THE HUTT HOTELS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 409, 19 January 1909, Page 7

THE HUTT HOTELS.

DEFENCE AND ATTACK

MR. SKEEREM? AND MR. ATKINSON IN GRIPS. /

INQUIRY FURTHER ADJOURNED. Tho luquirj into the Hutt local option poll was resumed at Petono jcsteidr.j morning

The petitioneis were r,cprcsentod by flh A E. Atkinson and, Mi, H H. Ostler, and Mi ', C. P. Skeirett, K.C., Mr. A. W. Man, and Jlr. W. J. Cracioft Wilson appealed for tho Tiado. Jlr. Atkuison asked permission to add to clause 27, dealing with alleged cases of porseiu who had lost their qualification by abBenco from the district, 877 John Cashman, , and 3icG Hairy M'Gill. He submitted that

;&Vrespondent's. : -Ead;'aihpleVtiihe.!t6irepiy:

\"pl: iddedjaa'hotice'j had.inot been \\ giypn,/'ahd he , v.V.i.qu'oted'aVpreyious'',decisionan'his'favour.:-:.,.

: 'v|t rf,The/objeelipir>vas'upheld^.;W;/;-- : -v'?v^-'';//' : ;: /;///.."; The;evidence'lield'dyerirdm Saturday : was• :v/^"iiextHakeri^-\;C;' : ij-;5-i :; 'y 7 ';V'-"' "; > ;- : ->> :.:■■ v-/.;- ;■■-. : : <s; iSteirartjai^nzies^pqstma'stor; '■' at;;X Silver-; '•;. ■.:■} sti^am; :i - : ile-:X;;-posed-tliati'Mrs;' 'who'lived -at". '■!.::■. -'".-•.; ")-Cv.vV.^r;;Atkms'bn'"motioned I 'that the'rli .were' w';-:. ;^V : -;;■■•...■' lived!' iornier]y c .<at '.f. n XlppeKHutt^anid;was witlong^inarfipd;-:-;■;'.■;;,.. ; ; ; tfyl ißy Mr^Skerrettfelhe'; lady.wh(s-voted;wos; ;.-. : >the one'who lived:at the;'-working" cotthgo,J ';^j*jflr.',Atkinsoii : ; ; theii; stated ; .;that hp>would ijjvehow'tliaiptho!ease : .of^Ganierpu;Avis ; outsideiJ:J.the^HUttTeWctoral- district/'v>:i' ; ■•■" •:^-^' ; - J^fi.;-:MrJ;Skerrett : admitted ! this;.v[>;; :'■>:;:■

■:,: his-tipening..address', : .Mr. : Skor-i '•'-'■/, rett penalty was r;prb-i '"• /uvided j!fori;rioH-pi'byisi6h;: : et ? :; inner; V-; : .j-iin§nts.'at,'pollingVpopths. ,\Ho stibmifcted that !*;i;he iV ,-:.liad ; hpthiug ; ftb;.ahswer•.-regaxding clause' ;C/;21 r ,:dealing:.T\'iththe admissipii of, se'rutiuoers,: ?-.'(:'Mr'.i: Mp'thesi-ref used 'Vtq ■_ allow .'..themV tb ;'ehte'r. "^tlie';;:bootliiasjscr'utineer;s;^acfcing';'under%;in--5j 'S ; scrntiheers..,:Small :n-. :|.;; regularities cduld:not:.be'.aHbwe(i.!to-.'invalidate. , : ; ':;.r,a; ; poH.|v' i To'-aycMrefe"4JaV.il^''re^urn'iug ;: offi(i!jr: ;;;i. of.'theTliceiisee'lqf vthe'EmpirevHotel,''Petbiip,: ■': 7.-M.r.";Skerrfctt-.said"that-iio dyiaeheeiiad been .: v whichv >■ wdt, :.% ina^e: itf^very■'bad':taste; iiS rbfusa,!; i/^'itp;^.allpw , :,- prominent-'No-LicehseY;advoc'ates -to: r6ferrfed : :tp itho-;'Hegis-■>'-,;:trar of -Elcdtors) not:the returning officer,'arid: £■[ it;: was^a';mere;Aiiccide;ritVtihat'Hho; two 'I/offices:' " .::rolUwas'.'.in.icourseobf' -.:;; : it:'wasVnot,-acWally •tf'rd ;. :f/Beemed:.. : tb : }haye' x a:cti;d;with..;'a ; 'great deal:' of: :'i vjcoTirtesy • to; inquirers/; v Clausev24 ■ -;a? ';■ ;:>umber;pj;sub-paragraph??relatiiig':tb: the; of-' - ; < ficifil: bf sido ;the" ; iiiarkl" ;•''-.: ;; - '.J:: W

