LICENSING POLLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12026, 24 July 1902, Page 5

LICENSING POLLS.

LEGISLATION SUGGESTED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Wednesday. A large deputation, representing the New Zealand Alliance, waited on Sir J. Ward to-night, and asSed that the licensing poll machinery should be made more perfect. It was pointed out that the returning officers did not seem to know what their duties were, and it was desired that the matter should be made perfectly clear. . The contradictory decisions given in the cases of Oamaru and Bruce were explained, and it was stated that a Bill had been drafted doing away with the regulations under the regulation of the Local Elections Act, 1876. The main feature of the Bill was a provision for the taking of a recount at the discretion of a stipendiary magistrate, from whose decision ail appeal could be made to the Supreme Court. . ' . Sir J. Ward, in reply, said there could be no two opinions that the law should be administered in one district the same as in another. He had not seen the Bill referred to by the deputation, but, speaking frankly (he did not for a moment doubt the value of the Bill), he thought that in a case where what was desired was that the machinery should work as the Legislature had intended it should, whatever was to be done should be drafted by the law officers, submitted to tha Cabinet for consideration, and by it introduced in the ordinary way. He thought this anomaly in the law, ought to be removed, and he would be very glad to have it removed impossible, . '