ELECTION SURPRISE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 87, 13 April 1915, Page 6

ELECTION SURPRISE.

AN INELIGIBLE CANDIDATE. MR. BRADNETS POSITION. NOT QUALIFIED FOR CITY HARBOUR SEAT. A surprise awaited Mr. J. H. Bradney, who until to-day was seeking election to the Auckland Harbour Board for the city seat when he attended at the office of the returning officer (Mr. (5. RHogan) to apply for a form of nomination. ■Mr. Hogan informed Mr. Bradney that in consequence of his not having a vote for the city, owing to not having property interests in the city, he was ineligible to contest one of the city seats, and it was therefore unnecessary to issue a nomination paper to him. The position was not altogether sprung upon Mr. Bradney. Mr. Hogan explained to a "Star" representative that albout two months ago he was looking through the Toll, when he noticed that Mr. Bradney's name did not appear. Ho, therefore, rang up that gentleman, and apprised h:m of the fact. He then proceeded to inquire what woultl be the position if Mr. Bradney sought re-election to the Harbour Board for the scat, he was representing, and discovered that under section 16 of the Harbours Amendment Act Mr. Bradney had no qualifications for representing city interests on the Board. Th;<* ata-ted Mr. Hogan, he also pointed out to Mr. Bradney, but Mr. Bradney would not agree that that was the positron, although lie (Mr Hogan) showed him the opinion he bad received from the late Mr. Tom Cotter, K.C., City Solicitor, wfirch wae to the effect that the position in regard to the Harbour Board election was analogous to that wh.cli arose in.the Hospital Board election two ycare ago, when Mr. Steele Craik'e nomination was held to be invalid on account of his having no voting qualifica'Won in the city. Mr. Bradney was under the impression that the qualification for candidature in a Parliamentary election aleo applied to a Hafbour Board. Since then he (Mr. H.ogan) had made inquiries of Mr. T. F. Martin, counsel for the Municipal Association, who confirmed the opinion, expressed by Mr. Cottar. The position now wae that Mr. Bradnpy for the lest four years had hold a position on the Harbour Board which he wae not qualified to bold. Mr. Bradney informed the '.Star" representative that it was perfectly true that some time ago Mr. Hogan expressed the opinion that ho was not qualified to contest the scat, but he frankly pooh-poohed the idea, firmly believing that he had qualifications as a . voter under three heads. First he. was a voter in thp combined Mt. Albert district, and he was under the impression, that he was also qualified in the interests of-shipping, and as a payer of dues other than those on ships. Thus he thought his qualifications worp sufficient for any constituency, particularly as he had held the scat for four yean. When no received Mr. Martin's opinion at Mr. Hofran's office this morning he realised that if he were elector!, and a petition were successfully lodged, eilher he or the returning officer would bo responsible for the expenses for another election, and therefore withdrew from the contest. He understood that it was now too late to seek elecFion for the Mt. Albert district, as nominations closed to-day, and he would have ,' to take time to consider whether he would i stand in the interests of payers of duo.*He was afraid that the opinion Mr. Hogan had obtained from Sir. Martin was conclusive. FOUR SEATS FIL/LED. Nominations for scate on the Harbour Board to represent any of the various " combined " district* closed to-day. The latest information obtainable was to the effect that Mr. AY. E. Hutchison. Mr..H. iR. Mackenzie, and Mr. J. S. Bond, all sitting members, were the only candidates nominated for their respective districts. Mr. Hutchison represents the Mount Eden and Mount Albert Borough* and the Eden Terrace, Mount Roekill, lAvondale, and Point Chevalier Road Districts. Mr. Mackenzie represent* Franklin and Manukau Counties and Otahului and Pukekohc Boroughs. Mr. Bond represents Raglan and Waikato Counties and Hamilton Borough. Mr. M. H. Wynyard, the only nominee for Xewmarket and other district*; hag also been declared duly elected. The nominations for other scats on the Board arc as follows: — Devonport, Xorthcote and Birkenhead: Messrs. W. Handley and J. \V. Wallace. Takapnina and Waitemata County: Messrs. T. B. Arthur, a.nd V. Kerr-Tay-lor. Newmarket and Onehunga, and other districts about 'Ellerslie: Mt. M. H. I Wynyard. Cambridge and Waipa County: Messrs E. Allen, G. Dickinson, and F. Quinn.