: n [Mr:. .Ostler:' There:ivas' a';lostj)aper::--'-i, :: ' •' ■; r ;I;wili: ; deal,with'that/ r Thtrb yVpiV'f Traro.vl99B ■ c,r wisiing^ph^';vni'iglit~:be : ;!;by: :jy. ''.v: negligent ■prcssuro-.Pn:the/stainping'maqbino:' ..;-';;'?:■ As'yegirded::yth*. ! ; firsts sub-clause,~ v which ;;?/:Vjalleged;' thst ;the;:Returriing ;Officer■■ illegally. 2J-. v,:^negleeted;te and -that,-the: ;;'.. '.what', dual;!ybtirig:- ; hadvoccurred); no -by'i-1 ;forwiivdr.vThe're:had/ ::-'/:.;-;-beei)j'aJs'crutiny.'^v£;.3 -iir'-i-''j-p: \.i :?'• ',■'■■':'/»" ; i/. :'. % ■£j fflrnAtkinsoiif ?At, tKe ; iiceiis)ng'■ poll ?;'iv v: /; ;:"H : A^rMr^kerre'ttf:,:Yes.J;(;lf,tKp"cbunt;tpok place. r'- : ?v^Jn?.'a;halL.^ ■ .^was'ilittered 1 -: with .;;\v ;> ;that-an: : j ;■ '.; larity i>S:T ; here ; ,was :'fio: : e'yMehce! "that; JiqVtcr- ■/ -J (■ v ;: was; drunk) 'engaged"; itiVthe; cbuiit k 'i-.ro '■■ .-' A:refer'enoe 'onlyjwas: ihade--■: ■ :■'"' : ' i '--- ■-'''. '<■ <'■'■ ~'i % : ;", ; :i' : .; i MnjA^inson:>The'y;-saidi- : that':it'/was':Jike; ■iiJ-C;;-.spirits;:;;-^:,^vfefe-p'S' '0 "'■'■'' V-'■■?&- '•?•'/■'■ ''^ ;v 'i vv/' :;:;-It; ;^''^::,the:;epun^prpqeed*d: ; :■;:;;:';: i th ej-: Oβ cer;; : .ahd ..that during; this : distritiitied.ttiafc tricro' "tfl " : y?S;i?QMihgvte:pr«yVnV',the withili; It' ; jvas;,floji| admitted-; j fey:'.- proceeded interval: , ).' No , as' '.;'j: :■ '-.;;-, : ;it%puld'hayo :W.be.shown;thati;the paper .was'- ■■■•:.•: jiffetolen;'" , ';;.; ; ;:made' ythe-. mistake.;.S Thbre'- , .was.-.nq' , ,evidence: .v>.-■ : tq.;suppprt:{a. 4 chiirge'..thaji for ;ffo; i.-i?.;vr.ljicense. ; wasy.'tampered:^:.with' J during, the. , ; fei' ; :j;V.'vcorat-.by'somo ; '.parso:iv drawing::a;,pencil Jnie' v:-.':. : ;?,T:mal;:-^^-He.":did:'. : y' '. ::V'-;-(b'f; !'l:;.yote") : pf the.thirdline/ywitness'Morganr !•::.; i ( ;- - :;,!-; mere'.;fecotlection.j yjiif charging. any-porEonji .;:[;. ; v;4p: : s>.: i y.^tHe.' ; ippssibilities.''pf-'mistaW-'^ere , .Vsb\'great.'' y;';: ; :^Th>:alteration'^:2i:ybtes at.tlie^rccbunt'waß , j-;;:::Vaiscpvered;'at; thp^Magisterial i-lcbiint.; v; : -Ibe ■" : .,; .allegation-was'-inade'i.v; •■•:.V-:. ,; whioh ; 'seem6dira/-cl(aTacteristic;.of thismany.': Ostler: , Which,party:?ft''.^;Ki- , ko : %'.■•- / ■■-.'{ ->'i :Mr. ; C:Skerrett:!iWill:.my.,.'frien4uceasn'frpni' ? >.'i It-is ;tliey - ':::;-wi're'.wilfully and x 'delibefatcly.-;ipclmleil■')li.'-H.hd'. }':[[ .' ; : .;Cp'titimiaiic'b>buniik!j : cirqutest.ahc'esj y ;>:-V.>negat{ro.\^ ;^: : V;■ > : '':ballotf paper;'thero was ; proyision for sup; -S4:Vpl^irigr:fre%ones;for;isp'oiled : :papers:'.vThere: : ;V: ■ ::was*anXaUegatiqn tha;t;six:moro;ballbt,papere ;inv .thef/licensinß-ihan.'ln.,■tho' :^:^:^:;eleptoral^bp::)^^'eVK3ence;Jlad.heeh : :pu\for-: : of; it/'..