RANGITIKEI SEAT

Evening Star, Issue 21080, 18 April 1932, Page 8

RANGITIKEI SEAT

PETITION TO UPSET ELECTION EVIDENCE BEING HEARD [Per United Press Association.] MARTON, April 18. An election court for the trial of a petition by James Thomas Hogan against the return of Alexander Stuart, as member for Rangitikei at the last election, was opened in the Marion Courthouse to-day before the chief justice (Sir Michael Myers) and Mr Justice Reed The petition charges Stuart with corrupt practice of bribery. In addition there are allegations that cer--5 tain persons voted at the election whose names had been illegally placed on the roll; that certain ballot papers cast in favour of the petitioner were erroneously rejected; that some of the polling booths in the electorate closed before 7 p.m. on the day of the election; that certain agents of his opponent who were not duly appointed scrutineers were unlawfully in and about certain booths on election day and unlawfully interfered with certain voters; that certain other irregularities occurred on polling day. On these grounds the petitioner oases his plea that the election should be upset and that he and not Stuart should be returned to Par- ' liament. William J. Bowman, William Ashby and his wife, Peter Grogan and his wife, William Broderick and his wife gave details of having voted in Rangitikei While being residents for longer or shorter periods in neighbouring electorates. They were on the Rangitikei roll, having previously resided there.