BREACH OF THE REGISTRATION ACT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 43, 10 June 1876, Page 2

BREACH OF THE REGISTRATION ACT.

THE HAMPDEN ELECTORATE. At the Reaident' : 3&Bigistrate , s Court this afternoon, the Bench gave judgment in the case of Alexander Young, Clerk of the Hampden Road Board, who was charged yesterday, on the information of Thomas Windle Parker, Registration Officer for the Electoral District of Waitaki, with wilfully and negligently omitting to furnish to him as such Registration Officer, a list of ratepayers, as required by section three of the RegistraGon of Electors Act, 1875.

Sir. Udall, in giving judgment, addressing the defendant, said :—You cannot fail to feel} from the evidence adduced, that you have been guilty of a gross neglect of public duty. The Elea of ignorance that you did not now the requirements of the Act the Court thoroughly ignores. It is perfectly impossible to entertain this plea, as Mr. Parker sent you a letter on .the 9th February as to your duties. This was an act of courtesy on Mr. Parker's part, and not of duty. From the letters put in we cannot but feel that some penalty must be attached for your negligence of duty. The extreme penalty is a very serious one, and perfectly takes the Court by surprise. We have the power to inflict a penalty of £IOO. As (his is the first case that has come before this Court of a similar kind, as we wish it to act as a warning, we think a penalty of £lO will meet the case. Mr. W. J. Steward thoroughly coincided with the remarks of his brother justice. He might state that the Court had taken cognisance of the fact that perhaps the penalty would fall personally on the defendant. The defendant immediately paid the fine. Parker applied for costs for Mr* Cullen, who had been put to some expense in attending the Court; but the. Bench refused to grant the application; .••*