The School Committee Election.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1734, 15 June 1886, Page 2

The School Committee Election.

PETITION OF HOUSEHOLDERS TO THE EDUCATION BOARD.

Tho following is the full text of the petition which hns beeu forwarded to tlie Wanganui Education Board, by a number of householders resident m Palmerßt<in North, protesting against the proceedings at the meeting on Friday evening, as being irregular and illegal, and praying that due inquiry be made into the same. '•To the Chairman and raembeip of the Board of Education, Wanganui District, Wanganui. We tbe undersigned being householders resident m the Palmerston North School District, entitled to vote and take part m the election of tho School Committee of the said District, dispute the validity of tho proceediugs at the election for members of committee held at Pahnerston North, by the virtue of the decision of the -Board m that behalf and advertised to take plac* by notice, dated the 26th May, 1886, signed by A. A. Browne, Secretary, aud h«ld m pursuance thereof on Friday, the 11th day of June, 1886 ; and hereby protest against the return of the persons declared by James Linton, Esq, at hve minutes pas 12 o'clock on the morning of the 12th of the said month of June to have bean elected at the said meeting upon the following grounds. I. That the said James Linton acOftpted and acted as chairman of the said meeting- although it was objected tb at he was not qualified to act m that capacity on the ground that he was a candidate seeking the suffrages of the householders then present entitled to vote thereat. . •2. That the said James Linton con-; Btituted himself returning officer at such, meeting, and also acted as such, he being a candidate as aforesaid without being .at any time appointed m such' capacity, and notwithstanding the protest m that behalf, against the same by duly qualified householders. ■ - . 3. Thai the said James Linton at such self rconstituted returning officer decided m several instances m his own favour upon the admission of votes irregularly and informally recorded. . 4. That the said lames Linton as a«ich self-constituted returning officer' also decided m several instances m his own favour, and against the rights as shewn bjf the voting p>p rs |of other candidates., "■ ■".: y " .\. '■ ■' ; ■■■■■-■'•" s . . 5. That m one instance the said James Lintou decided as Chairman and selfconstituted Returning officer, that a vot> ing paper. wherein all the names were scored out, including the said James Linton's name, or the larger part thereof, that the said James Lioton caused to be recorded seven votes m his own favor thereunder. . r 6. That m one instance the said James Li i) ton decided as chairman and selfconstituted returning officer; that a voting paper wherein all the names were scored out, including Che said James Linton and a fellow-candidate, being one George Frederiok Hawkins, or the larger part thereof m a similar manner, bs m the last paragraph mentioned; That the said George Frederick Hawkins was not entitled to the said seven votes so recorded m his favor m contradiction to the previous ruling, although a scrutineer objected m several instances. ' ■ •' . 7. That several other voting papers of a similar nature were similarly dealt with by the said James Llnlon as such self -constituted returning officer depriving other candidates of the full number of votes recorded m their favour. 8. That the said James Lmtondecided, as Chairman ; and selfcconstituted Returning Officer, that a voting paper with all the names of the candidates, except the saU George Frederick Hawkins and another candidate, without any figures attached to either names, that the said voting paper, should, count one for the said George Frederick Hawkins, and one for the said other candidate, he having announced, as such chairman, prior to the election commencing, that Buch a yoking paper would be informal, and of no count for anyone. -■ : : : < •• 9. That m several other instances the said James Linton decided m a similar manner where his own name was left standing with others, without the addition of numbers as aforesaid; 10. That the said James Liaton'handed to candidate, Mr J. P; Leary, the names of the propose candidates for priutirig the ballot papers, which were returned m several sealed packages -of various numbers, at various times during the evening, and refused to count the same before handing them over for use, so that no check could be taken of the numbers distributed. ■•:• 11. That the greater part of the first package was taken possession of by the said James Linton, and (distributed by him indiscriminately, and on a scrutineer objecting, he, the 1 said James Linton, handed tbe remainder of the packag« to the crowd. . . " *■-- 12. That afterwards he allowed the' no-called scrntineers to have possession of the other voting papers to distribute, and the said James Linton, without standing by, allowed the said scrutineers to usurp' his own functions as Returning Officer. ' ■-: 13. That m numerous instances the said scrutineers, acting as last aforesaid, handed to householders and non-house-holders, who demanded the same, more than one voting paper. i 14. That the parties so receiving the same used the same and recorded a large number of votes m favour ot the said James Linton (and other declared, successful candidates), whereby the said unsuccessful "candidates became m the minority who otherwise would have been m the majority at the said election, and the said James Linton refused to adopt any means whereby the qualification of electors could be checked before being allowed to vote, although he was urged to do so. ...-.: 15. That a large number of persons unqualified to vote by reason of their hot being resident m the district, or by reason of their not beta? parent, or guardian, or custodian of any child, or being otherwise disqualified according to the Education. Act, 1877, were allowed.to take part m the householders' meeting and to vote at the same election. 16. That one Richard Leary, brother to Joseph Poulter Leary, the latter being a candidate, was appointed scrutineer, and as such such scrutineer he possessed himself of such voting papers, and illegally distributed the same as stated m paragraph. l 3. 17. That George Edward Hawkins, son of the candidate George Frederick Hawkins, was appointed another scrutineer, and also as such possessed himself of voting papers and illegally distributed the same. 18. That numerous parties procured voting papers and recorded their intentions thereon m a valid manner, and when they presented themselves at the ballot box thereafter to record the same, they were refused by the said James Linton to lodge such voting papers m the box, and consequently many votes for unsuccessful candidates were suppressed thereby. 19. That the said James Liaton al : lowed candidates,- especially one- George Matthew Snelson.to take.partmthe Toting and interfere with the election, and excluded others who were equally entitled to be present. 20. That the said James" Linton was tided and abetted by candidates m his following and interest m his illegal and unwarrantable interference, with the election to the exclusion ' of a competent party proposed as chairman and to whom no objection could have been urged. 21. That after the usurpation by the said James Linton of the chairmanship, md the nomination of the said' James Linton as a candidate, (whereas the objection raised before such nomination night not have so preat a force) that the said James Linton should vacate the jhair and take no further part m th« election except as a candidate; but the said James Linton refused to accede to ;hat view and, as betore stated, afterwards not pnly acted as CMrro»n bu,tj lonititutod bimulf tht ßaturninfrciffioai 1 .

