The Borough Election.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 44, 22 September 1887, Page 2

The Borough Election.

RETURNING OFFICER COMPLAINED OF. At the Borough Council on Tuesday night, when the payment ot the Returning Officer's fee for the late election was brought up Councillor Lucas said he thought three guineas were too much, and he considered the way the people were kept waiting for the declaration of the poll was simply disgraceful. They were kept waiting until nearly nine o'clock, and in reply to a complaint mads to the Returning Officer that official had said, " Well, you will have to wait, you have got no scrutineers to help this time," as much as to say the candidates would have to pay for scrutineers out of their own pockets. Two guineas were sufficient for the Returning Officer. The Chairman explained that the fee was an agreed sum, though he considered with Cr Lucas that the delay was very annoying, The latter said he would withdraw the motion, but it was only right to call attention to the unsatisfactory performance of the work. Io reference to the above we have made enquiries as to the cause of the alleged delay. The Returning Officer (Mr Piesse) informs us that no unnecessary delay took place, but that the result was arrived at with all haste' He states that there was very large polling on the occasion, and that no candidate thought it necessary to appoint a scrutineer, a fact that has hitherto considerably expedited matters in the counting up. In considering the question there are many things to be looked at. Of course candidates waiting to hear the result of a poll would consider the delay twice as long as anyone not personally concerned in the result. It is hardly neces. sary to state that the duties of a Returning Officer are of the most important nature. It is only on great care being exercised that a true result can be arrived at, and even if that result takes hours to obtain there is no earthly reason to grumble about it. More particularly so in this instance, as in Mi Piesse the Council have a tried an efficient officer.