..marked to 11» and - a pompilation: of all::theideputies'--'^0115.. : ...;He _was. doubtful,: he-said; bfj.ong.casepf doubles voting. '■; " : - : ~-.. • ■■■■.■/■■ -.'.■ i■"(. ; Vivian; Henry-:- Sanson,', of. Eastbourne, - ',irisuranoe! clerk, iWho. stated:that,He voted at Muritai' booth,;-'bjit'.nowhere/e18e,,.: .-.' . -. .By, Mr,: His-parents >voted also.: !H i e l? had':a'''cousmv,who:.might have voted.. ■■■■ ;■•■ riv Iti-pas"^alleged.'.that:.thei.witness:also :voted at liPwer,.Hutt.;>;■'.; v:'::- .•,-'-.';■■'■•";. ■■ ■■.:'!''','■',• "w :; .'.-, Mr;:Atkinson 1 then-; said;he-would inoye for a search of, theijpaperSjforia similar.number, ■■■to•'Sansb'ni-!79W!'ii"~.';.f'vrT.,-;;.V'!.'.--"' : :.-!'■''■"/■■: - :. !, -Cbmpanng . the'.' books, ;the, Chairman, Hi. ■•ll , Arthur, jemarked that. Sanson,, seemed ,t<f have voted twice, be a caseof per-;spna.tion-pr''-'a.mistake;,,-,.;.., :-'.. - . ; .. -■;.■;. .;"."MiV: iMp witness,voted at, Jluritai Sn'd..the number should show if there was another-vote, and disallow the one' nof'bearingi.'the'Muritai stamp.:- ' : ;. :-.'.•-.-■ . The. nest ■fitness. :called was Sarah' Armi-, tagej-'employed' at' theV-'AVoollen-. Mills, who. deposed ttia't'.- she, vqted' "at '< the ' Oddfellowe' Hall. PetoneV'lShe ,did not yete at any other booth. !'..' r -r '""'''.-':,. '-':;:.:,■;:■ .'i'-" ",'■".■■.:'■! '•'.Dγ: !M'Artfiur::'W.here'jelße. was- sho suppbsed.:tb'yote?': !'■ ■ :. , '!',,'!; : '' . V ,'-. ■•■MrV'Oitlor:-lower Htitt.; / -■ ;•'•■.' .;. ' -If.lwasv eriijained 'that, there had been, a mistake iii this case. -'•-:'. -.; ■ v . - , ■: ''John' Arnold,'' la.bbure'r, of ■■ Normandale, 'said he:voted- : at'the;Town,'Hall,,Lower Hutt, but nowhere/else. :' ; '.' , ',':'. "i, ": .. : _..,': Hβ wae' Alleged to have voted at Taita, but he was'not marked off 'dn-.tho TaitaToll. ,- Edith 1 Maud -Bodmin,;.a^ clerk, of -Lower but.nowhere .else.'..'■;■' ; ! .".'■.;'•"„■;;'.. ■ ' '_-.' ■', Hutt, stated that she'voted, at Lower Hutt, r.This case 'was. similar to .the above, except , that:-the witness , was'.alleged to havo voted , : at PetoheV '. :K ]\; : -";-'-"."'.,' '■;•"... ,'.-; ' . : : ;:, ■■; --.■George House,' , Gear' Company employee, voted at th'e'.Oddfellowß , Hall, Petone, only. , This witness ,was.' , alleged;to have voted .at; Lower Hutt. '.'■'■■■■'■ : "! '■.■'','■ ■-'.-.■' '■■ '■It; was:stated: that;a- namesake voted 'at , Petoneybut'he was not marked off. : .' ■ ■ 'Joseph Enoch Jackspn, settler.of Petone, yoted'at tho Oddfellows' -Hall, Petone, only. '> 'Witness was not. marked" off as'voting at Lower Hutt:.:."'' -..'■ ,: ."";':'"'";'' • : .: .■■•'■'■■■/' ■'Arthur -Henry Pnngle, farmer, of. Lower Hutt/ said he voted ■ at-, the -Town Hall, Hutt, 'Mr;'Atkinson 1 was unable , to say whero elso; supposed to_hayoji'oted. _J.— •

Amy Lois Belcher, of Nbrnian3ale,- said she voted at the Town Hall, Lower Hutt, only. ■"■-,• ■'• "•■'■ ■ ■.•.-■•.■.-;:. . ■Tlici .11/.n.t;.» 4.. tl.l ..T.« nlnn rnonrrlo/1

The allegation was that she also recoroea her vote at the Petone School; ~;!;.: Not,on the , Roll.; :'."'.;'' Daisy Elsie Collett, of Petone, wife of E. ■J. Collett, stated that before she was married her name was Walton, and'under the latter, name she"was on,'the roll.' Witness did not record her vote..- She .was .married on Juno 13, and she received notice from the Registrar of Electors of tho,change, and she signed and posted it. She only disccVored that she was not. on the roll when she went to_. vote. ■■...Mr.'.iAtkihsqn'-:. Have you.any objection to stating how you wished to. vote?.. . :■'■'■ ' .M'Arthur, objected, as it would establish a,.bad precedent. . : : ■ . : . .•■.-.■■- ' .Ernest James.Collett, blacksmith; and the husband of the previous witness, corroborated her' statement regarding thei.notice,,which was;posted about August or;September,;l9oß.:i ;■.'";.;; Jncident ina Booth., v Adrian:John'Mason, clerk, deputy return? ing : officer at the Petone School, stated that his ; brother,, Francis Augustus Mason, was ialso..acting; officially there for:the electoral roll; .'Kenneth :Webb was in attendance in' the, .booth;.