AN ELECTION ENQUIRY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 149814, 30 May 1914, Page 12

AN ELECTION ENQUIRY.

COSTS GIVEN AGAINST RETURN-

ING OFFICER

Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., gave reserved judgment yesterday on the question of tho costs of the recent Lyttelton Harbour Board election petition, in which tho petitioners established their case to havo the election declared void.

The Magistrate said that he did not doubt that the Returning Officer did the very best ho could, but there, was no power in tbe Act for him to give costs against anybody else. He thought the local body should p<iy the costs, for tho Returning Officer could hardly be blamed for what bappened— the failure of one of the deputy-return-ing officer's to bo careful enough in looking over tho rolls. Under these circumstances, there would .only lie costs to the petitioners—the candidates represented would not be given costs. Mr Dougall. for the respondents, considered that thw was. a grossly unfair way of awarding costs. The respondents suffered more than anybody else. The Magistrate: They made themselves responsible, ior they need not have come here at all.

Mr Beswick (for the Returning Officer): Excuse mc. but I could not understand what your Worship said. Tho Magistrate: The Returning Officer has got to pay the costs. The Magistrate said there would be no Court costs. Mr Rowe (for the petitioners) would be granted three guineas c««ts. witnesses' expenses could be arranged afterwards, and - ? 0s for advertising would complete tho bilL