POLITICAL SITUATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15820, 18 January 1915, Page 7

POLITICAL SITUATION.

PETITION IN TAUMARUNUI.

DUNEDIN CENTRAL SEAT.

ELECTION ON FEBRUARY 3.

[by TET.F.GRArn —OWN' CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Sunday. The Reform candidate for the Taumarunui electorate, Mr. C. K. Wilson, has lodged an election petition asking for a scrutiny by an Election Court of the votes polled at the different polling places in the electorate. It is alleged in the petition that the number of voting papers deposited in the ballot boxes was larger than the number of electors who are shown to have voted, and also that there were numbers of cases of dual voting and that the votes so recorded illegally have not been disallowed. The petition also sets forth a number of other alleged irregularities.

A petition has been lodged in Hawkc's Bay, where Mr. R. McNab was declared to have won the scat from Mr. H. Campbell, the Reform candidate.

There are still rumours circulating among Opposition partisans that Mr. J. W. Munro intends to petition to be declared duly elected for Dunedin Central on the polling of December 10. If Mr. Munro really did intend at any time to present a petition, it is held that he has lost his opportunity, for the seat ha* been declared vacant, consequent on Mr. Stat-ham s resignation. A writ for a fresh election was issued on Saturday, and the polling will take place on February 3.