-. Neither : F f;>-:-i'.evideiic&to r sup'pbrtra'statement ithat" a; deputy ?v ■'.■:■ diEcoveredyan' : .:>mused : ?,* u : ;inner iCOnipartrneiit of Jthejbooth'Jahd'illegally' ;.;: -folded;the .papQr.rahd-placed. it'in. the t ball6t-,<;nearw-the V'r ; ;jnany;.tMnp^': ; were;illegdl .aii'i.ele'ctpral? >;:,-.;.ppllsj;ibuliinots;at-licensing: prios.'f ::He''s;ub-:, ':.-:■■ '■■ EmittedP.thaifcthesei •/allegation's: were;'- entirely'- ; Jly;' outside .the' jurisdiction of . : the: VCburt, - and.. t,y;, waa ihsuffici'ent , .'"." ; Ro- i . i be.; il partisan •_;■;'_:'.'. of/th'b/: , pyide)ice. v tb;sh6vv^thai;V , Mr.:.Palnior : g'";;:;topk'intoxicating liquprtoitha'Petbne Schooh V.yv;:bqpthi:^ ■:■(:';:£ scrutmeerihaviiig';teasaud liquor, arid the;law- '■; .•■rvhad...u'ot;,afrived.: at-aostage to v;/.-: .'»■'barrel:of',beer,at;the .'£p\vn TIM, v-;;, / ;'^.:Loijw;;fflttiVthbre : :-:; : : v ;>r.was:.coniiected:.with thc'Trade; br.that itwa's" Vgivon;to.; eteotbrs. ■)Ijtinight- very; well-liave'j .-'•:■_Vy.;'been. : .i»fo'Vided'(^qi i ; license .workers,! although. '•■{■;>,! thero^was^no' evidence': of : .'t|iat.''-.'ln'trie allo-r !.:.:'','.:gatipri:;that..;Alfred. So.utliey''.drove'a 'cbnve'y-■,-,;:.:.ancb;containing liquor:at Akataraffa; , there ■ ; v.;'. ; wasvnothing, to;connect- Southee .-;• ;:tlio y-■:■:. aheii; , ;as;.-to tho/Provincial HPtel," A V;Uppe^.Huttir;bemg.^eh-'during,;tlio after- ;;.;;;-: ■ cfosed, -and 'people?had : -j ■'■ Xtheirvdinners' there.:As-to liquorbeing placed H: n; in; a.staUlertearibehotcVit, vivas : not shown; :;,;'-;.tlint,the stables with the hotel '•'■- ';;%O'pE;N!Arthur_ said that he-understood thatf- : Y'-l; tlievstables : were. not so connected. , . . ■ ■:/'■''■ ;-:;VMr;-'Skci;rett;'submitted;:tnat there"-^was • i"; Vno .eyidence sufiiMent -to put tp a jury" id sup- ; : :<' : ';'Mrt ; .;.•"■.'tieredv £s .witness: Kibble-: ■•;■■■'■:■\rhife' i ..'assumedjthat; .the man:spoken to was '; .■;:an' ; electpri-:'a'nd there nothing ;tb .show ..; .that.:the mari/heard- what was said.:' There-' ■'■: -;foro,\-there'was ,to say about that'.' ■;>.. --The. left. open, '..:-; those ''not'^qiialin.ed'.'to'i.'yote. , .' '-/Hej.-j-eferred--to :>. :v p the : qiic_stiori,:dete™inetl'at'.Mastci-ton; : whicli' :.i:.';, ;he; ; desired \tp. tpstj'.tlinti a , . Coiirt could .go '.;•, -;;behind?the'; rbll. if;it wa?; fbiind.-'that-'a,'voter -■■■[}. did not^^' possessVtliG'iiccGssary.qHalifieatiohs.': V;' ■;•■ It :■ seemed : .to • him-that the, Licenaing Act ;did ..;;■'■ not provide. for'this. . If ; n \ - laritics;had; been,'established;- it.;would /be. ... ..'".wrong'\tb'.. : holdi.thc'.-.-^^scrutiny;.pf■yptes.-unless * i ■:' "over :four; were affected. , .If' there, was to ho

