Local Option Petition

Southland Times, Issue 18059, 31 January 1903, Page 2

Local Option Petition

(United Press Association.?

WELLINGTON. .Jan; bo.

The Newtown local option enquiry was continued yesterday, when Mr Skerrett, for petitioners, applied to be ftllowed %o call the Clerk of the Court to produce voting papers, and asked that a scrutiny be held for the purpose of striking oil the votes of those found to he illegal, ly on the roll. Subject- t<^ i sß: -scnitiny he closed his case

On resuming to-day, Dr ..McArthur, S.M. , gave judgment on the point raised as to the conclusiveness or otherwise of the- roll. His Worship said that, after looking most into the matter, he must conclude that in both electoral and licensing petitions ihe court might, at any time during^trial, direct a isocount or scrutiny "ol votCs: given at an election to which the petition refers, and should disallow the vote- of every person found guilty of any corrupt practice, or whose name had been illegally placed or retained on the roll. He would conflne the scrutiny to namesfiK the petition, in so far aa' they were brought before him by petitioners, or referred to by counsel. . : v :'-^u'

Mr Bell; opposing counsel,; iss Um ea that the court was going io open the ballot papers pf those persons j cWhose names appeared i'-la.'ib* petition;^' and ascertain how they trate : "That is 50.".-3Ux; Bell said thit might entitle his 'cileni "to ask J6r 6, prohibition from the Supreme Court against the Lower Court: As It y^eio important that th 6 matter should =^ye fully determined, he applied for an ftfli" journment. It was : eyentiially ag&etfi' that some further evidence.be calied^^^ thereafter an adjournment made Hilt" Monday.; '-"lyy - : ~' t: •'■■"> :

( Evidence was called by thpse opposed : to the petition. Witnesses gave evidence; r that the booths were not overcrowded,' and that the irregularity -"of giving voting , papers separately to electors only occurrred in a few instances, and this was soon corrected. No spoiled ballot papers were put Into the. boxes; ;