The Recent Local Option Poll.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8612, 17 March 1897, Page 4

The Recent Local Option Poll.

At the temperance deputation to the Minister for Justice referred to in our telegrams yesterday the Bey. Mrlsitt gave the folio-wing list of irregularities:—ln one case a scrutineer saw a deputy placing the papers in twenties, and on examining one of these lots found seven votes for no license placed with those for continuance. In 99 per cent, the irregularities had been blundering rather than corruptive. In Dunedin, for the first two or three hours after the poll opened the electors only got one paper, and it was not for some time that the mistake wsb rectified. At one poUxngtbooth.. two of the ballot boxes were left open in violation of the law, and voters whose names were on the roll were sent away without being allowed to vote. In Auckland at on* of the polling booths a ■wry distinct b»»«b: of the -law had occurred. An unattached poll,cjerk had gone about informing voters that if they struck out one line only their votes would be informal. He also illegally accompanied the •voter* into the voting: partitions and instructed tbwn how to vote. At one place in the Korth the voters had been partially counted at an hotel. At one polling booth in the South the deputy was bo drunk as to be incapable of doing his duty.