a : vscrutiny;-.ho/.AVdtijdvTcffir:'• to '.'illrterato' , "votes ■' ivliichi'wpro disallowed) as the , - deputy attached.rhis'j>»itjalsi; : iristaidof Ho that;.Kβ.} would ho entitled to

V -.raiso 'such. d. question..7r:Both Mr, Ostler and I v, 1 Mr.i'Blair",'who,.'wero presentat the Magis- ■',•,"■;•: terirtl.recouiit,/agrced that they .should; not :•'-.: //be, allowed, : and Dr. , M'Ar.thur.followed-that 1 •.: ■ '.'■ course'without, expressing: any. opinion , , ':'■■. . ■•:.', i'] V v*/ :■' Mr. Atkinson In Reply./ fV; ;- '•.■■'■-: ■:- ; 'riri , |'"Atlo.t^n7-itVrrcplyyi , roninriJed , :tliat~Mr.' : Vv':Skpr,rctt.; Seaidr.tliat proved :■"■■■■■;.'■ iwejrq;,?{,;• qv'trivi?.!' and'-'tlierefore',;h?(!ligcablc -'./>:cbar4cter,\i3e ; beiiig-about : .the rubbish Jμ.the' ■■' - X/: -- : - : -' : :f''j 0 \ -. >^ : -< ; ;' rr> ' :/ ■ ':; '■■':. f ; .'•,- :■'•:'...:,'

halh-v; By,, itself it?'might : be.;a Emajl. nyitfcer, but' it. should_ be. read with other clauses. The fallacy'of his friend's -.'contention -was that the'irregularities might/not. affect a poll ;With;a'^ largo majority,: but in this case the. margin was "so slender. The weight to bo attached to.'.all these irrogularities lative. v:lii'Mrs. ;A]lender's case (an. applicafor transfer), tho Registrar had. made a mistake in .telling lier '.that'-a. i>reliniina!ry application; to -Parnell;was • required. The Registrar should facilitate -a, voter's .attempt to. get 'on the:rpll. -: It .was a fallacy. to '. say that life;had'tc- prove crime-to,succeed;, Mr." Skorratt.had said, that.the case -should, come

