ELECTION COURT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 82, Issue 288, 6 December 1938, Page 8

ELECTION COURT

BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT PETITION MAY BE HEARD DURING HOLIDAYS [Per PrfcKß Association. | AUCKLAND, Dec. 5. No date has yet been fixed for the sitting of the Election Court to review the result of the Bay of Islands election as a result of a petition presented by supporters of the National Party candidate, Mr. H. F. Guy, alleging that Maoris were wrongly included on the roll and that mere w'ere cases of minors voting. It was announced to-night by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Hon. H. G. R. Mason, that there was little likelihood of the petition being heard hefor<Christmas. He said there was some possibility of the Court sitting during the legal recess in January on account of pressure of other judicial proceedings. “The holiday may offer the most convenient opportunity for disposing of the matter," said the Minister. "Such action may establish something of a legal precedent but the large volume of legal work at present facing the various Courts suggests that if the action is not taken during the holidays a long delay might be occasioned.”

The Election Court consists of two Supreme Court judges and the sitting is rqeuired to be held in the district where the complaint has arisen. The result of the election declared by the returning officer, Mr. E. G. Tyler, on October 27, gave Mr. C. W. Boswell (Government! a majority of 163 over Mr. Guy. The petitioners have stated that they are not seeking to have the election declared void but they submit that if the challenged votes are disallowed their sumber may be sufficient to vary the result.