DR POMARE’S SEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16939, 13 January 1923, Page 11

DR POMARE’S SEAT.

BRIBERY ALLEGED. A REMARKABLE PETITION. (Pam Press Association..) WELLIGTON, January 13. Kemapu Haerehuka has petitioned against Dr Pomare’s return for the Western Maori seat, alleging briberyin various forms. One charge alleges the giving of £37 to a Native to secure the candidate’s return, and others alleged the gift of a bottle ol beer, floating electors, providing drink at Tauranga, ana offering to secure work on the railways. It is also alleged that threats were used to exclude beneficiaries, under the Taranaki louses, unless they votod for Dr Fomare. Other promises to procure relief, otters of money, threats, and similar procedure are alleged. Uc--cause of these matters the petitioner claims that Dr Pomare is incapacitated from serving in the present Parliament, and claims that the election should be voided. The petitioner further alleged that there occurred irregu lari ties, improprieties and failures to comply- with the Legislature Act as to the taking of the poll. It is alleged that the associates to the deputy returning officers in many cases were active partisans of Dr Pomare; that they did not act impartially', but interfered with the electors in booths and canvassed for votes for Dr Pomare ; that in some booths tnc name of the candidate written on the voting paper was not that of the candidate for whom the elector desired to vote; that intoxicating liquor was supplied* to Maoris on election day; that at Pukekohe on election day free food and drink were supplied to electors presumed to be votinp for I)r Pomare, and that in many cases double voting occurred.