RANGITIKEI SEAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 119, 20 April 1932, Page 6

RANGITIKEI SEAT.

ELECTION PETITION. Per Press Association. . MARTON, April 19. The hearing of the election petition against the return for the Rangitikei seat of Mr Alexander Stuart (Coalition Reform) was continued in Marion to-day before the Chief Justice, Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers, and Mr Justice Reed. After some discussion on the relevancy of certain evidence the charge in respect to the reinstatement of John hyfe, an engine driver at Marton Junction, on the railwavs was abandoned and the case for Mr Stuart was opened with the hearing of a further batch of witnesses who voted in Rangitikei, but who resided out of the electorate for moro than the prescribed time. _ Thirteen votes were thus involved iii addition to those involved in the evidence called for Mr Hogan yesterday. The deputy-returning officer at the Murimotu booth gave evidence that the booth was closed at six o’clock instead of seven o’clock by mistake. He remained in the booth, however, until 6.55 o’clock, and stayed at the gate for a few moments. Nobody was in sight and only one woman was r ®™sed a vote after six o’clock. ii hearing of the evidence will probably conclude to-morrow, but the scrutiny of the votes and judgment will probably take place in Wellington.