THE PEOVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1911, 20 April 1874, Page 2

THE PEOVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

SOMETHING MOKE THAN A JOKE. THE ELECTIONS. TO THE EDITOE OF THE STAB. SiE, — I have noticed in some of your reports of the nomination of candidates for the ProTiuoial Electoral Districts that there were more candidates proposed and seconded than iho number of members to be returnod. Upon the usual show of hands being called for, one elector has demanded, a poll, and in no caso do I remember it as reported, that the candidate personally did so. . If the reports bo correct, and they prove that only ono elector demanded a poll, and. that the candidate did not do so on his own behalf, then every menibnr now declared elected under such a procedure would be likely to loso his seat, if the defeated candidate chose to contest and upset the election : inasmuch as The Begulations of Elections Act, IS7O, sect. 22, provides : — " that a poll shall bo demanded by one of the candidates, or by not less than two electors, and that if the poll bo not thus demanded, the Returning Oflicer shall declare the persons in whose favour the show of hands was, to be duly elected." I am informed thai your reports are correct, and the deduction ia therefore clear, that if the above section has not been to the letter complied with, all elections, in respoct of which there has been such non-compliance, will bo invalid, and new writs must issue. The course to be adopted by any defeated member, to take advantage of such noncomplianco as I have above referred to, is laid Sown by t?;c 2lh Ecction of " The Provincial Elections Act, 1858/'" and would be by information in the nature of a " quo warranto." Your obedient servant, MICHL. RAKT.