ELECTION DISPUTE.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 44685, 21 July 1906, Page 4

ELECTION DISPUTE.

Christchurch, July 20. Mr Bishop, S.M., heard a case in which David Sykes petitioned that he, and not S. A. Staples, should be declared elected for the South District of the Christchurch Tramway Board. The trouble had arisen owing to a mistake of a deputy returning officer at one booth. He transposed the figures for Messrs Sykes and Staples, by which Mr Sykes was first given a substantial majority. A day later the returning otlicer discovered the mistake, and gave Mr Staples the seat by a small majority. The seat is claimed by Mr Sykes on the ground that the deputy returning officer had no right to amend the original return, and that Mr Staples, on learning of the mistake, should have been the petitioner, and not Mr Sykes. The Magistrate decided to have a recount of all the votes, and will consider the point raised by the petitioner that there were rejected as informal certain votes which were not so, for the reason that, though not marked in the manner provided by the Act, yet they clearly indicated that the voters intended to vote for Mr Sykes.