INQUIRY OPENS

Southland Times, Issue 25305, 7 June 1935, Page 7

INQUIRY OPENS

POLL FOR HALF-HOLIDAY. IRREGULARITIES ALLEGED. (Per United Press Association.) Waipukurau, June 6. An inquiry into the question whether the recent poll to determine the statutory closing day at Waipukurau should be declared void, was heard to-day before Mr Miller, Magistrate, the petition having been signed by 10 electors and opposed by certain others. Irregularities were alleged covering the counting of votes, some having been disallowed by the Returning Officer and others allowed; that the exercise of the full rights of scrutineers were not allowed; company votes, etc., were not in order, also votes by proxy were irregular. Further, certain per--sons did not possess the required qualifications of electors. The polling figures were: Wednesday, 462; Saturday, 455; informal, 19. Wednesday being retained dating back to 1929 as the local half-holiday. The Returning Officer, Mr H. B. Smart, Town Clerk, gave lengthy evidence, explaining why eight votes out of seventeen by declaration were allowed and only two of these were challenged by counsel for petitioners, the residential qualifications being involved. Witness said that there were two booths for the poll and had given no instruction that there was to be only one scrutineer. Company votes totalling about 30 were exercised and counsel argued that the authorities should be produced at each election. This had not been done at the recent poll. Further evidence was given by R. E. Knoblock and M. A. Macßae, the former as to residential qualifications and the latter as scrutineer on behalf of the Saturday half-holiday advocates. Following lengthy argument, the Magistrate announced he would give a written decision at an early date.