MAORI ELECTION PETITION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 89, 11 May 1909, Page 2

MAORI ELECTION PETITION.

Ay Telegraph.-—Press Association. Hamilton, Last Night. Pcpejie Eketone's petition against tlenarc Kaihau'* election to the Westcm Maori electorate was heard this afternoon before Judges Edwards and Cooper. Mr. F. Earl appeared on behalf of petitioner and Mr. C. Parr for respondent. Sir. Warbriek appeared for Grace, the returning officer, whom their Honors ruled was a respondent, as charges were made against him throughout the whole of the election. Mr. Earl, in opening the ease, said the ehife grounds of the petition were that the polling places had not been published in the Maori Gazette 011 eight different days prior to the day of polling; that the voting papers had been isslicd to each elector; that no time or times for issuing such pajiers had been stated; that places where the polling should liavc taken place were not used for such purpose; that other places were used in substitution.

ill", Karl also stated that 110 voting papers were returned without the names of the candidates buing filled in, the electors in many cases not being afforded an opportunity of filling them in. He contended these irregularities were flagrant ,broaches of the legislature, and it could not be said that the election had been carried out according to statute. Fn more than one ease, the place at which thi» polling should Imvni taken place had been changed to one milant some miles', and in one instance! the poll actually took place on an open 1 road, not n house heing used. •Judgp Edwards asked how much jthe ejection cost, and it was stated in reply that the cost ran into well over a thousand pounds. Mr. Earl submitted that the Act lind bee;, infringed by allowing more tli.m "(■' - Uao . n lo ,K ' present in the booth at one tmif. ]f their Honors held that according to common rule tliip election in substance .was invalid, well and good; !>Mt if, on tile other hand, tliev held the if regularities complainvd of 'not sufficient to des'troy the election as an election then it would be for the other side to show that tile irregularities were such as could not possibly have affected the result of the poll, ' Counsel's opening address lasted ill fJe iHleniooii. The Court adjourned to "J the next morning.