WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S TROUBLE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14029, 28 April 1911, Page 7

WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S TROUBLE.

THE LEGAL POSITION

Arising out of the trouble on' Wednesday night, when just on closing time a big crowd of voters surged into tho booth and would not leave, thereby causing the returning officer to continue the poll for another day, Mr Colin Cook,*Mr Russell's opponent for the Harbour Board, entered a formal protest against tho holding cf the polls yesterday. Mr Russell informed a '"Press" representative yesterday that when he got to the booth he found about. 120 persons waiting for admission. About a dozen came to him nnd eaid: i, "How are «c going to vote?" He ascertained there was nn empty room next to tho room where the polling was taking place, and the whole building being the polling booth, he told them to wait hi there. They went in, and then several other persons rushed in. One of the grounds unon which tho returning officer based his action is covered by Section 32 of the Local Elections Aetj 1908, which provide that if tho proceedings at any polling booth arc interrupted or obstructed by riot or violence, the returning officer may adjourn tho polling until the next day. "Witnesses of the affair, however, state that there was nothing in th« semblance of a riot, the crowd being most orderly.

Mr Foster also based his action on Section IS of the Local Elections Act, which says that not more than six voters shall bo allowed in a polling booth at one and the same time. In tbis contention he is evidently supported by facts, in this connection it is an interesting point whether other returning officers wero acting validly in letting more than six voters in their booths at one and tho same time shortly before seven on Wednesday nighc. AKAROA. Great interest was taken in the election for councillors. The following) were returned: —Messrs L. J. Vangioni, (?. C. Narbev, J.R.Newton. T. Lewitt, A. R, Munro, P. G. Mcßeddie, J. Halliday, J. Walker and J. Hayward.