OHINEMURI LICENSING PETITION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9383, 1 March 1909, Page 5

OHINEMURI LICENSING PETITION.

Per Press Association. Waihi, March 1. The special Court gave decision in reference to the petition to invalidate the Ohinemuri Licensing pell. The Court, consisting cf Messrs Burgess, Gotten and Coloael Roberts, S.M. After reviewing the evidence they did not think the irregularities proved showed that the poll was not conducted substantially in accordance with the provisions of tiie law, nor did they think the result was affected thereby. The petition would, therefore, be dismissed with costs £IOB. The Court held that the priuicple to be applied was clearly whether there had been suoli great and universal neglect that it could be said that tlnr secrecy of the ballot had been entirely disregarded. The evidence adduced did uot justify them in coming to such a conclusion. Constable Driscoll had said it was in endeavouring to assist those to find an empty compartment chat lie looked behind .screens and in ’so doing saw ballot papers, and it was suggested by petitioners that persons looking for a compartment in which to vote would have the same opportunity as Driscoll to see how others voted. There was no evidence, however, of any person in the booth at any time throughout the day for the purpose of voting having seen how any other voter was marking his paper.