ELECTION PETITIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 44, 23 February 1915, Page 8

ELECTION PETITIONS.

THE TAUMARUNUI SEAT,

Per Press .Association

To Kuiti, February 22

The Taumarnnni election petition enquiry opened to-day before Justices Cooper and Chapman. Mr A. H. Johnstone, of New Plymouth, appealed f () r Mr C. K. Wilson, petitioner, and Mr C. P. Findlay, of Te Kuiti, for Mr Jennings.

hi his opening address extending over an hour, Mr Johnstone reviewed the charges of the petition of irregularities before and at the election. It was probable that in such a large and sparsely settled district* with a considerable nomadic population due to public works and great numbers of new settlers coming to the district, it was difficult for the registrar to exercise full supervision over the arrangements for an election in which ninety-eight polling-booths were required. The alterations of the residence qualification rendered the liability to greater error. The* scrutiny after the election disclosed over three hundred voting papers in excess of the names-marked off on the rolls having voted. Discrepancies also occurred in a similar manner in respect of absent voters’ permits. He contended that the discrepancies amounted to a greater number of votes than Mr Jennings’ majority, and that this was sufficient>reason for the court to grant a scrutiny. He also claimed that a large number of voters were on the roll illegally, some not having residence qualifications, while some were unnatnralised aliens, and some were Maoris. People were wrongly allowed to vote on making the declaration that they had .voted at last election, and that their names had been removed from the roll. An allegation of persons being not allowed to vote by making this declaration was withdrawn.- It was claimed that Mr Jennings was not eligible for election, inasmuch as he was on the TaumarUnni roll and not on any other. He should not be on the Taumarunui roll, as his place of residence was New Plymouth. He had doubtless been a month in the electorate jirior to the claim being lodged, but his residence had not been changed. No provision had been made at Mahirakau for maintaining y secrecy, persons voting at open desks. At Otorohanga, the i booth was frequently crowded with persons not.engaged in voting. At Te Kniti, Mr Jennings was often in the polling booths. In one maSe he demanded that a person be allowed to vote, and threatened to telegraph to Wellington if it were not done. Mr Jennings was also present during the sc.uiinv. Counsel also stated that J. Ik "(ung the agent of Mr Jennings who placed many names on the roll, ■ as in the habit of sending claims duly rtfe-Jed to voters for signature. Four witnesses would hay that they signed such forms. Some expeditionary vmos. were recorded by persons not entitled to vote in the electorate, it was also alleged that at Brixton the duties of the poll clerk were performed by a person not officially appointed. On those various heads counsel claimed that the election he declared void, and Mr Jennings not duly elected. The case is expected to last several days. Te Kuiti, February 23. At the enquiry into the Taumarumii election petition, evidence was called showing the names on the i f oll of two men outsiio the electorate at Terauamoa; that the railway platelayers on the roll did not permanently reside in the. district; that a. woman named Mrs McCracken, of Manunui. whose name was struck off the roll, had voted and not mdae a declaration ; that claims for enrolment attested by one Young, had not been signed in Young’s presence. ft was admitted by Sir John Findlay that the names of Michael Lyn Michael Lydon, and his wife, and daughter should not have been enrolled, they not having resided twelve months in the Dominion