ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 23 November 1938, Page 8

ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES

BAY OF ISLANDS ELECTION PETITION FOR INQUIRY I Unfed Frees Association! WHANGAREI, This Day. Petitions signed by Clive Cameron, of Kaikohe. and Sydney Walter Smith, of Pakaraka. were forwarded to the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, to-day, seeking the constitution of an electoral court to inquire into alleged irregularities in the Bay of Islands election. The petitioners say that certain persons not lawfully entitled to vote at the election did register their votes, and that their names were illegally placed or retained cn the electoral roll of the district. The reasons given in support of the petition were:— (a) They were not British subjects; (b) they were Maoris other than halfcastes; (c) they were lawfully registered on ihe electoral roll for another electoral district, or were qualified to be so registered; (d) they were not of or over the age of 21 years. Petitioners further allege that certain persons committed an offence within the meaning of section 223 of the Electoral Act. 1927, and that votes were recorded at the election in the names of persons who had died previously to the date of the election. Petitioners further say that certain half-castes who were on the roll for the electoral district and who had voted at the Maori election for the Northern Maori electoral district on 14th October also recorded their votes at the election held on 15th October. Petitioners say that apart from the votes which should be disallowed for the reasons given above. Harold Fisher Guy, Nationalist candidate, obtained a majority of valid votes polled at the election, and was accordingly entitled to have been declared elected. Petitioners ask that it be determined that Harold Guy be returned

The official count at the General Election was: L. U. Boswell (Lab.), 4556; H. F. Guy (N.), 4393; majority for Boswell 163.