ELECTION VOIDED.

MR JENNBNGS UNSEATED FOR

TAiJMARUNUf.

(Per Press Association). ■

AUCKLAND, May 14

The Election Court gave judgment in the Taumarunui election petition case to-day. ' ;

The Court held that as. Mr Jennings did not reside in the Taumarunui electorate, according to the provisions of the Act, but in New Plymouth, . and was not therefore qualified to be on the 101 las an •lector, the Comt i\as compelled to uphold that Mi Jennings \va-> not fit the date oi tin election qualified to bo a mcmboi of the iloiisL o Repi esentatn es. Discussing the electoral niegulaiities, tho Comt lemaiked that at Hohmkaa tho pun ij lo ol the soael ballot uas clisiegaidui It could not help thinking theie had been what commonly called " roll-stuffing,""' acpounting for the presence on the roll of a considerable number of v Maoris, non-residents, aliens, and infants, who were not likely to have taken steps to enrol on their .own initiative.

The Cpur^ did not think it; necessary to order a scrutiny, ..having decided the petition .on the basis of the candidate'!; electoral qualifications, and declared the election void, each party to pay his' own costs, except the Fall Court costs; which were,fixed at 20 guineas, and, which respondent was ordered to pay.

The Court refused to grant'an indemnity to John Burns.'Young, on t> groiind that his evidence .was untvustvvoi'thv .and unbelievable. ,