14

The small matter of treating

by Whaleoil on January 24, 2012

There was an article in the NZ Herald about candidates seeking information from the Electoral Commission about what was allowed and what wasn’t on hoardings, advertisements and  campaign materials. This is to be commended that candidates are actually seeking to comply with the law.

This of course is in stark contrast with the Labour which constantly broke electoral law and was repeatedly referred to the Police for investigation for breaches.

Right at the bottom of the article though was this interesting paragraph:

And handing out copies of the Hollow Men book at Wellington Railway Station was ruled to be “treating” – giving gifts to influence voters.

Interesting, “treating” is a corrupt practice. Were those people referred to the Police? If not why not?

Now if handing out books is a corrupt practice what would handing out free DVD’s of the Hollow Men movie be?

ON THURSDAY, Labour MP Trevor Mallard was hobbling around the press gallery on crutches dishing out free copies of the DVD The Hollow Men, based on the book of the same name by activist Nicky Hager.

Labour ordered 100 copies of the DVD on news of Dr Brash’s coup. Unsurprisingly, it seems to be almost more excited by Dr Brash’s second coming than even the ACT board or membership.

You might say that Mallard was only handing them out to the press gallery, but you’d be wrong:

Labour MP Trevor Mallard gave copies to the Parliamentary Press Gallery and other journalists who wanted a copy. More than 100 had been given.

His local electorate committee was paying for them and they were getting a discount price. The spending would not come out of election spending as it was outside the three month campaign period but Mr Mallard said he would check that.

I wonder if he did check? Because that little paragraph in the Herald article would suggest he did. But it looks like the advice was ignored because more than a 100 DVDs were given out. Twitter provides some of the evidence of Mallard’s “treating”.

Thanks @ for the DVD of The Hollow Men. Really appreciate it. Awesome doco.
May 7, 2011 4:39 pm via Twitter for MacReplyRetweetFavorite
@Paddyrick
Patrick Broadbent

and

@ Trevor Mallard's gift of The Hollow Men just arrived in my post.
May 9, 2011 12:05 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@muerk
Teressa Rooney

and on Trevor’s Facebook wall…

Well, the evidence appears to be all there.  I wonder if the Electoral Commission would entertain investigating?

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  • Graeme Edgeler

    I suspect giving them to people who ask, rather than handing them out, may be a determining factor in whether there’s the required “corrupt intention”.

    • http://votenz.blogspot.com/ Joel

      Well he would have had to offer them first. Anyone can choose whether to turn down or accept a gift.

    • Ploughman

      No, making available is the test.

  • Super Guest

    Trevor Mallard? Corrupt!? Never!

  • Hakim of Phut

    What about those Tauranga businesses that were given freebies over the Rena grounding?
    This was during the campaign and  certainly designed to influence people in voting for National, plus they were using taxpayers money!

    • Cactus Kate

      How about all welfare? Biggest treating ofnce of the lot.
      Buy a vote.

    • Killjoy

      Also, the precedent had been set in Chch after the earthquakes. This govt recognises the importance of SME’s operating successfully in NZ to employ other NZers and stimulate (or create) the economy!
      Not, as Cactus raises below, creating dependence and entitlement through a welfare state…

    • http://www.whaleoil.co.nz Whaleoil

      HoP: You clearly have no fucking idea what treating is despite me placing a link to the offence. Lift your game or people will start calling you Kosh.

      • Anonymous

        Interest free student loans and working for families anyone?

    • Paulus

      What freebies – please explain ?

  • Apolonia

    Those who make the law are above the law. Has Winston paid back the money he stole yet?
    160K would fill a winebox.

    • Paulus

      Don’t you remember he said he had paid it back – . Don’t you accept his word ?

  • EX Navy Greg

    When is the electoral commission and the police going to start treating electoral fraud seriously.
    How many cases were referred to police and what have they done about it ?
    Any party using dodgy tactics to buy votes undermines democracy and should be dealt with promptly and with serious consequences.

  • jay cee

    first two words said it all “small matter”