PROSPECTIVE INQUIRIES. AUCKLAND, December 10.

Otago Witness, Issue 2857, 16 December 1908, Page 27

PROSPECTIVE INQUIRIES. AUCKLAND, December 10.

It has definitely been announced that

the trade has decided to file a petition praying that the Ohinemuri poll, at which no-license was declared to have been carried, may be voided. The grounds of the petition are alleged irregularities in connection with the taking of the polls and the conduct of several of the polling booths, while it is understood that it will also be alleged that during the three days preceding the poll imitations of voting papers were displayed and that electors were accosted on polling day and advised to " strike out the top line." It is believed that one point upon which the petitioners will rely is that more than six voters were permitted to be in a booth at one time, and that electors were permitted to converse

in the booth and in ihe compartments as to their votes.

Although no definite announcement has yet been made by the No-license party, it is practically certain that it will lodge a petition praying that the Waitemata poll, at which it was declared that no proposal had been carried, shall be voided. . . There is some possibility of a petition being lodged by the No-license party in Parnell, where reduction was carried.