DUNEDIN CENTRAL SEAT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16744, 28 December 1914, Page 5

DUNEDIN CENTRAL SEAT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—There are two well-known principles whose oombined application to the Dunedin situation should solve tha dispute. The one is the "square deal maxim of the Premier and the other is the well-wora maxim which is adopved bv the chief Reform organ of Canterbury " Nihil utile quod non honesturn,"" or translated, rt Nothing is expedient which'is not honourable." With these two maxims before Reform ths.-e is onlv one thing to be done-r-that is, do not stick to the seat in face of your own principles. Some years ago owing to the error of the Christchurch returning officer the nominations of two candidates were received a day too late. One of these candidates, Mr Sandford, was elected. The error was validated by "Gazette" proclamation. The candidate who was in time and technically right, Mr Eden George claimed the seat. The election court! decided in favour of Mr Sandford, as the error had not affected the resalt of the election. The Court would have held had it beeu necessary to do so that the proclamation validated the error of the returning officer. It is difficult to seo why the mistake at the Duriediu Gmtral election cannot also bo validated. It was not the fault of the candidate or the electors. 'They marked nothing on the back of the bnllot papers. The seat fairly belongs to Mr Munro, and whether Mr Statham resigns or not Mr Munro should claim it. and he would get it. I fail to see why Mr Statham should oppose such claim. —I am, etc., SUUM CUIQUE. '