TELEGRAMS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 April 1915, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

I_l'ltn I'HfcßS AiSdOWAXIOM. J

FIRE AT PUXETVOHE

Aucklanu, This Day,

The lire that broke out early on Saturday morning and partially lestroyed the Pukekohe picture theatre and two attached shops, is believed to have been the work ol an incendia-a-ry. UIIILD SCALDED TO DEATH. A child named Cecil Rhodes was scald ed by falling into a tub ol boiling water at Devonporb. He died in the hospital. K. Ol"' K. PLEDGE. Christchurch, This Day A public meeting was held on Satur day to consider the advisability ol initiating a Iv of K pledge campaign, the -Mayor presiding. It was resolved that those present form themselves into a committee ta do all in its power to further the movement and call further public meetings at an early date. ENI'ORT OF MEAT. AI a conference held on Friday aiterbetween those interested no the iroaun meat export trade and the LU. noii. W. F. Massey, it was decided that a committee be appointed to fix a price per pound over all carcases in me works. I lie committee met on Saturday u-nd agreed that the over price to bo paid by export buyers to producers for iambs be continued at (igd and 6id per to until April 30th inclusive, Hud <-■ i-iGd iuid 6 5-16 d thereafter until May 31, such prices to apply to all lambs delivered at the freezing works on or before such dates, the arrangement to be subject to revision affer the end of May TILE ELECTION PETITIONS. BEFORE THE FULL CXJURT. Wellington, This Day. The Full Court, consisting of Sir Robert Stout, (Chief Justice), Mr Justice Cooper, Mr Justice Chapman and Mi Justice Hoskings, sat this morning to hear argument on the law points arising ouit of <he recent election petition cases in Hawke's Bay, Tp.iitkm.i-ii-uiii and Bay of Islands, and stated by the Election Courts with the consent ol the parties for the opinion of tlie Full Court. Sir John Findlay stated that it had been agreed to take first the validity of the poll arising out ot the Hawke's Bay and Taumarunui cases, and then the question of the time in which the petition must be lodged, arising out of the Taumarunui and Bay of Islands cases. The Court agreed to this course. Mr C. P. Skerret, K.C., with him Mr Lusk appeared for petitioner (Mr H. M. Campbell) and Sir Jolin Findlay, K. 0., with him Mr Levi, for respondent (Dr McNab). Opening the case Sir John Findlny stated that the question relating io the validity of the roll had been stated For consideration of the Court as follows: "Whether, if a voter's name is, without fraud or wilful misconduct, placed on the existing roll as an elector, although he did not possess the necessary residential qualification, or is without Fraud or wilful misconduct retailed on the roll, although, he had since being placed on the roll, lost or forfeited his residential (piali fixation the Election Court can. under section 196. sub-section F} of the Legislature Act, 1908. disallow his vote at the election." Proceeding with his argument Sir John Findlay contended that the roll was not conclusive. Since the Wakanui case which mode the roll conclusive legislation completely changed the law on the question and he quoted instances to show why this was done. It was presumed by the legislature familiar with decisions of the High Court, and it was for his friend to show why the legislature, knowing the decision in the AVakanui case decided in 1882. deliberately introduced the section into the Act of 1902, which changed the whole aspect of the position. He proceeded to quota sections of the legislature in the Defence Acts to show "'ho are not entitled to be on the -oil. laying particular stress on section 44 of the Legislature Act, and submitting that in all cases that a person must be lawfully on the roll, and if lie lost his qualification then he could not be lawfully on tlie roll. The legislation, For instance, said that a Maori should not bo registered as a voter For a European election, yet Maoris were on the roll, and the Court must -decide whether, under such circumstances, a Maori could cast a valid vote. The same position arose in connection with aliens and persons of unsound minds. Reverting to section 44 of the Legislature Act, he contended that sub-section 2 distinctly disqualified persons from voting, and an Election Court must Follow the wording of tlie Act. and disallow am- votes coining within that sub-sec-tion. No such provision was in the Act when the Wakanui case was heard, and it would require very special circumstances to justify tlie Court in taking a different view and allow such votes now. He proposed to ask the Count to interpret words illegally on the roll, in their ordinary sense, that was without legal right or contrary to law.