LICENSING POLL

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1919, Page 1

LICENSING POLL

INFLUENCING VOTERS. AUCKLAND, June 13. The distribution of small' cards, alleged to have boon printed in imitation’ of licensing ballot papers showing the bottom line struck out, used outside the -booths at the licensing elections in April last, resulted hr a number ot people being charged at the Magistrate’s Court this morning. The charges were brought under three headings:— (1) Being laid ‘ under section lb., sub-section A of the Legislature Act,l9oß, which provides' against interference with voters on- the way to the polls by advising' them how to act. (2) That of -having l delivered a paper to the 1 -voter purporting to be an imitation of a ballot paper winch was brought under sub-section B of section' 157- of the' saute 'Act', (3) That of having published a paper, a printed instruction entitled, “How to Vote,” on which the name and place of the printer was not shown',' as* required by the Printers and Newspapers Registration Act, 1908. - Mr Hackctt- appeared for all the deI fondants. The facts generally were agreed upon between counsel for the ! defence and the prosecution. It was : shown that the defendants had been at several booths' around the city, where they had used small cards in giving voters tlieir numbers from the electoral roll. The practice was to write the number on the back of the ■ card and hand it to the voter:

Tile Magistrate said there was no doubt about the law under the Legislature Act, and that an offence had been committed. Those who had coitHmitted a breach under this Act wo'iffd be fined £3 each, and costs. Wfth regard to the charge under the Printers and Newspapers Registration Act, decision would be reserved, in order that legal argument may be heard.’