SOME ELECTION WARNINGS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3348, 28 November 1919, Page 3

SOME ELECTION WARNINGS.

UNDUE INFLUENCE AND ‘ SLANDER. . -———— I . The Legislature Act, 1903, and its‘ 1911 aniendments, contain a. prettyl formid-a.b'le list of “3on’ts” in the Way of wai-ning\s to candidates, Candi-i dates’ agents, and electors, la.-bout. th’ei things they must not do at election‘ time. One interesting section, respect. ‘ ing which some inquiries have already \ been made, reliates ‘to wlmtvis termed “;'nfiuencing electors.” The clause, says: “Every person is liable to it fine not exceeding £2O who at any election in any xyay interferes with any elector; either in the polilng booth ‘or on his way to it, with the inten- * tion of influencing him or advising him as to his vote; or who prints or addresses to any person on the-day of the poll, or at any time during the

Hll'(‘g: da'ys pxW'.odillg' the poll, anything being or plll'pol'ting to be any ilni’czLtion of any ballot paper to be used at

the poll, and having on it. the names’ of the eandidates, together with any direction or indication as to how any person should vote; or in any way con. taining any such direction or indication, or having on it any matter‘ likely to influence any vote; or during the hours in which t.he pol; is being taken makes any. public demonstration h‘av—ing, reference to the poll by means of moving figures, effigies, sigllboards, or‘ in any like manner.” Another clause,'wllfch was evidently 1 framed with the purpose of discouraging vitgiolic and unfounded remarks arid publications about o])posing enndi jdates declares that “every per.<on‘ liable. to a fine not (‘Zs'(‘.oo(lillg £SO or to imprisc-nm:‘nt for any ‘period not exceeding three months who ‘at any time between the issue of the writ and the close of the 150141. publishes or exposes. .or causes to be published or exposed to public View any document or writing or printed inatter containing any untrue statenient defamatory to any ‘candidate and calculated to influence the vote of’any elector.”