BOARD ELECTION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 August 1924, Page 9

BOARD ELECTION.

IR REG ULARITIES ALLEGED. (BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) . WELLINGTON, Aug. 2b. An action for an order by the court declaring void the Wellington Education Board’s election on Jvfly 24 last because of alleged irregularities adopted by the returning officer. George Leighton Stewart, secretary to the board, was commenced in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. The petition stated that for the election the names of Percy John Stephen Huthnance and James Stonehurst anpeared on the voting paper for the* Hutt-Petone urban area as candidates, and the returning officer returned the latter as the elected member. It was further alleged that the nomination m proper form of Ernest Dawson was at'about 1.30 p.m. on June 24 posted bv registered letter to the Education Board secretary, directed' to the post office box mentioned in the circular issued by the board asking for nominations. The returning officer said the nomination of Dawson was not received until the forenoon of June 26. and the petitioners maintained that it was received hy Stewart prior to b o’clock on the afternoon of June 2b. If the nomination had not been received as stated, the petitioners alleged that non-receipt I>a Stewart ivas due to his failure to exercise reasonable and proper care and diligence in the performance of the duties required of him as returning officer, and in particular to his failure or neglect to take al.I measures necessarv to insure the prompt and sate collection and receint of nominations. The hearing is proceeding.