THE INVERCARGILL LICENSING CASE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7046, 26 April 1894, Page 2

THE INVERCARGILL LICENSING CASE.

Thb decision of the Magistrate with regard to the petition again-t the return of tho 3 icensiug Onmmittee ia only what (flight have been expected. As ah 'he m>-rubers of the committee are pledged to ivduoe ihe number of lice-Sds to th-j utmo _ limit allowed by the Act that is by 25 pnr cent—the defeated liquor interact wanted the election declared null and voir), on the (found of ui-gularites. It was admitt-d that there had been irregularities, but tbe plea was set up that such irreiiularuie* were in a manner unavoidable at a first election under the Act, especially seeing that the voting was such a complicated affair, and the accommodation insufficient. This plea was upheld by iSr Baw-on, whose judgment in the ea.-e is eminently sensible and judicial Sad the voting been close, the invgula .ties, he slid, were such as would have compelled him to annul the election. But as tha committee had baen elected by an overwhelming majority, and practically in acc'irlauce with the principles laid down in the .Electoral _ct, be considered that to declare the election void because a few had been guilty of irregularities would be to do an injustice to the committee and the great body of the electors, who were innocent of wrong. The petition was accordingly refused and costs giveuagiinstihepetitioters Thi. judgment and that of Mr Justice DtHinieton will, we imagine, prevent any further litigation in connection with the lata licensing polls and elections