CHALMERS POLL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1498, 5 July 1905, Page 2

CHALMERS POLL.

DECLARED TO BE ILLEGAL.

'(Per Press Association.)

Dunedin, yesterday. The Magistrate, Mr Graham, decided that the poll for Chalmers licensing district was illegal, owing to irregularities at the Gardens and other booths. Mr Graham, in his decision, on the question of the poll not being kept open the full time, said he did not consider the evidence conclusive as to Pino Hill, but as regards the Gardens booth he had no hesitation in finding that it closed at least four minutes before 7 by the town clock. The irregularities alleged at the smaller outlying booth were not of such importance as to appreciably affect the fairness of the election, but the state of affairs at the Gardens booth WO3 much more serious.

Taking the evidence as a whole, his Worship found : (1) That the poll was closod prematurely, and more than one voter was thereby deprived of the right of voting; (2) the polling for some time was carried on illegally in the absence of the returning officer, he having omitted to appoint in writing a deputy to occupy his place; (3) the section of the Act limiting the number of voters in a booth at one j time WBB entirely ignored, no systematic efforts having been made to correct tbe abuse ; (4) the number of compartments I provided for marking papers was not sufficient, and thus, consequent on the crowding and confusion, sufficient precaution did not obtain for maintaining secrecy |of the ballot; (5) owing to papers on two issues not beiog given out simultaneously, several voters did not vote on tbe licensing question, alleging as a reason therefor that they only received one papery and were not informed they had to get the other paper ; (6) the votes of two electors were wrongfully disallowed. On these and other grounds his Worship had come to the conclusion that the polling was not conducted in such a manner as tended to protect the fairness of the election. He therefore upheld tbe petition, and declared tbe election void.