SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1978, 17 May 1919, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTION.

COMMITTEE REJECTS, THE * RECOUNT OF VOTES. At Tuesday night’s meeting of the local School Committee, Air Kellow (Chairman) stated that Air AlcAlurray had acceded to his request to take over the secretarial duties. He moved that Air AlcAlurray be appointed secretary. Mr Hornblow said before the motion was put he also had a motion that he would like to submit to the meeting which would have a bearing upon Air AlcAturray’s position. He then read the following motion: — That the request made by Air Hornblow, on behalf of Alessrs Jno. Ross, Alar tin, Signal, Hornblow, Claris, Rev. Bredin, Baildon and AlcColl (candidates for election as committeemen at the householders’ meeting held on Tuesday, April 29th), on the morning following the election for a recount of the voles cast by the candidates at the said elect ion, and to which the Chairman verbally consented but subsequently refused on the ground that such recount could only take place with the consent of the Committee; that such recount did take place on Alay 3Vd, under the supervision of the Town Clerk (who previously officiated at the election), and three scrutineers, namely, Alessrs Claris, Whibley and Aliss Christie, be now' approved by the Committee; that the equality of votes polled by Alessrs AlcAlurray and Jno, Ross for the ninth position as show'u by the said recount, be submitted to the Education Board to settle the point as to which candidate shall be elected to the Committee,”

After ii brief discussion, the Chairman's motion rc appointing Mr MeMumiy as secretary was seconded by Air P. Kobiuson and pul to the meeting and carried. -Air Hornblow asked (hat. his objection to the motion be recorded. Air Hornblow’s motion was then moved, and seconded by Air Claris. Air Pcrcrau moved that the matter be taken in committee, Alessrs Geo. Coley and Hornblow objected on the ground that the householders had a right to know what their representatives were doing. Air Pcrroau’s motion was put and lost. Air Hornblow, in speaking to bis motion, said that ho desired to be quite impersonal, and to discuss the matter upon its merits. The Chairman said the Education Act made no provision, .for a recount, and that the ballot papers should have been destroyed alter the meeting.

Air. Coley said he avus nut consulted about a recount, and said lie Avould not consent to a recount unless the same scrutineers avlio acted at the householders’ meeting officiated.

Mr Hornblow, continuing, said the Local Elections and Pulls Act could be made to apply in reference to a recount, and that any one candidate had the right to ask for a recount. Mr Moorhouse had been asked to odiciate at the recount, but declined. The Chairman; A recount should have been asked for after the election, at the meeting. Mr Hornblow: The morning after the election, when the Chairman was asked for a recount, he said he agreed that a recount should lie made, as the voting for several of the candidates was very clasp, and he had seen voting papers lying on the (loor of the hall. lie (Mr KelIoav) thought it would be as well to hold the recount over for a few days, as the Town Clerk would be busy with the municipal election. The Saturday afternoon following the election was found to be a suitable date to the Town Clerk to hold the recount, and on the morning of that day Mr Kellow was rung up, but refused to sanction the recount. The recount was held as stated in the motion. Mr Kellow: The. ballot box was not sealed.

Mr Hornblow stated that the Act provided that the ballot box was to he kept in the school. After the ballot the Town Clerk placed all the voting.(papys in (he ballot box, locked it, and handed the key to him (Mr Hornblow), and took the ballot box an'd contents to the Borough Council office and deposited it in the safe. Mr Kellow Avas informed that he (Mr HornbloAv) held the key, and could have obtained possession of it had he so desired. The ballot box was sealed by the Tmvn Clerk. Mr HornbloAv said in all governing body elections recounts Avere taken. At previous school committee elections a recount had not been necessary, owing to the few votes recorded, but this year’s meeting of householders aviis very different. Through carelessness or from other causese a large number of votes Avere found to be -informal, but each formal vote had its sovereign right, according to the recount.

The Chairman said he did not question the fairness of the recount, hut he argued that as the Education Act did not provide for a recount it was not in order.

Air Claris said he did not agree with Mr Kellow, as recounts \yere held in every election. The first count at the householders’ meeting was taken hurriedly, and the closeness of the number of votes for several of the candidates and the number of in formal votes', cast, more than justified a recount. Mr Coley said he would be prepared to resign in favour of Mr Ross.

Air Parkin said it would be better to lot the Board decide the whole matter. The Chairman asked whether Air Hornblow would hold the motion over till next meeting, and in the meantime he would confer with Alessrs Ross and AlcAlurray. Air Hornblow agreed to do this. Air Alexander asked whether this procedure would settle the differences w'hich had arisen at the householders’ meeting.

Air Hornblow said other alleged irregularities would have to be settled by the Board independent of the recount. He desired to light fair to the last ditch, and if beaten w'ould take bis defeat without further complaint. The Chairman said the Act did not provide for a returning officer, only scrutineers. Air Waters claimed the right as a returning officer of taking a recount w'hich he did not possess, and he had no authority to allow’ a recount after he (Air Kellow') had told him not to take it. He claimed that the motion was out of order, and he should have ruled it out.

After a further desultory discussion the motion was put and lost. Alessrs Hornblow and Claris voted for the motion, and the Chairman; Messrs Alexander, Parkin, Perveau, Robinson and Coley against. Air AlcAlurray did not vote.