UPPER HUTT BOROUGH

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 232, 28 June 1944, Page 6

UPPER HUTT BOROUGH

Official Recount Of Votes In Council Election The magisterial recount of tlie votes cast in the Upper Hutt Borough Council election on May 27, made on the application of Arthur Birkett, who’was within three votes of the eighth successful candidate, was completed by Air. Goulding, S.AI., last week. Though the figures were altered in the recount, it did not. affect the election of the eight councillors who were placed at the head of the poll by the returning officer. By the recount, Cr. Purvis; who beaded the poll, had his figures reduced by IS, but still remains in pride of place. Cr. Gray had his figures reduced by 32 votes, >and moves from second to third place. ' Cr. Cameron had nine votes taken from him, and moves from sixth’ to eighth place. Ten voters were disqualified on account of apparent dual voting. It is of interest to note the difference in Hie provision of the Local Elections and Polls Act. 1925. which governs local body elections, and those of the Electoral Act, 1927, which governs Parliamentary elections. The former provides that the rolls shall be compared, and if it appears the same person has received a voting paper at, two or more polling places the returning officer shall disallow every vote appearing to have been so given, so that the returning officer has no option hut to disqualify the apparent plural vote without further investigation, whereas the Electoral Vet provides tlie additional words before disqualifying the vote, “and if satisfied beyond doubt of the identity of the person so voting.” This leads to the invariable practice of returning officers in Parliamentary elections investigating whether the apparent plural vote was not due to a clerical error before disqualifying the vote. . Following is the result of the official count with tlie figures announced by the returning officer in parentheses:— Successful: Purvis. 1443 (1461); Grange, 1261 (1203); Grav, 1250 (12S1); Lancaster. 1175 (USS); Row. 1136 (1143); Taylor, 1085 (1080): Clvma. 1084 (1090): Cameron. 1082 (1091).

T’nsuccessfnl: Birkett. 1070 (1080): Keys. 1002 <1004): Polson, 055 (1)74): Hayden, 805 ( 885); Richardson, 851 (865): Spiers, 851 (808) : Guthrie. 834 (845); . Price, 80!) (801); Nicolaus, 749 (748). Informal. 67.