WAITOMO ELECTION

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11423, 20 January 1923, Page 4

WAITOMO ELECTION

GROUNDS OF PETITION

POLL AND SCRUTINY. The election petition by Mr. W. 1. Jennings regarding the election for the lVaitomo seat is a voluminous document, alleging many irregularities, relating to alleged breaches of the Legislature Amendment Act, 1919,. to the conduct of the poll and scrutiny and the magisterial recount. There is no charge made against Mr J. C. Kolleston. Amongst allegations are that certain persons were refused the right to vote by declaration though entitled to do so, and a number of others whose names did not appear on the roll were wrongfully allowed to vote; and that due care was not exercised m counting the votes. It states that the magistrate should not have disallowed 77 votes on the grounds that 70 declaratory votes were wrongly dealt with by the returning officer and his deputies. It is therefore asked that a scrutiny be ordered for the recovery of such votes. The petition concludes with an allegation that “the election was net conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Legislature Act, and that the said irregularities and breaches of the law material lv affected the result. The petitioned prays that it may he determined that John Christopher Rolleston was not dt)lv elected and that the election was void.”