WESTLAND PETITION

Feilding Star, Volume 4, Issue 729, 11 March 1926, Page 6

WESTLAND PETITION

lIIS HONOUR’S REMEW

VOTES DISALLOWED. (Press Association Telegram). Grey mouth, .Marc'll 10. At (lie hearing of the Westland election petition Air Justice Stringer reviewed the ease and said that the petitioner’s main ground was the large number of persons illegally on the roll, while respondent made a similar claim. It was not sufficient Vo prove that electors had been absent for three months. Jt had to be proved that they had actually resided in another district for three months before the closing of the roll. Wlicro the elector has his or her permanent home in another electorate, but worked here, liecould claim to reside in this district. The opinion of the Court was that if a person had the right to be enrolled, the mode >a which, he got on the roll was a matter of procedure only. The Court could not uphold respondent’s counsel s contention that voting papers marked with a cross should be treated as invalid. |n the opinion o fthe very capable returning officer for Westland such votes were valid, and the Court saw no reason for disturbing 'his decision.

The Court had carefully considered the objections raised by the petitioner and had arrived at the conclusion that following persons in the list- were not qualified to vote:. Robert G. F. Blake,li, C- E. Heinz, B. It. Sword, Janet Sword, J. McCarthy, and Mary Uret*. A number of electors had qualified when the roll closed, - although not when they applied for enrolment. ,

Regarding absent voters,. such p ivilege must be exercised subject to the conditions laid down by Statute. a,nd if an elector failed to comply with the provisions thereof his ote was invalid. Three absentee votes would be disallowed.

Regarding two ballot papers marked “A.J.D.” and “Too Irish,” the Court agreed with the Returning Oflicer. in a lowing these votes. The petitioner had failed to establish his claim regarding “Buller” votes, the evidence on these being too vague to justify the Court granting relief.

MR SEDDON ELECTED BY 1 2 VOTES. GETS COSTS ON THE HIGHEST SCALE. , / Judge Stringer announced that the figures had carefully been readjusted andjchecked. - Tlie final figures were:— Seddou (Liberal) <1175’ Jambs O’Brien (Labour) 4163 The Coil id held ,T. E. V. Seddou duly elected by 12 votes. Costs were allowed to respondent ■ .(Seddou) ,on the highest scale, as for TSOI claim; witnesses’ expenses to he fixed by the Registrar. The Court indemnified witnesses against possible subsequent proceedings. It was decided regarding respondent’s case that eight votes must be disallowed, two voters being Alaoris find not qualified; two absentee votes were also disallowed owing to the deputy returning officer failing to complete declarations. The Court held that where the voter crossed out the names •of both candidates; if only partial, in one instance, a vote was informal and should not have been allowed. Four papers had a cross against the name oi one candidate, the other name not being erosseo out. These votes were allowed. The Court and Returning Officer (Air. G. Coles) retired to inspect voting papers allowed and disallowed, and to make a fresh return when it was ascertained how the votes were recorded.