THE PALMERSTON SCHOOL COM MITTER ELECTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11113, 14 May 1898, Page 3

THE PALMERSTON SCHOOL COM MITTER ELECTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—l notice by " The Schools Election Act, 1881,'^according to section 11, that, inter alia, after the chnimun i« satisfied that an elector is qualified to vote, &c., he hands him a voting paper, which must not be taken out of the room, &c, but the voter mast then and there strike out the names of those he does' not wish to vote for.^ If the above reading is correct it is qnite evident thai the late election of the committee is illegal and of no effect, because the chairman suggested, and it was adopted by the maeting, that all voters after receiving a paper should retire to another and distinct room, strike out the names, and then return and place the voting papers in the ballot box. Now, the above being the method by which the election was conducted, please state is the election of ooinmittea a legal one?— I am, &c, j Palmerston, May 10. ■ ' J. T. Gv/ykne! [The School Committees Act of 1891, section 11, provides that the householder shall prepare his or her ballot paper without leaving the rGom in which the meeting is being held, and then j place it in the baliot bos or hand it to the'ehairi man for ttiat purpose. Section 13 provides that " if any dispute saal! arise respecting the validity of the proceedings at the annual or other election of auy member or members of any committee, the matter in dispute shall be submitted to the judgment of the board of the district, whose decision thereon shall be final and conclusive." The board need not call for another election if it considers the informality wae not wilful and did not really affect the result of the election.—Ed. O. D. T.]