: under: Section' ,80, making it necessary for .the ■action; tp :bo 'knowing and wilful before, there, was.-air irregularity, but.' ho; (Mr.' At.kiristm) was. of opinion it should;come under Section. GO. which provided that, the! Registrar should-makp.tlib roll as..complete, asvpossible; Quite iniiocently;Afr..Mot]ies gave, wrong.adthe question, was; whether-the spirit of "the -Act 'had been. carried; \ out, and. he Bubmittedj that 'there. ;liad ■ beeii"&. loss to■-'.;'the, voter.-arid, , ';-therefore, ah.irre'gulsrity.; J- Regarding the.' case of !'-Mrs. '•■• Collett; there;was nothing in Sectioiy So'. E of'the; Liceiisilig Act ; to hrhit. the. jurisdiction of.'the to. ;inquire. into ith'ese/offences;.? The general, .of irregutarity. was plain,' ■and'it.,could;n6t--boilimited as his.friend suggested; '/"Departure from ordinary'method". ;was;tho definition.;-;TTlie.Local'Elections Act ; provided,, for; voicing/a-poll : where :!irregulari'ties;occurredi';,and.there was:special provision! fpr/p.umshment:.for:>rilfu]; irregularities.-This-'provided, thp key to 1 the, view.that.was",to bo taken.'of;-.an irrefiularitr. ; .It/was'-misadven-;. ttire' andjnot:intention -that;. caused -many ■■, •3{./ L 'the:;:;.irregularities,;: :and.'/:,lie/;,:sub'mittod,' that -they shonM /be v dealt with 'by the.Cpurt.., Hβ cousidered that:if his' : friend's Upheld,:the;nidst-ftidicalide-" '; feet ".'/would -liaturally' have to ? be'" overlooked ■ if/the;; offence/;was : not :Th6:/Cpurt could'neyer. .put "siich .y-.moiistrpus,:,idiotic,:! and .construction.: .upon- the; work; of the Legislature, as would result;in'limiting the" section in' the. manner- proposed. As -to ■ to 'go-behind' i »p ■roll,-:Mr:-vAtkiiisonvsaid■'. that' if at-meant? : that,the; Court had nopdwer'to'go'intoniatters:,:preliminary ,to' the: election,': this' was contraryj-.to'; the ! Act.';.: Various : off ences-rp-.la.ted: to ercnis;.taking placoprelimiiiary. to the;preparation of-tho roll./.lf-a person got' lllegally ;on the- roll, it was ■within'tho puryiew.:. of; the Cdurt.:, Section'. 35 E,of the ■ Act ■ was;-mde enough .to- include; inquiry .before 7 ithe-preparation.of .tho-roll.. :' v'./.-v. ; ../;■■.•;< r-: The -custody;of. tlie'ballot' boxes; continued' «£ri:':Atkirisoh( 'was. an important point,- "Tlio contention; that tho, usualiprocedurevhadbcon followed was an admission that :tho' provision's of /tho : %mending: Act; -had ■:' not /been ■•' acted;' upon, iln.conrieotion-with tho-'N6wtown';:in-' :quiry:;six years pld ; of J the-principal points-.was Brooklyn.ibal/o^;-• boxes we're: not-forwarded to tho Tefcuriiing/^officervuhtilj^lCTen:.o'clock/nest; day"|lt; W(is;ph that account : that a change ;was" ltlade'ih; the law.,: ~ X '^'''K'.'.' ';';■■ '■'-■'■ ;,: . :...'■

i /Alter. theUto^^ r !dn'son,: referred': to. the, difference- between' the r.cw,. and.' old .Acts,;.'and: betweens."with'" all .possible ; dispatch" ■•'' and '/'immediately,." : as relating; to.the delivery ofthe 'parcels , . to ; . the Returning:-Officer,:,.Ho "contended;thatVthc

forme'rv.was.mdrG. emphatic. >:;A.plaihor: ihdioation/of; thp. intention' oh tlio part pfHne :Lpgislatiiro that, : the .boxes. shoulcl : liavp ; 'beeri returned as., soon -as'sealed''c.buldvnpt have ncen-'/giveh. .■"■■' There.: were -fifteen - 'polling;boothsv:and no;loss than seven-:had failed 'toreturn:(them • the;ssameV evening/ /.; Some '■ of themi-could.have been-' forwarded -by 'train •'■■■' And .'let'the; Returning Of/iecr.,'walkr back?,: -;' ! -:- .S-vS-V: ■■.l-it:- : . 1 .- ■-.-■

Atkinson:' Ho should b;e ? ariy ; ex- ; penses. incurred.; ■'.Section;is6i/sub-section 6, ■made; ".thodeputy "respoMihlo^pr '• custody ,bf ballot Vbbxes^untilxhe"had' received a.'rcceipt.in.WTiting'-:for;them.:' l Iriitead'^of- Ithis,;*_-.the; btaes;;,; ; we're ; .handed, vi'tpi ■'!\y6bb l ; ; ih\theV;cpTerbd\'c'oh7eyanc^';.-a : person pstcnsibly.Vithout "aiiy. right l tb"receiye.them. ;■:•;■;'.-Wheh.. dealing- with 'the' provision ,of- : inner ;cpmpartme'nte;; ; Mr.v'Atk'inson said :that^ ; if ;'not;.a. derisive,'; at least-;'ii /on'i»'- : '.fol{^frqm^thfl'---.pencli:'on ! '.'-the': subject:' ■The;,safeguards made" thprpiighly: strihgent;;;:c6hsidering'the\great amount:>'of' :monoy ; . :at/Stako; on :..one ,:side,:-.tho kioraj'iebl- ■ :ing;,'pn tho- other, and tlio , -importance' of the ;iss : (io i :in I -iowtaQ]^,|/^<leclared,:iMrK '.(ovw littlerstniig','; a piece: pi ■ a, > ham'merV'-1 ; WQuld' undertake for;>half> a; cro^ri , to. , fit 'xm)'i 'oompartment-at Taita.-;thai.Vpuld-.haVß :bee!i ; absolutelyybeyond, cavil;.!'a'iid:-iid':one';-could ; have;';less-.'mechanical genius: : .thanvmyself!!'« i^Mr;.-Jamos:; ; AYhat aboutvthe: labour'kws? j-:-.;:,; v^-f^i^K'iift:; '; «:-v ; t'-:- v ; ;:v t.' , Mr. , .Atkinson.: I:might' make 'a' profit on :tne:.material.-r i,: ',-': S\ ■'■/^'■VV,-:; ; :. i - :: ;--'.---r--- .'■'

