BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT

Southland Times, Issue 23674, 24 November 1938, Page 4

BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT

Petition For Sitting Of Electoral Court RETURN OF NATIONAL CANDIDATE SOUGHT (United Press Association) WHANGAREI, November 23. Petitions signed by Clive Cameron, of Kaikohe, and . Sydney Walter Smith, of Pakaraka, were forwarded to the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers), today seeking the constitution of an electoral court to inquire into alleged irregularities in the Bay of Islands election. The petitioners say that certain persons not lawfully entitled to vote at the election did register their votes and that their names were illegally placed or retained on the roll of the district for the following reasons:— (a) They were not British subjects. (b) They were Maoris other than half-castes. (c) They were lawfully registered on the electoral roll for another electoral district or were qualified to be so registered. (d) They were not of, or over, the age of 21 years. The petitioners further allege _ that certain persons committed an offence within the meaning of Section 228 of the Electoral Act, 1927, and. that votes were recorded at the election in the names of persons who died previous to the date of the election. The petitioners further say that certain halfcastes who were on the roll for the electoral district and who had voted at the Maori election for the Northern Maori electoral district on October 14 also recorded their votes at the election held on October 15. The petitioners say that, apart from the votes which should be disallowed for the reasons given above, Harold Fisher Guy, the Nationalist candidate, obtained the majority of the valid votes polled at the election and was accordingly entitled to have been declared elected. The petitioners ask that it be determined that Harold Fisher Guy be returned.