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Evening Star, Issue 26091, 3 May 1947, Page 12

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PROTRACTED RAGLAN CASE

(P.A.) HAMILTON, May 2. Although its marathon course is not yet fully run, the Electoral Court hearing of Mr Hallyburton Johnstone’s petition to reverse the result of the General Election in the Ralgan electorate had the end in sight when it adjourned to-day after three weeks of tedious hearing. Although the respondent’s case is not quite com-, pleted, little except formal evidence remains to be heard, and counsel’s submissions should commence during Monday’s sitting. The evidence given before the Chief Justice, Sir Humphrey O’Leary, and the senior puisne judge, Sir Archibald Blair, now extends over some 270 typewritten pages of foolscap, or more than 100,000 words. Of this, 179 pages were recorded during the presentation of the petitioner’s case. The feature of to-day’s proceedings was that three electors, who had been served with subpoenas to attend as witnesses, did not respond when their names were, called. One appealed later in the day, but was not then required'? as alternative evidence liad. then been heard. Another offered no explanation, in writing or otherwise, although he had been advertised for m the personal columns of a newspaper, while the third, who was waiting in court yesterday afternoon, had, according to a telegram sent to the court by her employer, suffered a breakdown in,Hamilton last night, and was too ill to appear to-day.