ELECTION SEQUEL.

Northern Advocate, 8 May 1915, Page 5

ELECTION SEQUEL.

TAUMARimUI PETITION. STATUS OF VOTERS. IRREGULARITIES ALLEGED. (Press Association.) TAUMARUNUI, May 8. At the resumed hearing of the Taumarunui election petition in the Supreme Court, Mr Johnstone, counsel for petitioner, dealt with the various groups of persons who were alleged »to have cast irregular votes. Mr Justice Cooper remarked that there was no evidence that these persons were not qualified. Counsel relied solely upon the invalidity of tho forms. He would have to consider how the decision of the Full Court affected this aspect. Mr Johnstone contended that all persons who, when put on the roll, had not been in the district for the statutory period, had been improperly placed on the roll. If that were according to the decision of the Full Court, then the votes should be disallowed. Mr Justice Chapman: Supposing there has been an error in an application, is there not a presumption that the registrar has made further inquiry? He can do so. Mr Justice Cooper: We have also to consider that when the rolls closed all of these voters, or nearly all, were entitled to be on the roll if they had lodged claims in the proper time. Mr Johnstone said that they did not know whether such persons continued to reside in the district and so completed the residential qualification. Mr Justice Cooper said it was a question of how the judgment of the Full Court would affect this point. The main question for the present Court to decide was: Had the person a status, not when he was put on the roll, but when he cast his vote was h 6 qualified to vote?