AN ELECTION "DODGER."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 87, 11 April 1906, Page 5

AN ELECTION "DODGER."

LICENSING CANDIDATE'S BREACH . . OF THE LAW.

"For a breach of the Electoral Act by handing an election "dodger" to an elector going to the poll on March 13th, "William Eichardson, one of the candidates for the City Licensing Committee election, was convicted and ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution (fifteen shillings) by Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M. this morning. The prosecntion was conducted by Sub-Inspector Gordon. Constable Nash stated, that the defendant, a candidate at the last City licensing election, stood outside the Drill Hall polling place circulars. He handed one to an elderly- .elector named Frederick Worhoys, who subseqnently recorded ■ his votei' The witness, in reply to Mr. Eichardson, sail a woman who polled brought, a card containing the names of five candidates, which she said was given to her a Week before the election. He saw the defendant disfcribTiting circulars to children. When the dsfendant asked the 'constable if he had any -bias towards him, tha magistrate declared that the- issue was whether Eichardson interfered with "an elector, and he would not allow outside matter to be introduced. The circular, which was produced In Court, characterised "\fr,. Eichardson as the drinkers' but the brewers' and publicans* enemy, defined "his programme as "N"o bluestone,. no tobacco, and rigid inspection of liquor," and; urged the electors to vote solid for Eichardson. - • Mr. Eichardsonr's"defence was that he, -innocanttjr "broke 7 the law, thinking" that although, it was illegal to distxibufe" ejection literature withfh three days, of" a genaral election, the clause did not'apply to licensing elections. - • f j