ELECTION PETITIONS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15223, 10 March 1915, Page 4

ELECTION PETITIONS.

TAU HENARE'S COSTS. (press association* telegbam.) AUCKLAND. March 9. Heir Honours Mr Justice Hosking and Mr Justice Stringer, who heard tho petition against tho reiura of Mr Tau Hcnare, for the Northern Maori seat, to-day ordered tho petitioners (two Natives) to i>av costs, -which amount to between £150 "and £200. Mr Justice Hosking said that sufficient ground had not been shown why the Court should depart from the rule that tho successful side should get tho costs. Mr Justice Stringer remarked that petitioners had proceeded on a bare technicality. They knew, or ought to have known, that iz was uecessary to go beyond that in order to have tho election declared void. To succeed an irregularity must affect the result of tho election. Yet the petitioners knew, Jor ought to liare known, that the only e&ect of the irregularity was adverse to tho successful candidate. It was proved from the evidence for petitioners that in all probability a great number of would hare been given in Mr Tan Henare's favour. In view of the facts known to petitioners, th& petition should not tax© been presented. The judges remarked that the charges were not to tho discredit of the returning officer.