ELECTION PETITION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 31, 19 January 1912, Page 5

ELECTION PETITION.

ATTEMPT TO UNSEAT WAIRAU’S

AIEMEER

AIANY IRREGULARITIES ALLEGED.

(Per Press Association.)

Blenheim, January 18. In accordance with tho Act, the petitioners against Air. AlcCallum’s election for W airau advertise the full text of the grounds of the petition in the “Express” to-night. The petition is a very lengthy one, comprising 27 clauses. Summarised, the alleged grounds of the proceeding are as follows :

AlcCallum was guilty of bribery in treating and using undue influence, and in intimidation of electors, and other corrupt and illegal practices, ivhereby an honest, pure, and fair election was not holden, and, therefore, should be declared void. After a meeting of electors at Grovetown, Mr. AicCallum announced chat his chairman of committee would •shout,” and that they proceeded to the hotel, where Air. ( AlcCallum addressed the electors ■ and supplied them with drink and entertainment, paid for directly or by his agent.. At Picton, Okaramio, Seddou, and Alirza Mr. AlcCallum provided meat, drink, and intoxicating liquors to large numbers of electors for the purpose of influencing votes. At Grove Road, Blenheim, There was a polling place at a grain store of Air. AlcCallum’s brother, where large quantities of liquor were supplied to the electors, wherewith Air. AlcCallhm was an accessory. ■ ... ■ Large quantities of intoxicating jliquor were supplied to the electors at Seddon, and that the agent of Mr. AlcCallum there importuned the electors to vote for Airi AlcCallum, and supplied them with liquor supplied by Air. AlcCallum. • '- ' .■

A member of Mr. McCall uni’s committee gave the electors' at Mirza money to buy liquor. ’ Prior to the second ballot, Mr. McCallum made contracts for the payment of the conveyance of electors to and from the polling booth at the election, and that the secretary of Mr McCallum’s committee was seen to instruct the drivers of such conveyances to convey the electors to the poll to vote for Mr. McCallum. ‘ WT

That a prominent member of !V|r. McCallum’s committee stood at the principal polling booth, accosting electors and urging them to vote for Mri McCallum, thus intimidating the electors, and the same thing occurred at another polling place. • That Mr. McCallum was guilty of corrupt practice at the first ballot, inasmuch as his total expenses exceeded £2OO, and in the second ballot his total expenses exceeded £SO. ‘ That the chairman of his committee offered money to a canvap^r v; to procure Votes, and that the pthmlsed money was paid after'the election; " •« Clauses were also inserted alleging bets made by members of dVlrt MpCallum’s committee and proniihenti supporters, thereby influencing - votes ’of the,electors. ; ’ 'V- ; .

THE MEMBER DENIES'ALL THE • ; • ALLEGATIONS. ’ > •;

DEMANDS FULLEST INQUIRY

Wellington, 'January 19. "I Mr McCallum, interviewed • by'-tho •‘Times”, denies tjip plectjoh tions, and says that npW'the allegations have been made ,;jie ;■«<s. only courts but insists on the fullest in■fuiry. ' , v -