ELECTION PETITIONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144669, 1 May 1915, Page 7

ELECTION PETITIONS.

BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. KAIKOHE, April 30. The inquiry into the Bay of Islands petition opened this morning before Justices Chapman and Hosting. On resumption this afternoon, Sir J. Findlay announced that ho did not propose to proceed with the allegations relating to the offer of the postrna-storship and money to Austrians in return for their votes. Mr. Wilkinson, continuing his evidence, stated that the council offer by Reed had never boon withdrawn. Witness said that Johnson, referring to the letter received by him (Johnson) from Mr. Massey, said the gist was that Johnson was not sent up by Cabinet authority to Mnngonui. Cabinet had not given the matter any consideration. Witness said that the day after the 'meeting of the Reform delegates at Ohaeawai, Miv Massey asked him (.Wilkinson) which he would prefer—a scat in the Upper House or to fight the Bay of Islands election. Witness replied that he was not at liberty to accept any offer until released by the supporters to whom he was pledged. Witness explained, that he did not consider the Premier's words amounted to an actual offer. Mr. Massey, said; “If vou have made up your mind to go on, 1 will see that justice is done.” Witness did not communicate again with Mr. Massey in reference to the Upper House. Witness said ho did not. take Mr. Massey’s offer 'in the nature of a bribe, hut lie certainly regarded Reed’s offer as a bribe. Prior to the Ohaoawai meeting Mr. Paape. the Reform organiser, had advised him to accept a scat in the Council, which would certainly be offered. His candidature was announced after a second nvotiug of delegates on June 4, prior to which he had wired the Premier asking him to decide about the choice of an official candidate.

Edward Saunders, a Kaitnia farmer, said that Hoed held a mooting at Kaitaia in November, at which he explained that Mr. Massey and Mr. Allen had denied in the Plouso having made anv offer of a Council appointment to Wilkinson, and added that the offer was entirely his ov n. He had sent Johnson to Wilkinson, asking him to take a seat in the Upper House and retire from the contest to avoid vote-splitting. Ho (Reed) felt sure he could get the seat for Wilkinson in the Council. Cross-examined, ho admitted that Reed had suggested Wilkinson’s appointment to the Council owing to the ron-representation of North Auckland in that body. K. T. Wrathall, a settler at Mangonui, gave evidence of the use of similar words by Reed at Mangonui. Edward J. Samuels, an agent of Oruru. stated that he acted as Wilkinson’s secretary. John Jacontho visited him in November, and made an offer that if Wilkinson would stand down ail his election expenses would bo paid, adding that ho knew Reed would not stop at a very large amount to secure Wilkinson’s withdrawal.

The furtlier hearing was adjourned till to-morrow. HEARING O~PETITION. KAIKOHE, May 1. Tliis morning John Jaccntho gave evidence of a conversation with Reed and several others at Pcria. He could not remember that anything was said about Wilkinson standing down. Cross-examined by Sir John Findlay, ho said that Reed remarked that it would bo worth ever so much to him if Wilkinson stood down. In an’jntervicw with Safnue’s, ho (witness) informed the latter that if Wilkinson stood down his election expenses would be paid, he understood by a committee that was to bo formed of Reed's supporters. Ho might have said something like “worth a great deal to Heed." In a conversation with Rndean, ho (witness) might have said that Reed was to pay.