DISTRIBUTON OF "TICKETS" DEATHS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 3

DISTRIBUTON OF "TICKETS"

DEATHS.

. • .— i AT CITY COUNCIL ELECTION. ALLEGED IXFLUENCT ON U ELECTORS. HEARING OF POLICE |] PROSECUTIONS. j Seven party supporters were charged In the Police Court this morning, under tlie Local Elections and Polls Act, with having influenced electors, and (b) in-i: terfered with electors on their way to j the polling booth at the recent election j ol" the Auckland City Council by deliver- • ing to them cards having thereon names of candidates. The cards produced in Court bore the names of certain of the . candidates approved by various bodies, Its, for instance, sections of the Protes- j tant Political Association. j In the case of Georgo Frederick Lane, j of Mt. Eden, for whom Mr. A. H. John- | stone appeared. Sergeant Hammond deposed that ho received a "ticket" from defendant at the Town Hall booth. He saw defendant give tickets to other persons who acted as though they were | electors. Mr. Johnstone pointed out that persons convicted under the Act were liable to a penalty of £20. It was an ordinary I ■ penal section that had to be read in j favour of the defendant. It would have i to be Shown that (1) the elector was interfered with, (2) that lie wits actually an elector, (15) that he was on his way I to the poll, (4) and that there was in- i tention of influencing or advising. In the first place, counsel submitted that • there was no proof that a ticket was delivered to any elector except the con- ) stable. The fact that others in the vicinity received tickets did not prove that they were electors or on their way to vote. Those who received the tickets should be called if it was to be proved that they were electors. Counsel also submitted that the ticket was not calculated to influence an elector since it simply bore the names of candidates . approved by a certain body. It was com- j . petent for an elector to deliberately 1 refrain from voting for any of the candi- I ■ dates named thereon. \ '■■ In the case of R. W. Bennett (Mr. j Osburne Lilly), Constable Belcher de- j 1 posed that defendant 'had given tickets I • to several people, and on presenting the , cards he said "This is for your informa- • tion. - ' . For Thomas Buchanan, Mr. J. J. But- I ler made a special point of the fact that Constable Belcher, who received the ticket, bad already voted, and was not, therefore, on his way to the poll. Other defendants whose cases were heard this morning were: —E. H. Potl ter (Mr. Rogerson), E. Poster (Mr. ;" Adams), T. Bloodworth (Mr. Tuck), and J. Seabrook (Mr. Rogerson). Similar cases are proceeding against a number of other party supporters this afternoon. 1 Mr. J. VV. Poynton. S.M., intimated that he would give his decision next Friday. Provision would 'be made for hearing counsels' addresses in special . cases. i l _

The demand for sections in the suburbs must be pretty good judging by the manner in which the Papatoetoe Orphans Home estate has sold (during the past week Last Friday at Mandeno Jackson's Mart 6S sections were offered by auction. A | fair number sold under the hammer, and j to-day only 21 remain unsold. ■

COCHRANE.—On May 24. 1023. Alice Maria Cochrane, dearly beloved wife of James Cochrane, of 21. Allen Street, daughter of .Taineß and Maria Oweni. late of Thames. The funeral will leave 54, M r niiamson Avenue, To-morrow (Waturdayl, at 2 p.m., for Waikumete.