WESTERN MAORI ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 153, 16 March 1923, Page 7

WESTERN MAORI ELECTION

HEARING OF PETITION IMPORTANT CHARGES ABANDONED i ALLEGED PAYMENT OF £37 BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS association. j Auckland, March 15. The hearing of the Western Maori election petition was continued t-oday Air. Justice Hosking said the Court would hear further argument on the admissibility of evidence in reference to the method of voting and the allegation that- the secrecy of tho ballot was destroyed, assuming the irregularity to be an admissible topic. The result would be to bring it within section 179. That might relieve the Court of having to decide the thorny question of an amendment to the petition . The Alleged Payment of £37. Tamaiwhina Rawiri, of Thames, Who, it was alleged in the petition, received £37 from Pomare to meet expenses incurred on his behalf, was subjected to a length)- examination. Counsel was given leave to ask witness for particulars as to people he spoke to and what he said. Witness related a conversation with Morua, who, he said, had offered him £25 to support Ratana’s son, and he had threatened him to prevent his casting his vote for Pomare. “What was the nature of the threat?” asked counsel. Witness: He said to me I was a folloxver of Ratana, but he (Morua) knew I would vote for Pomare. He said: “Look out for yourself. Be careful. This badge is a big thing, and it is a, matter of significance.”. He explained to me that blue signified inclusion in the Covenant propounded bv Ratana; white signified th© inspiration received bv Ratana from the Almighty, and Red reprejented the blood which was sprinkled on doors at the time of Moses; so tlxat if I denied what the badge signified my body would suffer for it. For that reason I have lint worn the badge ever since I received it. Charges Dropped. Air. Skerrett said ho could only bring another witness to say Rawiri had stated that he had received this money, but ho could not prove that Rawiri had actually received it. Air. Justice Hosking said that tho Court would take the responsibility of rejecting the evidence on this charge. 'This disposed of the charge that respondent gave Rawiri £37 in order to induce him to assist. Air. Skerrett said that the petitioner was also abandenng the charge that respondent, through an intermediary, gave a bottle of beer to an elector. Tho charge in relation to the Star Hotel at Tauranga that Pomaro was ■ concerned in the prevision of drink would also be dropped, as would the allegation that the respondent used 1 undue influence either by himself or ‘ his agent in order to induce certain employees at Aluir’s gold mine, Te Puke, io x-ote for him. For the respondent, Air. Myers submitted that there was no evidence which made it necessary for the Court to call upon him to answer any of the charges remaining. Air. Justice Hosking: About payment for cars? Mr. Alyers said that in regal’d to the charges in respect to Papakura, xvhere Alfred Willis engaged two motor-lorries to convey Maoris to the poll, it had been shoxx-n that Willis acted in good faith, and when he found he had done wrong, bore the exner.se himself Air. Skerrett: But he was chairman of Mr. Massey’s Election Committee. Air. Alyers contended that no agency had been proved in regard to the hiring of cars at Pukekche. Perkins had admitted that he was guilty of an illegal practice, hut these cars were not the subject of a charge in the pe+>* ; on. Air. Justice Hosking said that probably this was a matter which the Court would have to report upon, as the public were interested. The Railway Workers. Continuing, Air. Alyers said that the evidence of Perkins must be accepted in regard to the food supplied at Pukekoho. and that the alleged offence was, if anything, one of treating. Ho submitted that no offenco , bad been committed, and no agency had been established. Tho next charge was that by way of winning votes Pomare had offered or promised to procure reinstatement of certain persons in employment on railway works, and , that shortly before the election he did procure tho reinstatement of electors in employment on railway works. This ; at most was a trivial offence. Tho position, as could be seen from correspondence put in, was that on ’Novembar 14 last respondent received _ a telegram from a Maori at Afatapihi stating that certain Alaoris had been discharged from railway works, and that pakehas had been put on in their place. All Pomare had done was that in the course, of his duty ns ATinister representing the Alaori race he repeated tho telegram to Air. Coates, urging that if the facts were as stated the mon should be reinstated. Air. Justice Stringer remarked that if this were wrong, it would mean that during an election a ATinister would have to cease functioning as such. Air. Skerrett: It would be equally wrong if a ATinister could offer jobs for votes. Ownership of Land. Mr. Myera said that a more absurd or unfair charge had never been made. Coming to the charge that certain persons entitled to be included among’the beneficial owners of tho Mokoia and Haputiki Blocks were threatened with exclusion from the lists of owners unless they voted for the respondent. Air. Alyers said the evidence had shown these charges to be absurd. Tho charge was ijot against Pomare, but against his agents. It was alleged that these statements were made by Tupito, and even supposing the charges had been proved, the attempt to prove agency had failed, micro was the further charge that Pomare had offered at Manaia to procure electors relief from payment of county rates. The position was that a deputation of Alaoris from Taranaki had waited on the respondent as ATinister, and had stated flint lions had been placed on their lands as they were four years in arrears with their rates. They were afraid, they had said, of losing a portion of their land. Sir Maui Pomare, after negotiations through the Native Trustee, had called a conference of the parties concerned wtih the idea of saving the lands to the owners. Was lie no* only doing a proper thing as Minister? asked counsel. Further hearing was adjourned tut to-morrow.