t--';'i'':On:;.,tlia:; subjectjof -re-; :;coulit,:vMr.|At.lunso!i"'::said ■ that; the , duty-pf wus:-plain;. : :{ So far ; as his":clients.know, thc'-olrad ;of. , the; rells:.--'Blecl«rs':had been refused ;pbrmissiPii ,to!-fee' :tli^:rol!.% ! .;nGef'tamly::there thp';.w(isiir(!onveriienti; but :a .little-proper'ma'iagempht.a'lid tact, on .the'partSof hvtlie , ißeqistrar:,of-Elsctors''Vwould have, pbviatod .ai.\y troulile;; 'His- , friend snld -that ■•■.•:tnem:.-was;-viiothi;ig"'j<b.-. , show/-that' il the' ■pouiit.- ■prbneeaeJ.-iii.'tlio abseube; of; the yrerturriing.officor, Imt Ji'e wiTs'••'under n linsaii-. prehension that.;■■'> Dealing with:liquor ;Jx'ii»g-iplae«l .•tdiacent'..tn;.and : .ili. i booths.t)U': .nojlnjs.day,.-novsuggestibiv'was'madeHhat; it' :|ho.s jnd-iilged:in to;an : ;extent;to■incapacitate >thd,.officers, put. a- serious aspect was given' ;tb Miq'uor; ijt; tho."Odafeltows', :'Hall,; Petohp. when. Mr..; Palmer,' chairman-of-Ahe Licensed :Victualler.s',A!ssociation,- ; tpld: those in-the ; hall..that;he.■ had. some liquor-for,'them!"' It :;Tfa's!V6rq'saly^imprppbr;-'.if.',theVr.etßrning.'- : 6 : cer;:knevv; .and , permitted;tliis/'V Otherwise,' there.:Was,',no- , allegaticn , : pf".:a: breach'of -the ;lawj': and; there/were-.h0. , : insinuations. .Tho :ques taoh : .iyns,: whot'i »r'; bribery by i money; or bcer;.was.','aii; irregularity:-p'f, which' the CJourt could.:take.;coghisancel,m- thb ; local ,opiioii: ipoltf-;It was-singular that. Mr.iSkerrett, who had' Been :posing as flip-,champior.'of afi, ; th'«'. virtues, .shvild desire' to.;prevemt; h'is clients frpiti i stating ; their ,'•'case. ,The" : 'giving iaway pf;free liquor:and:lho.debaiicbing-.bfyptci-s' 'thereby'was in. the, nature of 'bribery: • Praclioally,; Mr.- Sberrett arguei tJifit bribery.ajidlcorniiltion could ;:bb caijried^on 1 with im.piioity,"., atid i hat no : . flfonce wis rpmmitted-, after noon was'prbhibited; , but , : : te- ; gi'ro it away-..'was. : iip'bfferido, aii.i, •thorefqrei :;did : : npt./.cpnht. Tjio.; attempt ; ,tp pin ',the' matter in this/positioi •'was"-an : -nb-- : surdity- in ': which, : to land : ; the' t'ourt, :ineni; iaiid v ;tho.;couiitry. ; ;'A ppl! ( ;which .had by.sudt;tacticsreven to the 'extent';'.that ■ hadl been; proved; boforqi; tht , :Gburt,cbuU oiot possibly stand. The tioii;for the; Court 1 -was r-.-Was- tho freedom of the : Soil interfered, with . by.': the: liquor ?:■ It i:as;' a : question; of: cbmmo.n.'c-nso' iiud ;porfectlyvWithin' the jurisdiction of,- the. Court:' '

