GENERAL ELECTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1919, Page 4

GENERAL ELECTION.

[PEE PREBH ASSOCIATION.—COFX EIGHT.] ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES. DUNEDIN, December 22. In connection with the Dunedin South election, Mr W. R. Clarke, scrutineer for Mr J. T. Paul, has forwarded a communication to the Chief Electoral Officer, alleging certain irregularities during the recount of votes, and also the counting of absent votes. It is understood that legal advice is to be obtained to decide whether steps should be taken in the Supreme Court to have the election declared void. Mr Clarke’s letter states that on his attending the Returning Officers at 9 a.m. at the hour appointed for the official recount, he found that seventeen parcels of ballot papers had been opened and that some four thousand papers had 'been numbered arithmetically, and such parcels, had not been again sealed. These parcels had been opened on the previous day, and had been left overnight in unsealed bundles.

Mr Clarke discovered that certain of the ballot papers had been tampered with by the Returning Officer, to the extent of opening the sealed corners of such ballot papers, and thereby disclosing the identity of the voter.

Mr Clarke also found that an unlocked and unsealed ballot box had been used to receive and to retain the absent voters ballot papers. Tlie communication alleges that the whole proceedings of the opening of the parcels and the counting of the votes which was done without any written notice to the candidate, (Mr Paul), or to his scrutineer was a breach of the Legislature Act. Mo points out that the scrutny of the roll should, in accordance with the Legislature Act have preceded the counting of the votes.

LABOUR’S RESOLUTION, DUNEDIN, December 22. At the meeting of the Otago Labour Council a resolution was carried: “That the Council express their gratification of the splendid vote recorded on behalf of the Official Labour candidates it being a clear indication that the Official 'Labour candidates stand high in the estimation of the people of New Zealand.

A CLOSE CONTEST. TIMARU, Deoember 21. The addition of the absentee votes reduces Mr Burnett's Reform majority over Mr Talbot for the Temuka seat from 35 to 29. The official count is now in progress.