LOAN POLL DISPUTE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19024, 26 May 1936, Page 4

LOAN POLL DISPUTE

PROPOSAL CARRIED COURT GIVES RULING (Per Preßs Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The declared result of a loan poll held recently by the Glen Eden Town Board was challenged by 10 ratepayers of the district in the Magistrates Court yesterday, when an inquiry into the validity of certain voting papers was conducted by Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M.

The loan poll concerned a proposal to raise £3500 for the erection of a town hall in Glen Eden.

After the preliminary count of votes east al the poll, it was announced ’by tho returning officer that 110 votes had been for the proposal and the same number against it. However, as a result of the official count one of the voting papers, previously included among the ‘‘negative’’ votes, was deemed to be informal and the loan project was, therefore, declared carried, by 110 votes to 109. Later a meeting, of ratepayers was held to consider the matter, and it was decided to petition for a magisterial inquiry.

“I find that the voting papers which are subject to this inquiry were quite properly disposed of by the returning officer, and that as a result of the poll the proposal was duly carried” said the Magistrate. The petitioners were ordered to pay the costs of the inquiry and £7 7s solicitor’s costs.