THE ASHBURTON POLL.

Star (Christchurch), 6 February 1903, Page 2

THE ASHBURTON POLL.

— — — I The fate of Ashburton was definitely settled yesterday, when the petition against the result of the local option poll was cast out by a ha.rd-hearted, x though discerning, Magistrate. The elaborate case, with its long count of indictments, professing irre-. gularities of the gravest iiature, and the most horrifying dimensions, dwindled in the light of later consideration to most lamentably meagre proportions. Probably those who initiated the kicking against the pricks of the electors' decision were never very hopeful of upsetting the popular verdict ; but they could not have realised how utterly absurd their attempt was until the revised statement of claim, in all the misery of its dwindled attenuation, was shariiefaccdly presented to the Magistrate. The result could not have been otherwise ; and, although Mr Wra-y charitably adopted the recognised method of reserving his decision even his kindness was not" proof against holding his hand fur long, and he gave a prompt, and suggestively brief, judgment, after the shortest possible intermission consistent with courtesy. As- the Magistrate pointed out in his judgment, it is impossible for an election such as that which formel the subject of the appeal to be conducted without some trifling irregularities. A dual i*sue is under submission at a dozen booths, to hundreds of electors, by staffs of men whose administration! is only of a temporary character, and who have no special training for the work in which they are engaged } and, under such circumstances, it cannot be expected that the parts played by so many people cam be letter perfect. The Act contemplates protection only, and ndt perfection ; and were every trifling irregularity td constitute a fatal flaw in electoral proceedings, we should never secure a- popular verdict, and the simplest form of conspiracy would suffice to upset any election in the colony. The only lesson that is to be gathered from the proceedings in Ashburton and elsewhere i? that the mo3t scrupulous care should be observed by the Gdvernment in making appdintments at electidn time. If by increasing the emolument df the returning-officers they could securs a more intelligent class of administrators, the money would be well spent. We are not at all sure that the best available men were secured in every instance locally at the election. That irregularities of a grave enough nature to upset some of the polls have not yet been disclosed is a matter of good luck rather than of the perfection "of management.