ELECT ON PETITIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 8 May 1915, Page 8

ELECT ON PETITIONS

TAUMARUNUI CASK {United Press Association.) : ; '-. " AUCKLAND, May 7. The hearing of the Taumaranui election petition was- resumed this morning. \\Mr Justice Cooper said the mam (Question for the.Court to decide was not whether a person had a- status when he was put on the roll, but when he cast his vote was he qualified to vote. i " The Court was occupied all day in hearing Mr Johnston's arguments for the petitioner. He contended that a large numbe" rof votes should, for varicnr reasons he disallowed, and he referred particularly to about 60. The Court- pointed out that the Full CourtV decision might apply where there was a likelihood of votes of persons otherwise qualified being disallowedi owing to some technical irregularity in' enrolment or voting. In any case, .eyen if all these votes were disallowed, 5 ■Sir" JenningsV majority was still large enough to leave him a majority of over 100. , -Counsel went on to say that he relied on irregularities which a man named Young committed in putting names on tha roll. Young in a large number of \ cases sent out enrolmen't claim forms ] which he had signed as witness to the signature before the signature was affixed. " I The Court agreed that there was reason to believe, that this had affected a large but unknown number of voters. Mr Justice Cooper strongly condemned Young's action. The Court would have , to carefully consider this matter. ~/. Mr Johnston finally argued that Mr Jenning6 was not qualified to vote there or stand for Parliamentary representative of the district. v The Court adjourned till to-morrow.