-..1n the afternopn, a-number of people ■came in,: and his brother, asked no , more than six to come .in : at once.. Webb came, in and -said :he-.could not have'.the' . passage. blocked; : and/they .must'come. inside as there !,was. plenty -of room. -He thought Webb .received .one absent vote.'. .Witness had no instructions as .to -Webb being-in charge; but' he thought' he was there in that capacity. ,- ■•V.":.: : . -. ,■' ■ ': ',-' ':'■■ ; ..;:■' ■■■; ■ ; By- Mr. Skerrett: -His brother had ■nothing to! do with the licensing poll,"- and he only, handed' out: a paper if witness was absent. He', did not hear Webb' give instruc-: tip'hs'to , .'his.'brother.as , to hurrying the voters., - It might have : been .said ■■ without him hearing it.■;.:■ ; -..--■'.V '.V-.-. ■■■-. '■• y : -.'-' : ■: ,-, -'---.;■■ - '-'Mr.; Skerrett:. Why. did you-'go-outside.to .teirthes¥things?-, ! Whom , did you mention it to? :■;;:.>:;';-■■."."■■' ■'.:'■;■■ -■• ■■..'■ ■' >- ' ;, - -'"-' ;; :.' ;: . -" Witness:-: I , cannot ■to whom I spoke .first...■ I-' mentioned it to Mr."Ostler a few,weeks.ago..' ■ . ■■' '•■ -:■■'.'."■'■ ■.-::•■, '■■;:-'■■'■'■■/. '•:. Lawrence Herbert Arcus, poll clerk at the! .Petone School, stated that he had no idea what!Webb was doing in the b00th.;;.'.,. f By Mr'. SKerrett.: ,'ffive voters -were':ra" the compartment, ,ahd .four were .coming in when the incident ;. r v':' , ,-' ■; >:. ; 'fCl■; iyßetalning^Ballot:Papers, i{■■:■■ - ■ 'Leonard-i^Kitchen,''postmaster, vTrenthamV and: a Deputy -Returning Officer,-was called ; inv:regard : to' retaining ■ ppssessipn -of the ballot; papers -through the night;. The, poll xcncluded at 7.5 p.m.. The papers -were seal--ed,-''and -ho-kept them at .his;.house until ; the; next .morning.;. Before the election the : boxes were left at his house.. In:.the : morning, ; about-half-past 1 seven;-he handed".them over to,the man} who.brought them. , was! .■given"no;receipt for:the boxes.'"The",papers were sealed up-inside; the -boxes were locked, and/the'ikey put inside the box on , :a; string. Paper;was 'summed over.the bpx',. arid their names affixed.. The papers wer'e'nbt returned, as" he was told by,the Returning Officer that; 'a.inan'.would caU-for , them in. the morning.. There: were, trains leaving for. Petone. after the '.poll i closed. 1 ;'■'•. :' .:, . : : -, ■:■■:',;;,■.■:," ." Schreiber..Maxell, ! farmer,''of! Akatarawa,.. Deputy Returning Offiber, 'deposed that ;th.e' ballot boxes were, left ,in ahouse all ;night,, ' and they:were taken■'. away in the, morning. ':. "Philip 'David Davis*, , settler; of .Upper Hutt,' Deputy Returning . Officer, stated', that .'the .ballot;papers iyere properly : sealed .andjleft. in-th'e .the-', keys- feing ;in.'.the ■.pqssossibn !of. a constable. '.Iri-:: the the boxes, were'.handed .to:the man , Vhp'had 'received them in previous elections.: .r-'. : i;v .-":■'"!: On Another Roll. : : '; V-;;;. : :: ; r , ' -Maud Allender- said' that she '.was'.preyl'ouslyionthe Parnell-roll,, and she applied'-fpr. .transfer to ;Mr. Mothes. Witness signed a :fprm, .and the; Registrar; explained that:-.sho; .'would have ; to be. taken .off the '.'Parnell '■ roll (first;;, ;.Sho then .said that , ', it did not imatterj' iand. she-:Wo'uld not bother; any-'furthor".' , -The' interview occurred on Saturday; .Ootober ■ 21, and; she ..lett; on'■ the ■ follpwirig/Mohday..': ;. v 11.' This was : an allegation 'that)" the Registrar .wrongfully, excluded, hor , : from-'the roll.-"'; ■; \ '■.The.-inquiry'was adjourned at ;5',p.m.-'-,until-idAS; this, morning; .-..•:.< •' : ';f'v.!•'■.' ■•■' ..■'.'•-■:. ■'■-.-'■'(- >-', :':' It.,is expected that .considerably vover,; 100 -witnesses.-will have to be/cxamined,' and ;.the: 'caso. should last sbnie.days."/- ■,.....: ~- /-...;,