UPPER HUTT DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 922, 15 September 1910, Page 6

UPPER HUTT DISPUTE.

A DAUNTLESS BOARD. NO CITY POLLING BOOTH. The rural peace which usually dominates the atmosphere of Upper' Hiitt is disturbed at the.moment over an electoral question. A number, of rntepay-; ers, residing both outside and within tho Upper Hutt town district, ' desire to have a polling-place in the city of Wellington, during the forthcoming election of members of the Town Board. That bodj-,-however, is absolutely opposed to this '-proposition, and its chairman, particularly, is strongly against it.. Consequently, the ordinary fortnightly meeting of the board, which was held last night, had been looked forward to with much interest. It was: attended by. Messrs. J. Harrison (chairman), ti. Beuge, \V. Burrell. P. Wilk'io, J. Craig, W, Keys, arid A. J. M'Curdy (clerk;. Tho board meets in a little wooden lean-to, lift. long, by Bft wide and ,10ft. high. About a dozen ratepayers we're eager spectators of Iho proceedings, and the atmosphere was thick." ; Two petitions' Were presented by Mr. Wilkie. They were, of similar, import, each asking that, a polling-booth should: be established; in the city for the bounl's election on September 21. One of them came from, ratepayers residing outside the. town district, and bore 2". signatures.' The. other was signed .by 82 residents, within the town district.'. . In.support of-.their application; the petitioners stated (1) that Section 7 of the Local Elections and Polls' tctj 1908, enabled' a polling-booth to 1)8 opened outside'the district; (2) that a large number ;.of ratepayers who desired to record their votes resided in .'Wellington, or were 'compelled > to bo, in, the city during business liours; (3) that -.unless a . booth , was so . provided it would be'impossible for such'ratepayers to vote, except at great inconvenience and,, expense to ,themsclve!s. , : "; , . The /chairman; moved : to.. consider tho petitions in committee;: and on' his cast-, ing vote tho 'riiotion was ultimately carried, 'Messrs "Wilkie, Craig,, arid Keys dissenting., " .While the board continued its., delibera* tions. behind, a /closed .. door, its ..late audience held an inforinal meeting outside, arid, a' few cnterprisirig individuals applied their,eyes-and ears,to'chinks'arid cracks; and reported to expectant listeners the:,further,/.course of-..'.tire . proceedings within. In. this .way the news was presently, disseminated that the.,'request of .the', petitioners: had been refused, a : motion to. that'effect having been carried, like -the preceding one,' on' the casting vote of the chairman,' against tho-. opposition of Messrs. Wilkie,.Craig,! and Keys. This, decision was. received-.by the 'ratepayers outside with'- strong .'expressions of displeasure,' arid some very/free criticism of-the board-was indulged 'in. ■ The ddof was'opened soon afterwards,, and vtho gathering dispersed, 'i / •' ~'- ..;:

V ' : . Statomont .by the .Chairman,; ' .'.The,chairman and the clerk were subsequently interviewed' by a./DouiNioN .r'c--1 ''porter.'", Mr. Harrison said ;his reason .for moving that/.the .petiti6ns;be ; considered in/7coramittee.'was: that: the; board bad a. ..quantity ;of ' correspondence ,'of a, legal '.nature' dealing .-with . the. same' question, and'he. thought' it advisable- that this (which to-.-be 'taken -in committee)' should be discussed along. with the petitions. :•■ - Ho'.• also' said it would be illegal to'-establish a polling, place'ln 'Wellington; /Section /7'. of,/ the./Lpcal ■: Elections Act .provided .that a -polling place 'should be"- appointed within/; the' district, con-; cerned, and a sub-section provided .that' 'Whore, thei/public office', of ,a local ,body vfas ■ situate/ outside -,- tho, .'.district, ' such office ''should, for polling purposes, be /considered -as ./lying .within the : district.; it /would, therefore,.Mr. Harrison considered, be. absolutely "illegal to 'have .'a polling place, for. Upper. Hutt;. elections' in!.ths city : of Wellington, -as..tho pffico. ot'- ; lhe . board': was .• within the' 'town '. district, 1 twenty-onb. l miles frpmi! the'city.'.'The. board .had.'ratepayers .living.:in .various other places.. '.There-.were', actually. more iXJppe* Hutt ratepayers residing in I'almerson- North; than ..and ,they had as much'right, to-claim, a polling- ,'lbpoth in' that borough as the others had to ask for one. in ■ Wellington;;,'' ",\

;,.. The Clerk's,lnquiries. .... In support of this view,-the clerk- (Mr. A. : J.' M'Curdyj. said that in .response t0.,. a circular letter which he had .sent to -, the- :olerks of town !bbard's whose. • districts lay within twenty'miles.of Auckland,: .Christchurch, Duiiediri, 'Blenheim, .and . Napier', lie was, informed that they did not open polling: booths in those, centres ;for .their .Tow.n 1 Board, eloctionsr Sonie ,of'.' the writers said', it. would be illegal to jdo. so. The solitary 1 exception was 'Birkenhead, which •' had'; its 1 office'' in Auckland Ci ty, 'and' therefore came' under 1 the permissive clause' already mentioned..