DECLARED VOID

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 260, 16 August 1935, Page 5

DECLARED VOID

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION.

VOTE WRONGLY DISALLOWED,

(Per Pr'ess Association). DANNEVIRKE, August 15.

Arising out of the by-election for the Norsewood riding of! the Dannevirko County Council, caused by the death of a member, Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., this afternoon, heard a petition signed by the defeated candidates and five ratepayers asking that the poll be declared void on the grounds of alleged irregularities. When the poll was provisionally declared . thbre was a double dead-lieat—a tie first and second plaices.' On - the official - recount the returning officer declared- H. A. Olsen elected by a majority of one vote.

H. Frederickson, who figured in the tie for first, was one of the.petitioners to have the poll declared void. Evidence was given, by Albert O. A. Petersen, a farmer, of Noirsewood. that he had received rate demands for 1934 and 1935, which lie paid' on; December 3. When he made Application, to the deputy i returning/officer ,on the day of the by-election he: Was told that his name was not oil the roll. He voted by declaration, his "vote subsequently being disallowed. The returning officer, Mrs F. M. Baker, stated in evidence that she had disallowed Petersen’s declaration vote because she had no knowledge of his voting qualifications. Evidence was given by a former assistant in the county office, that she had been advised that Petersen had taken over the property and she altered the rate demand and reposted, it to Petersen. The magistrate: That- should have been sufficient notice that Petersen was the" occupier of the property. Petersen, when forwarding postal notes in payment of his rates, emphasised, in the covering note that these were his rates which he was paying, and that was sufficient knowledge to the local authority that he was entitled' to vote. Petersen had not had 1 the opportunity of ascertaining whether he was'on the roll because the roll was not deposited in the. Norsewood riding. As there was only one Vote between the parties, this might have affected the election. The election was declared void, with costs totalling £4 16s Gd against the returning officer.