LOCAL OPTION POLL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 115, 14 December 1908, Page 2

LOCAL OPTION POLL.

Petitions Lodged. In connection with the local option poll at Eden, where no-license was carried by 199 votes, a petition has been lodged by those interested in "the trade" praying that the poll may be declared void in consequence of certain irregularities which are alleged to have taken place within three days of the poll and during polling day. The hearing of the petition has been fixed by the Magistrate for Friday, December 18th The Bench will probably consist of Stipendary Magistrates Kettle and Dyer, with either Mr Northcroft or Mr Cutten as the third.

Among the chief points raised by the petition may be mentioned the claim that the Eden licensing distrct was a new district within the meaning of secton 8 of the Lcensng Act 1908, and the boundaries had not been gazetted; the population had increased by 25 per cent, since the previous poll and & fourth issue should have been on the voting paper. The procession of license advocates on the Saturday preceding the poll; the display of placards in various places within three days of the poll; and the references made to the poll by ministers at open air meetings on the Sunday prior to the poll, in addition to various alleged irregularities by the returning officer and nolicense leaders at the booths, are other reasonsjset forth.

Later information points to the probability,of the petitlonAtn the Eden electorate being withdrawn, but the Ohinemuri petition will be proceeded with.

It is understood other petitions for enquiries will be made at Ohinemuri and Waitemata —in the latter instance by the no-license people. Petitions have already been lodged by Maeterton, Wellington Suburbs, and the Hutf