AGY-4893 | Royal Commission of Inquiry into certain allegations concerning the conduct of the Honourable James Henry Young, Secretary for Public Works, during the recent Election for the Hastings and the Macleay Electorate, and into the circumstances and proceedings

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The Royal Commission of Inquiry into certain allegations concerning the conduct of the Honourable James Henry Young, Secretary for Public Works, during the recent Election for the Hastings and the Macleay Electorate, and into the circumstances and proceedings of the Election generally was opened by the Commissioner on 17 October 1898.(1) On the opening day, the Commission was read and a statement made as to the intended proceedings.

The Commission resumed on 21 November 1898 after being adjourned for a fortnight from 7 November. The last entry in the Commissioner’s Notebook is dated 5 December 1898 and it is not known if this was the Commission’s final day of sitting.(2) 

The Commissioner found that Mr Young did not abuse the powers of his office, or corruptly endeavour to influence the electors to record their votes in favour of a particular candidate during the course of the election (3)


ENDNOTES
1. Commissioner’s Notebook, State Records of NSW reference number 2/6402.
2. loc. cit.
3. Report of the Royal Commission, in Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative  Assembly, Second Session 1898, Vol 1, p.625