LOCAL OPTION.
PETITION DISMISSED. Per Press Association. WAIHT, March 1. The Special Court gave /its decision to-day in reference to the'petition to invalidate the Obinemnri licensing poll, the Court consisting of Messrs Burgess, Cutten and Colonel Roberts, ,S.M.'s.' After reviewing the evidence the Court said it did not think the irregularities proved showed that the poll was not conducted substantially, in accordance with the' provisions of the law, nor did they -think the result was- affected thereby. The petition would.be dismissed with costs, £IOB. The Court •IHd that the principle to be applied w .s clearly .whether there had been such great and universal neglect that it could be said that the secrecy of the ballot had been entirely disregarded. The evidence adduced did not justify them in coming to such conclusions. Constable Driscbll had said that it,was in endeavouring to assist voters to find empty compartments "that he looked behind screens, and in so doing saw ballot papers, and it was suggested by the petitioners that persons - looking for compartments in which to vote would have the same opportunity as Constable Driscoll to see how others voted. There was no evidence, however, of any person in the booth at any time throughout the day for the purpose of voting having seen how. any other voter was marking' his paper. AUCKLAND, March 1., In reply to a question concerning the effect of the carrying of no license at Ohinemuri, Mr A. M.' Myers, chairman of the Auckland Brewers and Wine and Spirits Merchants' Association, stated that the loss to the owners would probably amount to ,£30,000. Only six of the hotels were owned by the* wholesale trade, the remainder being owned by trust estates, widows, and other private individuals, on-whom the - loss would fall very -heavily.
Mr \V. J. McDermott, secretary to the Auckland Prohibition League, said that it was a slur on the people of Waihi to say that the price of beer had been an important factor in connection with the last poll at Ohinemuri. Waihi had given a consistent no* license vote since 1899. <
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19090302.2.36
Bibliographic details
Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13842, 2 March 1909, Page 6
Word Count
347LOCAL OPTION. Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13842, 2 March 1909, Page 6
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