HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1923, Page 2

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

PETITION TO UNSEAT COUNCILLOR EVANS. On Saturday three electors of the Borough cf Hokitika, namely Messrs John Llcyd of Hokitika, draper, and n successful candidate at the late Borough election, Gustave Henry Blank, of Hokitika, wheelwright, and an unsuccessful candidate at the late Borough election, and Thomas Robinson, of Hokitika, stationer, through their solicitor, Air A. G. Pilkington, filed a petition, a.t the Magistrate’s Court, Hokitika, against tho recent election of Air D. J. Evans, on tho grounds: I.—That Air Evans was on the day of election a member of the Guardian and Times Company Ltd., an incorporated company in which there arc less than 20 members.

2.—That on the date of the election there existed a contract made by the Borough Council with the Guardian and Times Coy., the payment made or to be made by or on behalf of the Council exceeded £5, and in respect cf such contracts exceeds altogether the sum of CIO in one financial year.

fl. That Air Evans on the day of election was a director of the Hokitika Gas Company, an incorporated Company, in which there arc more than 20 members.

4. That at the date of such election there existed a contract made by the Borough Council with the Hokitika Gas Company, the payment made or to be made in respect of which contract exceeds the sum of £.5, and in icspcct to such contract, exceeds altogether the sum of £lO in one financial year. s.—That Air Evans is a person incapable of being elected a. Councillor of the Borough of Hokitika.

’l’lie petitioners therefore pray: I.—That Afr Evans was not duly elected and that his election he declared void.

2.—That Gustavo Henry Blank, being the candidate who received the highest number of votes at the election next to those candidates elected, was duly elected and ought to have been so declared elected.

There was a fresh development in connection with the above this morning, when Afr Pilkington, solicitor for tho petitioners, served a notice on Air Evans withdrawing the petition served on Saturday, and substituting a fresh petition to the same effect as the original petition. In the meantime, Mr Alurdoch, Solicitor for Air Evans, had prepared the necessary documents giving notice to contest the petition as lodged origmallv.

The date Tor the hearing of the petition is to be fixed bv the Alagistratc and is to he held within about a fortnight’s time.