THE WESTERN MAORI ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2499, 12 May 1909, Page 5

THE WESTERN MAORI ELECTION.

HEARING OF ELECTION PETITION

(Per Press Association.)

HAMILTON, May 12. Mr. Earl finished his address this morning. . . Wm. Henry Grace, returning officer, gave evidence that about November 17 to 21 he started. sending outf voting papers, doing so up to the day of the election, December 2. Conies of instructions in the Gazette and paragraph 4 of the Act were sent to every officer. He followed instructions as nearly as he could, though not exactly. He opened the booth and announced that electors must come in one by one. He did not send a com- of tho writ to deputies. Hhe tables for scrutineers were placed at some distance from the officers. He did this according to instructions, bo that no Native could be influenced by anybody. The witness, continuing, said that the election had been conducted as by open voting. There was no secret ballot or box for votes. He admitted that ‘ the Act had not been strictly carried out. One deputy signed a tremendous lot of papers, but never put the name of a candidate in. Witness rejected a whole lot. A voter could vote in one. place and then in another without detection. No roll existed.

Several deputies and Maori associates gave evidence, detailing the method:of voting, which, with the exception of at one booth, was that the Native, after answering the usual question, said whom he wished to vote for. The deputy wrote the name, and then signed the paper, and the associate initialled it. No Maori asked for a voting paper and never handled them. At W ate tuna the voting was conducted o.i the open road, as the deputy could not find the booth. There were other instances of the poll being taken at places other than those, notified. Eketono’s evidence went to show that a large number of Natives, especially in the Taranaki district, never knew that tho election was to bo held. Kahiti’s name was only sent to'some Natives. When he stumped the country for tho purpose of addressing them, the Natives did not know what he came for. At one polling booth several Maoris were in together, with 20 hanging round the door. He considered that . the voting papers should have been given to tho Natives prior to the election, as then they would have acted as a check, and prevented double voting. No evidence was called on behalf of the respondent. Mr. Earle, in addressing tho Court, laid stress on the notices not being posted up by the returning officer, also that as the electors voted before tho papers had been signed by tho returning officer, excepting at one booth, where the officer signed first, tho election was invalid. He also contended that a voting paper was a. qualification, and as the same was not signed first, the elector voted before he was qualified to do so, thus invalidating the vote. Justice Cooper said that the qualification was not a Native’s voting paper, but the fact that lie was a Maori.

The inquiry was adjourned till next morning.