and took wjth bis appointees, some scrutineers, so-called, the sole conduci of the election and favoured . Utinaelf at the expense of other candidates and thus jeopardizing their chance of success ia fraud of their rights as householders and candidates. That the said James Linton, as candidate, chairman and returning officer, took possession of the ballot boxes and voting: papers, with the keys thereof, after the election, and has ever since had exclusive access . to the same as far as your petitioners know, and also took possession of the remainder of the ballot papenff not used, bat of which no cbecte as taihe number "had been taken or can be now. exercised. That the aaid James Linton as such self -constituted returning officei declared himself duly electedv'- . . v 22. That members of electors duly qualified ;wer« refase&vpting papers and consequently, went away without 5 voting, and numbers were, banded voting papers twice or thrice ,-pver and exercised them accordingly. 4 That x>ne whole family consisting of four persons i all living m one house without other qualifications were allowed to vote. 23. That the grounds of objection to the former election which was de* cltred- void • by your Board, wer«, amongst other thihgg/thai one George) Edward Hawkins, and: one Charles Hotkings jun., also that 1 persous by name respectively, Carter, Tanner, Eldershaw f sen.', and Healy, voted without possess - ing any qualification to exercise votes; but, nevertheless, the same parties were aliowwd by the said James Linton, to record their votes at this .last, election, notwithstanding protests made by several other scrutineers; - ; 24. That the whole of the objections raised by the Rev Mr Wright to tha said former election, apply with greater force to this election. • ■ $. That " all and eUndl-y," (ia the said Rev A. M> Wright expressed it on th* former occasion), voted and took part iv this election illegally; 26. That no valid inquiry has been instituted by your Board as to the validity of the said former election, but the same was declared void without such inquiry. Your appellants and petitioners therefore ask that due inquiry may be-insti-tuted by your Board into the facts re^ corded herein, and that the lattejp^j^Sr tion shall be declared null and void, and that m the meantime, the former committee be declared the acting executive, or such other relief may be granted as to your Board may seem just. ' - Signed by T. fi. Walton, W. J. Batt, J. GarroH, T. Hall, J. Gr. Rash, G. Woodroofe, D. McKay George, T/Goodir son, W. H. Pascoe, and a large number of other householders. • r