OHINEMURI LOCAL OPTION POLL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7734, 2 March 1909, Page 1

OHINEMURI LOCAL OPTION POLL.

THE PETITION DISMISSED. . WAIHI, March 1. The Special Court gave its decision to-day in reference to the petition to invalidate the Ohinemuri licensing poll, the Court consisting of Messrs ißurgess, Cutten and Colonel Roberts, Stipendiary Magistrates. After re- ; viewing the evidence the Court : said it" did not think the irregularities proved showed that the poll was not conducted substantially/ in accordance with the provisions of the law, nor did they think the result was affected thereby. The petition would be dismissed with costs, £108. The Court held that the principle to be applied was clearly whether there had been such great and universal neglect that it could be said that the secrecy of the ballot had been entirely disregardedThe evidence adduced did justify j them in coming t« suc^" conclusions. Constable Driscoll had said that it was in endeavouring to assist voters to. find empty compartments that he looked behirid screens, and in doing so saw ballot papers, anc] it was suggested by the petitioners that persons looking for compartments in which to vote would have the same apportunity as Constable Driscoll to see how others voted. There was not evidence, however, of any person in the booth at any time throughout the day for the purnose of voting having seen how any other voter was marking his paper.