MAORI ELECTION PETITION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 494, 29 April 1909, Page 9

MAORI ELECTION PETITION.

METHOD OP VOTING

(111 lELft.il U'll--I'IIPSS AssUC!uriOK,s

; -•',V-% P' : AutiKfantl, Axml'2B. >• ■ ; Mr. Hefiaro Kaifiau,! M.P., is preparing to ptit.up a.;keoii ■fight at -the.■ hearing of Air, ,; i'opsno Biidtoiio's petition agamsfc Jiis election as iropfosbriiativo ,'of lie .Western Maori l)i3trict.''- i Afao;. petition-is, to, bo heard :; at' .Hamilton before,two Judges of" :tho Supreme .Cburt on: May ,10,' Speaking to press re-' ;presentative to-day,'.Mr:iTiaibaii, who lias represented, tho Western. Maori District in Parliament -fof the last/ele'von-years,', said that. Mr..:pepeno Dketbite's: chief objection was; that: tho System employed ■at the ballot r.was not in accordance with the'law. Sinco.lß6l, Mr.Kaihau says, it.has; .been the custom at Native' elections for-the' returning, officer to.-.ask each-Native .'oil entering the lus ;namc, -his tfibo/and the natnp of the candidate for whom ho desir'es : to vote.v. The custom .has be-on for: the returning, officer ,to. enter up -these particulars dispense with, tho need •.for| ballot.papers, -The ..petition- to' upset tho las, election ( ia based on :tho: ground tliat bal-' .lot;papers..Should have been used;.and that the ; ;cpursp--'of .procedteo employed had been irregr| ar, •; "Ifrthm ls.so/'-it is.iib faulf-of rtm6 v : ad member for Western Maori..;.■';•.' As far, as.' .-Lean understand the election .Was carried out in accordance with the. custom .which has prevailed for years'. If there has.been any.improper procedi'iro making'llio. election; Invalid; then' all;tho' other.candidates :will .boin'.tho samo position- as myself..-.. Personally, I have, no fear-6f the. outcome of a second election-if- it isnecossary.".; ■;.;'/ ~ '[■''■; .-:':-■-.' „ ■' v--