ELECTORAL EXPENSES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3506, 3 July 1926, Page 2

ELECTORAL EXPENSES.

WiIUT FOR MADAMUS ASKED FOR. Auckland, Yesterday. , In (he Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Stringer was asked to issue fj writ of mandamus for the returning oflicer to take proceedings against Mr. William Jones, member for Marsd'en, who failed to render a complete return of expenses. The statement of claim set out. that on January lltli defendant; tiled a statement. lie was asked for further particulars on February 17th and March Bth, but the statements filed did not comply with (he Act. X* further action was taken by plaintiffs, at this stage, as defendant asked them to await a reply from the Chief Electoral Officer, Wellington, to whom defendant had written for instructions. On May 3 a final demand was made on defendant, who refused to comply. The claim was that Jynes transmitted an account that was false, in that he omitted to include, or concealed, items amounting to over £9O for hire of halls, advertising and printing, during the campaign. The defence was that the plaintiff, Mr. Melnness, on. May 21, accepted an explanation made by .Tones, that if there had been noncompliance with the provision . of the Act, such was of a technical and trivial nature, and not due to any bad faith on the part of Jones, and that defendant had exercised proper discretion in the matter.