THE PAKATOA INEBRIATES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14581, 21 July 1909, Page 3

THE PAKATOA INEBRIATES.

INELIGIBLE AS VOTERS. (FXOJI O,UP. Own ComtESPONDKNT.) AUCKLAND, July 20. An important judgment, was given in the Otnhiilin Police Court this morning by Mr 11. W. Xortheioft, S.M., in eon-, nection with the cafe recently hc-ard in which Hie right of the I'alntoa Islanders to vole at the general flection was chalMr 1!. N. .Moody appeared in support of the application, in which it was sought to have the jiamcs of those confined on tile island -removed from the electoral roll, on the grounds that they arc ineligible, having been convicted of an offence for which thov be imprisoned for a period of 12 months. Mr R. .M'Vcagh appeared to obejet to the application, and his contention was that those whose names were on the roll wore never guilty of an offence for which they cotdd have iTc-eu imprisoned for 12 months, tiio maximum penalty for drunkenness being Uio period of three nionlhs. Mr Noitheroft, after a. lengthy summing iili of the facts of the case, said the question to be determined was, Were, the person- whose names were entered on the mil as before mentioned qualified to be registered as'electors for I lie district of Miimtkau? In his opinion they were prisoners, and were not qualified to bo registered as doctor.-, and their names ought not to have been entered on the roll. This he thought clear: that those of the claimants win claimed enrolment under scction .13 did not pos-css part, at aim'Rto, of the ((Ualilication required by that section. They did not reside in the district within the meaning of Hie act, but were brought

to the institution in custody from without the district- against their will and by coinpulsion of law—that is, under a warrant or order of commitment is«ued under section 35 of "Tile Police Offences Act, 1908." They wcro practically prisoners detained or imprisoned as eonv.cled olfcndors bv process of law. With regard lo those claimants ivlio applied lo bo registered under section 42 of the a;-t, the same objection applied. They bad never resided wifliin tho district. It was also clear that the claimants came, under section 33 of the aef. They were all convicted of an offence punishable under section 55 of the Police Offences Act of 1900. and were duly committed to the institution—.--onio of them for one year and others for a longer period. For these rea-ons he was of opinion that the names of the pers'iiis objected to should jmt have been entered on the mil, and lie accordingly ordcreii their removal therefrom.