THE HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS PETITIONS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5508, 21 November 1878, Page 2

THE HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS PETITIONS.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. ‘ Sin, —It has been stated by several of the supporters of the defeated candidates that two, at least, of the late elections are to be set aside on the grounds of informality, thereby entailing additional expense on the ridings affected, and a considerable share of annoyance to the successful candidates and their friends. Having made inquiries as to the grounds on which it is proposed to move that the elections are null and void, I find that the only causa of complaint lies in the fact that tho surnames of the candidates were not arranged in alphabetical order in the voting paper. Now, sir, I have seen a great many elections conducted in Wellington and elsewhere, but have never before heard of such a childish objection raised to any decision coming from so large a number of electors. Never before in the history of electioneering was such a miserable issue raised against tho return of any candidate. Apart altogether from the overwhelming majorities which the successful candidates obtained, I will point out two very important points which no Resident Magistrate could well ignore. First, the order in which the candidates’ names appear in the voting paper could not possibly affect tho illiterate voter, as tho Returning Officer had to vote for him. Neither could it possibly affect the literate voter, as he surely must have read tho paper before drawing the fatal stroke by which ho endeavored to consign his opponents to other work than that of representation. If these new fangled patriots persist in their efforts to mulct their respective ridings in additional and unnecessary expenses.they will find to their cost that the first beating was nothing to tho second, for others, who like myself heartily supported them at the last election, will not be played with, as it will then bo the bounden duty of every elector to show them that if the coffers of tho Council aro to be emptied to give them a chance of showing their malice, they had far better be left attending to their own business.—l am, &0., A lath Sditoeter oi? thb Depiiated Candidates.