LOCAL OPTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13807, 19 January 1909, Page 6

LOCAL OPTION.

THE HTJTT ENQUIRY. Per Press Association WELLINGTON, Jan. 18, The Hutt local option poll enquiry was continued to-day. Mr Atkinson, for the petitioners, applied to have" two more names rdfitd to the list of those alleged to be improperly on the roll. Mr Slcerrett objected, and the <•!> jection was upheld. . After two witnesses had been called to close the No-license Party's case, Mr Skerrett continued his address. He stated that the presence of 24 nolicense votes in the continuance votos bundle was capable of an honest explanation. ■ He ridiculed the iclea that a glass of beer with the'lunch of the officials or anyone else woidd affect the poll. There was no proof that the barrel of beer iii the room at the Hutt Town Hall was connected with the action of the trade.

Mr Atkinson, in reply, contended that where the margin was so narrow the possibility of f the poll being af fected should be more closely scrutinised. He asked was the people's poll not to be protected from the results of negligence or misadventure ? The hearing . will be resumed tomorrow.