'.-■'. Mr.v'Jamos: It -is ridt;.a • question, of,-free 'eleetio'ni-'but- of whether\it;took.-placeV .In ''.accordance with .the provisions of; Hip' Act. ;■ Mr.. :Atldnsoii': -The.;key.'to : the solution of tlie.'coriuriiilrum. friend is whe-tber ■.thei , e';was'j'.a-..fr6o;election : -'oj.-".noti--. :V. •' "■■:'■:'. ,'■ i ,"' Mr. -Atliinson: rehiarked tlia't 'it;would bodifiiqult ;■'.to .calculate ,;the, irifiueiico .;of the' liquor:.if-;there ;Was.a_"- ; greatvmargin'-.m .the voting,.,but -lviiererit-waa. so 'small,-ho' : eon-, .tended'that it did so disturb' the freedom' of tlie,'election:,' | : / ':";;: ; ..v..v T '; >-';v;.;'';.';,:■■:

■;.■';.;";; I '.- :^': - Further Argument. ■"■'•:;''';';;"- ; : ; : : -- v.jfi'., Skerratt'-said he'ivould .briefly' reply . : A:great.:deal 'of Mr... Atkinson's:. , ; 1 reniarks 3fiomed,to.b'o addressed to anadinirinß sclrool of '-supporters; and- lie would.'- hot deal. • .with that.' Ah-irregularity, to ;bp such, must; af-, foci- tho'conduct .of, thp:. pollYor 'any person tlidreat,- and '.nothing' could ho, an irregularity which was not forbidden by' ; .the' statute,:;ex-pressly-or implied. •He asked his friend what sections 'did. these; charges ; contravene,; but he admitted, they were.not proliibitcd. , It .was /idlo-.fpj his. friend, to say ,that: he liad established intimidation.•'.' : . .■■;:;■..■■'

Mr.^Atkinson: More,than, eiiough; to- affect ;hree votes'.' :V- ■. ; ,. '-.'■.-: ; -;; : . ■" : ;■■.'■■":•'■' ■' ' '.'•'

'■ ,Mrl Skerrett: . I' did not. interrupt my •friend. . Tho three .votes "had nothing to do withtho question. ; It would be necessary to show a. general corruption• or.■intimidation affocting' the poll, and his learned 'friend had not' got it., Tho provisionsi.for. declarjng ,'a poll.'.void were inapplicable 'toUhis election', and', it; was submittod,., therefore, ' that ■ iii order to establish an irregularity it must b'o a breach.of tho,statute,.and.it.would need to .b'eVsh'bifnvthafc' tKe> corruption was Ronoral. , He':'.i submitted that .undor . section : 34 ... tho Court could not report an-irregularity, which was .an. offence if done, at. an electoral poll. ;Acts proliminary. to the'poll did not come,iintler the section. 1 How., could his friend strike

out the words "at an electoral poll" and read in "at 'or leforo".?'. If his contention were Uphold, the'cases'.of'Mrs, Allender. and Mrs. Collett, and a' failureto forward an. application,for enrolment'.and refusing', to allow ■prominent supporters of No-License to inspect the ,roll)_ wore before tho poll v and. wcro not thoroford to come up; ••"■' ' ; 'Dealing with tho custody of ho con tended-that no person could say that tho\ proper'"course 'was not: adopted- for. rotur'mn'g.-" tho" .-boxes'. The -failuro -to get 'a written receipt did not matter. "As. to. the compartments, the alleged breaches at Taits Hero technical. .-';■ ■-' ■"■'.. - '■

•..Dγ. M'Arthur: ThV dictionary . ; gives tho moaning of the word-compartment, as a place marked off; it may bo ■■'marked iih chalk. ■ .. ■ Referring to Mr. Atkinson's point ■/ concerning the cumulative effect" of tho "irrosu'laritips," Mr. Skerrett remarked that would hs so if there were a number, each of which would .affect the result, but/ho:'■submitted' that,.none of them in any. w»y tended/to affect the result.' ~ ',■;'. /.:•'-' .///, ■•'•'.' .•!'.■.; . At tliis"stage; ■■ 3.grj (p.m.; Dr. SM'ArthUr said that the question of deciding what issues, required any. answer needed very careful.Consideration, and there were no means in the. building of. doing it in a proper, way; Even if ; there were means, • tJie - Bench 'ivould ; ref quire much more time, than remained at their: disposal that afternoon, and they would go into, the matter inthe evening. He suggested an adjournment of tlib -inquiry until 2 p.m; to-day, as lie had to take the. Civil,' Court this morning, and between 100 and 200 people were waiting.... !...... • '...-' .The. Court accordingly adjourned.- •'.■"..;..'/'