RECOUNTS WILL BE ASKED FOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17699, 20 November 1925, Page 8

RECOUNTS WILL BE ASKED FOR.

LYTTELTON AND WESTLAND FIGHTS NOT OVER YET. It is anticipated that an application for a Magisterial recount will be made in the Lyttelton election, and that a petition will be lodged by Air O'Brien in regard to the Westland seat. In regard to Lyttelton some very interesting points arise. The returning officer, it is said, rejected votes bv seamen who voted as ordinary voters instead of using seamen’s rights. He held that it an elector enrolled as a seaman he must vote on his seaman’s right. Another interesting point is that several people outside the boundary of Lyttelton and actually in East < hristchurch, have been enrolled on the Lyttelton roll. These people; it is, said, were in Lyttelton prior to the last alteration in boundaries but the change transferred them to (..'hristchurch East. Through some confusion in street numbering they were retained on the Lyttelton roll. " A further point is that some absent votes were rejected because the voters had not signed the declaration when applying for the absent votes. It may be contended that this omission was the fault of the deputy returning officer and that the voters should not be disfranchised on that account. WESTLAND OFFICER EXPLAINS. HOKITIKA. November 20. Regarding casting his vote, the returning officer for Westland explained that when he ascertained that the votes of the candidates were equal he decided to give his casting vote in the same way as if he had voted in the contest. As the scrutineers knew, he had not voted in the election and the vote was used as his own. lie gave his pasting vote to Seddon„.\vho had a majority of one and was declared elected accordingly. The writ notifying the election of Air Seddon has now been returned to Wellington.