Licensing Matters.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12177, 29 January 1903, Page 7

Licensing Matters.

BRUCE LOGAL OPTION POLL. Per Press Association. Dunedin, January 28. The hearing of the petition agaifcst the Bruce local option poll was concluded to-day. . { l " , Mr Woodhouse, m opening «>*.«»» opponeats pf . the petition, contended^ that the evidence for the petition did not show that the poll had not' been: open .as required by law and submit-* ed that of voting; while . essential" in Sectoral voting was not so in a Jieerisftig poll ; that the, , simultaneous defivcry of ballot-papers was a physical impossibility . as long „ . as they were under the control of separate officials, and that even, JLthe leged irregularities were were sl> slight that they pould- not M construed as tending to defeat r .the fairness of the election. Mr Adams addressed the Court on practically, the same lines as in the Mataura petition. ' ' '- " " ' Mr Chapman in replying for the petitioner* - "contended that' the evidence . showed clearly that the poll was not open within the hours prescribed' by law. If his* Worship accepted the/ evidence, he had no option but to declare the election void. As to secrecy of voting, it 'was well-known that there were powerful interests <■, at work endeavouring to give effect to one dt other of the proposals "and people -were entitled -to be guarded a> gainst'these • influences by being afforded the opportunity of recording, their votes, 1 secretly- • The law clearly ..recognised this and insufficient provis- . ion for secrecy was a grav^e, irregularity. Judgment was reserved.