INSPECTION OF VOTING PAPERS

Chronicle (Levin), 4 March 1947, Page 8

INSPECTION OF VOTING PAPERS

-Press Association

Bv Telearazh—

WELLINGTON, March 3. In the Election Court eonstituted to lieur tlie Raglan election petition, application was made today on belialf of petitioner, .Mr. II. Johnstone, National candidate, 1'oY tlie production to tlie Ciiurt. by the Clerk of tlie Ilouse, of various election papers and reconls whicli had been committed to his custodv jil'ler the election. Application was also made for the production by ihe Registrar of Electors of certain elecloral records held by him, On behalf of tliese oflicials it was stated by .Mr. A. E. Currie, Crown Holicitor, that the records required would be placed in tlie custody of Ihe Court so lliat all documents would I >e available to the Court to enable it to deal with ihe iietition.

Appiieunl also asked for the right to iiispei't. certain of these documents before ihe hearing of the petition look piace. It was explained to the Court liiat ihe records of which the inspection was desired, would not in any way ini'riiige tlie sec.recy of tlie ballot l>ut that the inspection of these records by ihe [larties prior to the hearing, would enable tliem to prepare their cases and so snve the time of Ihe Court at the heari ng. Aiiiong Ihe jiapers of which petitioner sought an inspection, were applications l'or votes made by Maori electors oi' the Western Mauri electorate vylio were resident in the Raglan electorate. i'his w:is opposed on the ground that any order made should be conlined to Jie records of the Raglan electorate and should not extend to records of another electorate such as Western Maori. The Court iutimated that it would be ]>repared to make the orders sought exvopt in tlie case of an inspection of applications for votes in the Western .Maori electorate, on which point the Court reserved its decision. Counsel for petitioner are Mr. W. J. Sim, K.C., and Mr. R. E. Tfipe. ; ounsel for Mr. A. C. Baxter, Laliour candidate,- is Mr. T. ,P. Clear. .Mr. Climie appears for" thr Clerk of the House and various electoral oflicers.