ELECTION PETITIONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 739, 23 January 1915, Page 5

ELECTION PETITIONS.

THE TAUMARUNUI SEAT.

Wellington, Thursday,

Mr W. T. Jennings, the membsr for Taumarunui, was in town to-day seeking information concerning the petition which has been lodged against his return for the seat, but he was unable to obtain any particulars of the allegations that have beeu forwarded by his opponent. It is reported that there is a charge of dual voting by some fifty electors, and another \of there being more papers in the ballot boxes than were given out by the returning officer, but beyond this Mr Jennings knows absolutely nothing about what he has to anwser, and he is viewing the proceedings with characteristic equanimity.

ALLEGED IRREGULARITES. MR WILSON'S PETITON. Waitara, Friday. Details of the petition of C. K, Wilson, the defeated candidate for Taumarunui, ia advertised in tonight's issue of the Waitara Mail. The petition alleges "that while 7917 votes Were declared by the returning officer, there are only 7649 votes accounted for by the marked rolls and other votes legally receivable; that 30 persons received ballot papers at two polling places; that certain persons eligible to vote wera * denied the right; that others not eligible actually voted; that the names of-certain persons, of whom some were aliens, but naturalised, and others under legal age, were placed on the roll; that Mr Jennings himself was not duly registered appears on the Taumarunui roll and he is pot a resident of Taumarunui district.

Petitioner also alleges irregularities at four polling booths. In consequence it is asked that the Court: o r der a scrutiny and recount; that it may be determined that Mr Jennings wbb not elected; and that thrf election he declared void.

The petition will be heard at the February Bitting of the Court in New Plymouth.

The time within which a petition could have been lodged against Mr Statham's return for Dunedin Central expired to-day without any action being taken. It is understood tnat Mr Munro expressed a wish that the electors should have another opportunity to choose between the two candidates for the suffrage, and that his friends on the Government Bide preferred going to the ballot again to obtaining a Verdict from the Supreme Court. Both sides have been busy obtaining evidence in regard to Mr Tau Henare's hold upon the Northern Maori seat. It is unlikely that any oE the petitions will come up for the hearing before the middle of next month, and in the meantime'three seats are held in suspense, while the Dunedin battle in any case will be fought over again.