[press association.] ALLEGED INTERFERENCE WITH VOTERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 150, 22 December 1911, Page 3

[press association.] ALLEGED INTERFERENCE WITH VOTERS.

AUCKLAND, 21st December. Several young men were charged in the Police Court to-day with having interfered with voters at tho Franklir^-road booth on election day. Mr. Endean appeared for the defendants, and. intimated to the Magistrate that he intended to raise the point that the proceedings were Hot well founded. The facts were that 'on the day in question at the Ponsonby booth various people were working in the interest* of the Liberty League. They took the elector's number from the roll and put it on the back of a card that was being distributed in the interests of the Liberty League. Mr. Endean pointed out that the prosecution was laid under the Legislature Act and the Licensing Act. The former dealt only with the election 'of members of Parliament, and the provisions of the Licensing Act did not apply in those proceedings. Before proceedinge could be taken under the Licensing Act it would have to be shown that the interference affected the result of the poll, and the Minister's, authority would have to be obtained to institute proceedings. Evidence a« to the facts was taken in the case against one of the defendants, who admitted distributing cards in th« interest* of the Liberty League. The Sub-Inspector said £hat it was not suggested that any attempt had been made to influence electors by word of mouth, or that the influence by means of the cards had anything to "do with the" election for members of Parliament. He remarked that it would be a dangerous thing if such action as that objected to were allowed to pass unchecked, because if one side were to be permitted to adopt such tactics the other side also would have to be permitted to do the same thing. This afternoon Sir. Cutten, in giving his decision, said that the case was a matter of extreme public importance. " I don't see my way to inflict a fine," caia his Worship, "but I certainly think the matter, is one that should be taken to the' Supreme Court." He added that he was not actually dismissing the case, but he did not think that it had 'come before him in proper form. He would there fore adjourn all the other caees pending until after the hearing of a possible appeal. In reply to his 'Worship, the SubInspector said that an appeal was highly probable.