NORTHERN MAORI PETITION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 232, 10 March 1915, Page 4

NORTHERN MAORI PETITION.

PETITIONERS PAY COSTS. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Auckland, March 9. Justices Hosking and Stringer, w'ho heard the petition against the return of Tau Henare for the Northern Maori seat, to-day ordered the petitioners, two Natives, to pay the costs, which amount to between £l5O and £"200. Mr. Justice Hos'l ung said that not sufficient ground had been shown wliv the Court should depart from the rule that the successful side should get costs. Mr. Justice Stringer remarked that the petitioners had proceeded on a bare technicality. They knew, or ought to have known, that it was necessary! to go beyond that in order to have an election declared void. To succeed the irregularity must affect tlie result of the election: yet the petitioners -knew, <t>r ought to have known, that the. only effect of the irregularity was adverse to the successful candidate. It was proved from evidence for petitioners that in all probability a great number of votes would have been given in Tau Honaro's favor. In view of the facts knowirto petitioners, the petition should not have been presented.

The judges remarked that tlie charges were riot to the discredit of the returning officer.