THE ELECTORAL LAW.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1318, 22 December 1911, Page 4

THE ELECTORAL LAW.

INTERESTING CASE AT AUCKLAND. Uly Telegraph-Press Association.) Auckland, December 21. Several young men were charged in tho Police Court to-day with having interfered with voters at tho LJuiiklin Road booth on election day. Mr. Endean appeared for the defendants, and intimated to the magistrate that ho intended to raise tho jwiut that tho i-rocecdings were not well founded. The facts were that on the day in question ut the Ponsonby booth various people were working in the interests of the Liberty League. Thcv took lhe electors' numbers irom the roil, and put it on the back of a card that was lining distributed in the interests of the Liberty League. Mr. Eudcan pointed out that the prosecution was laid under tho legislature Act and the Licensing Act. 1 he 4miner dealt onl» with the election of members of Parliament, and the provisions o! the Licensing Act did not apply m these proceedings. Before proceedings could bo taken under the Licensing Act it would havo to bo shown that tiie interferonee afl'eclod the result of the poll, and the Minister's authority would have to bo obtained to institute proceedings. .Evidence as to tho facts was taken in the case against one of the defendants, who admitted distributing cards in the interests of (ho Liberty League, tho .Siib-lnsiiector said that, it, was not suggested that any attempt had ken made to influence electors by word of moiiMi, or Dial (ho influence by means of the cards had anythiug to do with tho election for members of Parliament. Ho remarked that il would bo a dangerous thing it such action as that objected |o were allowed lo paw unchecked, because ir ono side were to bo permitted tc adopt such tactics the other side also would V- vc to '"Permitted to do the same tiling. llus afternoon Mr. Cullen, in giving his decision, said that tho ease was a matter of extreme public importance "I.dealt see my way lo inflict a imv ,said his Worship, "but I oorluiiily think the matter is ono that should b'e taken to tho Sunreme Court." lie added (hat he was not actually dismissing tho ease, but he did not think that it had come belorn him in proper form. 1 o would therefore adjourn all (ho other cases pending until after tho hearing of a possible appeal. Iu reply to his Worship, tho Sub-Inspector said that an appeal was highly probable.