THE COLONIST. Published Daily—Mornings. Nelson, Friday, February 12, 1897. AN ELECTION NULLIFIED.

Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 8789, 12 February 1897, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Daily—Mornings. Nelson, Friday, February 12, 1897. AN ELECTION NULLIFIED.

The deoision of the Electoral Court, over which their honors the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Connolly presided, in the case of the petition against the return of Mr Wilford as member for the Wellington Suburbs electorate will scarcely come as a surprise to "those who have followed the evidence. In New Zealand the laws for the prevention of corrupt practices in connection with elections are both stringent as to requirements, and severe as regards penalties for overstepping the bounds within which a candidate has to proceed. An asp'rant for Parliamentary honors may not legally expand more than £200 upon election expenses, and it is enacted that certain expenditure, such as hiring of carriages, or paying for the exhibition of bills, posters, etc., is illegal. Whether in respect to these last mentioned curtailments the bounds of reason have not been exceeded may be open to question, but no right thinking man or woman can uo other than approve of the provisions by which the giving of bribes, or promises of gifts, or promises "to endeavor to procure any office or place of employment to or for any elector, or to or for any person on behalf of any elector, or to or for any other person," in order to induce such elector to vote or refrain from voting, are declared illegal, and punishment is prescribed for those guilty of such practices. The Election Court is not charged with the duty of meting out punishment, but that Court on finding tbat a candidate has been guilty of corrupt or illegal practices, has to report its finding to the Speaker, and a candidate proved to have resorted to corrupt practices is incapable of beiog elected to the House of Representatives for a period of three years. Before a person is reported by any Election Court to have been guilty of illegal practice he is to be given an opportunity of showing cause why he Should not be so reported, and it is conlemplated by the Act that a person found guilty of corrupt practice shall be indicted for a misdemeanor, and if then convicted he may be fined in any sum not exceeding £400, while for a period of five years he will be unable to vote at any eleotion in the Colony. If a Justice of the Peace is proved guilty of any"misconduct at- any election it becomes the duty of the Minister for Justice to report the case to the Governor, while in the case of a barrister, solicitor, or person belonging to any profession the admission to which ia regulated by law it becomes the duty of the Attorney- General to bring tho matter before the tribunal having power to take cognizance of any misconduct of such person in his profession, and such tribunal may deal with such person in like manner as in any case of misconduct by such person in his profeEsion. The Electoral Court has given its decision declaring the election void, and Mr Wilford, who is a solicitor, guilty of having used undue influence. As regards the possibility of further proceedings we can say nothing at present, but the evidence given before the Electoral Court was of a nature to be regarded with sorrow by all who desire to ccc the Oolony occupying an honorable and forward position. Bribery and corruption are, of course, no new things, and as long as greed, and the want of proper feelings exist, they are likely still to continue powers of evil, but it is a good thing tbat we possess laws to provide a check upon such courses, and that these laws are acted upon. In the Wellington Suburbs case the evidence showed that the candidate who was returned wrote a letter to the Premier recommending a man for employment, apparently on the score that he was a supporter of one prepared to vote on the Liberal side. It is tb be deplored that any candidate for "Parliament should indite such a letter, for though it was not presented, that seems to have been due to mo'ives that have led to the discomfiture of the writer. Had any employment as thus requested been found, a blot would unquestionably have rested on the good name of the Government, but as it is only those connected with the election, are in any way implicated. It may be well to remember that both the candidates at the election in question affirmed that certain of their actions were diotated by simple kindness, but at all events one of them will now recognise that he chose an inopportune time for such a display and possibly the lesson that has been afforded as to the danger of reposing confidences under such conditions, will to some people prove a greater deterrent than even the laws, stringent though they are, that forbid the exercise of undue influence. — — ———• — » — -» —*^ —