THE ELECTORAL INQUIRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12231, 28 March 1903, Page 7

THE ELECTORAL INQUIRY.

SITTINGS OF THE COMMISSION.

CHARGES AGAINST THE REGISTRAR.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS,

The Commission, consisting of Mr. W. R. Haselden, S.M. (chairman), and Mr. Hugh Pollen (Under-Secretary for the Colonial Secretary's Department), which has been set up to inquire into various charges laid against Mr. John King (registrar of electors at Auckland), continued its sittings at the Supreme Court yesterday. Mr. J. R. Reed, and with him Mr. A. Peak, appeared for the persons preferring the charges against the registrar. Mr. King appeared in person. •On the Commission re-opening Mr. King handed in his report on the method of preparing the rolls, which he had been requested by the Commissioners to furnish. Mr. Haselden suggested that Mr. King should embody the substance of the report in his evidence. CONTINUATION OF EVIDENCE. Mr. Spedding was recalled and examined in reference to one or two matters previously referred to in evidence. He said that on the morning of November 12 he went to Mr. King's office a few minutes after nine o'clock to inquire whether he had any notice of the issue of the writ. He did not take any claims for ►nrolment with him. Mr. King informed him that he had received a telegram announcing the issue of the writs, and that therefore no further claims could be received. Witness returned to his office, and shortly afterwirds Mrs. Chatfield's claim was brought in by Mr. White. Witness declined to receive it, and it was suggested by somebody in the office that the claim might be put through Mr. Masefield's office, it being stated that it was known that names could be still enrolled through that medium. Witness said he would bo no party to any such irregularity, but he believed Mr. Bell took the claim to Mr. Masefield's office. He swore positively that he saw the claim (produced) in his own office after Mr. King had informed him of the issuo of the writs. In regard to the case of Gilbert Wilfred Spragg, witness said ho was not present when Spragg's claim for enrolment was filled in and signed in witness' office shortly after one o'clock on November 11. He remembered this distinctly, as Spragg was expected to come in that day. Witness lodged the claim at the registrar's office at three o'clock on November 11. As to the suggested alteration in the date on the claim, witness was certain in his own mind that no alteration had been made in the • claim when it left his office. He and others connected with his office were very particular in filling up the claim, as Mr. King had already prosecuted Spragg in regard to his first application. Witness would never have allowed the claim to go out of his office with any alteration in it. The alteration, if any, had been made (the date was blurred aund indistinct) after the claim was lodged. He had never seen at the registrar's office a list of the claims expunged from the rolls, nor had he seen any list outside the registrar's office of the names struck off, or any notice that the list could bo seen within. By Mr. King: When I went into your office on the morning of November 12, shortly after nine o'clock, you showed me a telegram which you said announced the issue of the writs.

Mr. King: Would you bo surprised to hear that the telegram was not received in my office till about eleven o'clock or after on that morning? Witness: I would be surprised. Mr. King: If witnesses are produced who will swear that that is so, what would you

say? ■ Witness : I would spy it is false. . Mr. King: Whom do you think is the most reliable, the telegraph messenger or yourself?

Witness (decisively) : Myself. Mr. King: Will you swear positively that Spragg-'s claim was not lodged on the evening of November 10?

Witness: I have already done so, but i will state it positively again. Mr. King: Was it not your fear of the writ being issued that induced you to put in the claim on November 10, and alter the date to the 11th?

Witness: i did not alter tho date. Mr. King: Do you allego that the date was altered in my office? Witness: Ido not; as I don't know where it was altered.

In answer to.further questions the witness said ho had never been shown the official roll, with erasures marked thereon, when in the registrar's office. Mr. King: Was it not the object of yourself and those associated with you to keep the claims back till the last moment and then rush the registrar? Witness: I have previously answered that question, and I again say emphatically 110. Mr. King: Did you not lodge a considerable number of claims on November 10 and 11?

Witness: Yes, I did. After Mr. Donne arrived most of the names lodged wore enrolled. Hcphzibah Wilks, Richmond Rotfd, said she. was on the old Citv roll, but when the lyife, rolls came out she found she was on the Grey Lynn roll, although she was in the City. She put in an application for transfer to Tho city through Mr. Spedding's office, but she was not enrolled until she came before the Revision Court. Her name was then put on the roll, and she voted, but when she went to vote at the licensing election on Wednesday last she found her name had been struck off.

By Mr. King: She did not think a wilful act had been committed in placing her on the Grey Lynn roll. John Wilks, son of the last witness, gave similar evidence as to his mother's claims. Robert Geddis, Arawa-street, said that in October last he applied for a transfer from Farnell to the City. He was erased from Parnell and not put on the City roll. Since the election he had received a notice from the registrar, stating that he had been struck off the Eden roll because he had not voted. He then discovered that his name had been on the Eden roll. Alary Ann Mills, Dock-street, Freeman's Bay, said her name had been expunged from the City roll. She had never lived in Eden Terrace, and was not the Mary Ann Mills who had been transferred to Pa-tea. The claim produced was not in her writing. Mr. Spedding was again recalled in regard to the list of names of electors whom it was alleged the registrar had omitted to transfer from the City to Grey Lynn on the subdivision of districts. There were 195 persons affected who resided in streets wholly in Grey Lynn, and 114- in the Grey Lynn por tion of streets which were partly in that district and partly in the City. He indicated a few errors in the list, and these were struck out. : Of the names in the list, 120 were subsequently transferred to Grey Lynn on application. In addition there were 21 names which should have, been left on the City, but which were placed on the Grey , Lynn roll.

Mr. King said he thought Mr. Spedding's statements should be supported by further evidence before being accepted. Mr. Haselden said Mr. Spedding's statements consisted of hearsay evidence. Mr. Reed said he would call the persons who went through the . districts making inquiries from the electors named on the lists. James Barker, Cross-street, Newtor., said that he was on the City roll prior to the last election. On going to vote at the last election he found his name was off the roll. The registrar, however, gave him a letter to the returning officer, requesting the latter to allow him to vote, but he was not allowed to vote.

William White gave evidence as to a number of persons who resided in Grey Lynn at the time of the preparation of the rolls, but who were on the City roll. He also gave evidence as to some persons residing in the City who were on the Grey Lynn roll.

William John Bell, Chapel-street, said he was in Mr. Spedding s office on the morning of November 12. He arrived in the office between nine and ten. a.m., and saw Mrs. Chatfield's claim there. The claim was taken by Mr. R. J. Bell (not related to witness) to Mr. Masefield's office. Witness gave evidence as to various names similar to that given by Mr. bite.

In order to give Mr. King an opportunity of looking ■up some additional papers and preparing his answer to the charges, the Commission adjourned until Monday morning. '

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