WESTERN MAORI SEAT.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15183, 8 March 1923, Page 5

WESTERN MAORI SEAT.

ELECTION PETITION. INTERESTING EVIDENCE. HEARING COMMENCED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. TAURANGA, Wednesday. The election petition against the rotourn of Sir Maui Pomarc for the Western. Maori electorate district at the election held on December 6 last came forward for consideration at the courthouse here to-day, before Justices Hosking arid Stringer. The petitioner is Kanapu Ha.ereh.uka, of Wanganui, and'l3 specific cases of bribery, corruption and illegal practices are alleged, and irregularities, improprieties and failures to comply with the Legislature Act in the taking of the poll are also alleged. Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C., and Mr P. Levi, of Wellington, appeared for the petitioner, and Mr M. Myers, K.C., and Mr H. O'Leary, of Wellington, for Sir Maui Pomare. Kepa Ehau, of Rotorua, is acting as interpreter. The Court was crowded with a large gathering of Maoris from all parts of the extensive electorate. Mr Skerrett, in. opening, outlined the charges on which he proposed to call evidence at. Tauranga'.' The first dealt with was the charge that Sir Maui Pomare at Matapihi, near Tauranga, promised to secure the reinstatement of natives put off the railway worksThe first witness, Ngahuia Ngatai, a native woman living at Matapihi, said she was present at a meeting there when Sir Mau} Pomare explained tele, grams between himself and Sir J. G. Coates regarding the reinstatement of men, and promised that if the boys voted for" him he would have them back in employment. To Mr Myers witness said she was a follower of Ratana, senr., and was at present staying at his pa at Tauranga harbour. She had never heard the matter of evidence to be given discussed at the pa. interview at Tauranga. Pou Ngatai said he was put off the railway in September, 1921. He approached Sir Maui Pomare about a job, and asked him what he could do about getting witness a job on the public works. Sir Maui replied that he could fix it up all right', provided witness supported him. He was present at Sir Maui Pomare's meeting on the Sunday . Sir Maui mentioned the matter of re-employ-ment for the : men. His words were, "Vote' for me, and I will see that you are employed." , Witness remembered Rewhitl, Biomfleld and Pomare meeting him at the railway station. He did not sign a statement for him. Mr Myers read over the statement given, id'Mr Biomfleld, which witness denied signing. To Mr Justice Hosking. witness, said that before meeting Sir Maui Pomare on the Saturday night, he heard that steps were being taken to. j get the discharged natives reinstated. Regarding the charge that beer had been given to Teuirika, he was present when the beer was dr. ik. The beer was secured by witness and Kohi. He did not know where Kohi got it. To Mr Skerrett, witness said he 'went to Duke's house with Kohi and Tauranga. They had three bottles of beer with them. When they got to Duke's house Kohi stood up and started talking. He mentioned the candidates, Pomare and Ratana, and said one was "10 horse power" and the "other three horse power." The one that was in Parliament was the 10 horse power. He then said: "Just make up your minds who you are going U>> vole for, but he thought the 10 horse power would be better." When he offered the dring to Tcira he said, "Maks up your mind who you arc going to" vote for," and "Vote for Pomare." An Interpreter's Evldenoo. Rangi Marumaru, residing at Rata, licensed native interpreter, examined by Mr Skerrett, said he had supported Sir Maui Pomare at previous elections. His father also had supported Pomare. He got a message from Pomare at Auckland on August 17 last. A Mr Menzies, of the native branch of the Native Department, hahded witness a message asking him to go to Wellington and see Sir Maui Pomare regarding something lo his advantage. Witness then telegraphed that he had received the message and was writing.* Later in the day lie received a wire from Sir Maul Pomare to the following effect: —"In reply to your telegram' of this morning, would advise you to see me immediately, or else it may be too late." ilc then decided to go to Wellington, and left that evening by the express. , • On arrival at Wellington he called at Sir Maui Pomare's office. Sir Maui Pomare said he wanted to see him regarding the Western scat, which Maraiai had mentioned to him that ■ witness was going to contest, and that witless was in Auckland in connection ..with it. Witness said the statement was untrue. Sir Maui said if it were : true In- 1 wanted witness to stand down and assist him (Pomaro). Witness said it ail depended on his native policy. Then Sir Maui Pomare asked witness whether he would agree, and he said not just then. Sir Maui Pomare said that if witness did not assist him he had something else to say. He then produced some cheques of witness' which had been dishonoured, and had Mien forwarded lo Sir Maui Pomare to get witness' license cancelled. Sir Maui Pomare said he had held them because of the position witness and his family held in their tribe. He would not let witness see the cheques. Witness did not know he had any dishonoured cheques. ' Sir Maui Pomare then said the matter lay with witness, and unless witness supported him he (Pomare) would see that they yvent to the proper quarter, but if he did give his support he would hear no more about it. Witness asked for time to think the matter over, to which Sir Maui agreed, and asked witness to stay a couple of days. Parala then entered the room, and they all left later together. When they reached the end of the corridor, Sir Maui gave him a note to his secretary to give witness £2, and said if he wanted any more he could get it when wanted, lie went to Conway, who, so far as he could remember, wrote out a cheque, changed it, gave witness the money, and he then signed a receipt. To Mr Justice Hosking witness said nothing was said about, repaying the ii->. He treated it as a gift. To Mr Skerrett he said that aboul two weeks after the interview with sir Maui Pomare he wrote that he could rot support him, and he could do what he liked with the cheques. Ilc did not see Sir Maui Pomare again till September, on the Marlon platform. Witness shook hands wllh him and Sir Maui Pomare said: "Thai was a nice kind of letter yon scnl in*'." Pomare I sajU nothUJjr further except that he

had returned the cheques to the people to whom they were payable for them to take action.

To Mr Myers: lie said the £2 was certainly given him as a bribe. He did not then understand it as a bribe. He had £7 at the time. He did not remember telling Sir Maui Pomare that he had no money, lie left Wellington on August 19, but did not tell Sir Maui Pomare he wanted £2 to get away. He denied that his statements as to Sir Maui Pomare's statements were fabrications. Witness had been secretary of a Maori council, and had been sued for £4OO for moneys due to the council. He had not received a letter from Conway asking that the £2 be refunded. Sir Maui Pomare did say hi Wellington that he would be sorry to see his license cancelled. All his friendship with Sir Maui Pomare had gone, especially for his politics. His friendship went when he wrote his letter in September. Mr Myers had not concluded his cross-examination when the Court adjourned at 6 p.m. till 9.30 a.m. tomorrow. TO-DAY'S EVIDENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. TAURANGA, Thursday. The hearing of the Western Maori petition against Sir Maui Pomare's return was continued, further evidence being called regarding the allegation that Sir Maui Pomare secured reemployment for men on the 'railway works" just prior to the election. Evidence 'was also given of alleged treating at Muir's mines when Sir Maui Pomare held a meeting there.' A witness stated that whisky was supplied, and the natives were drunk, and one native in a speech promised that all would support Sir Maui Pomare. Some whisky was drunk neat, and finally Ihe natives danced hakas, in the opinion of witness as the result of the drinking and not as an honour to Sir Maui Pomare. WAITOMO PETITION. PROBABLY WILL BE DROPPED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. AUCKLAND, Thursday. It is understood that the Waitomo election petition will be dropped.