NO BREACH OF ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1932, Page 8

NO BREACH OF ACT

POLLING DAY INCIDENT. FINDING ELECTORS’ NUMBERS. PALMERSTON N., February 3. At the last general election the Labour candidate, for the Palmerston elecj I orate, Mr J. Hodgens, employed a number of men to find electors’ roll numbers before they entered the polling booth. Mr J. L. Stout, S.M. ruled that the writing of these numbers on papers bearing the name “Hodgens” was not a breach of the Electoral Act if the men did not stop voters. The case was against Victor Christensen, who was charged, and pleaded not guilty, with interfering with electors with the intention of Influencing their votes. Evidence was given that men, provided with copies of the electoral roll, were stationed n<?nr polling booths to find electors’ numbers. The men did not stop electors and merely found roll numbers for those who requested them, to do so. The numbers were then written on a paper hearing the name of.the candidate only at the top. Mr Stout, in delivering his judgent, said that the evidence' fell short of proving the interference mentioned in the Act. It was immaterial whether a voter received his roll number from a clerk wearing a candidate’s colours or on a paper bearing the candidate’s name only. Tf the men had stopped voters there would probably he a different aspect on the case. The charge was dismissed.