GREY ELECTION PETITION.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1918, Page 4

GREY ELECTION PETITION.

. aSffiARrNGAKJODRNED. By Telegraph—Press Association, Greymouth, 'Sept. 11. The election petition of Thomas El. don Coates against the return of Henry Edmund Holland on various grounds was to commenced at 10 o'clock to-day, but the hearing was adjourned till thret o'clock, and then further adjournmenl till 30 a.m. on Thursday morning; Judges Chapman and Simm are' here It is understood that some tew point hai been raised and much time will lj» taker up in legal argument. Messrs M. oannan, 9P. A. KitcUngihaaL and I. Patterson are appearing on behalf of Mr Coates, and P. J. O'Regan and W. J. Joyce for Mr Holland. ■ - :f ': i ■ QUESTION OF RESIDENCE. \ „. . . Wellington Last Ni#»t. The hearing of the Gftymoutlf elec. tion petition of Thomas Eldon Coatea was resumed before Justices, Charanaa and Sim. . ""i"™"* Mr.. Hannan, counsel for. petitioner* stated that both parties had agreed to submit certain issues to court for decision, asking the following questionsIs a vote valid in the following circumstances? First; in m caself an unmarried person; second, in the case of a married person with a family; third in the case of an unmarked person living with relatives; fourth, in,the case ofl married rhijji, leaving his wife in the electorate, wh,b, being a person duly registered on the Grey electoral roll„obt&M employment .in an adjoining electoral district more than six' months before the bye-election and resides there whilst following his occupation, but does not apply for registration or Become registered on the electoral roll of such adjoining district; but return! to the Grey electorate occasionally and remains in ettch electorate for more than six days, either continually or at intervals, during- the six months immediately prior to the date of-election, staying on such occasion either at a hotel or boarding-house or I home. , . ' ',

Is the vote valid in the case of a person, duly registered, leaving the electorate for more than one month and less than six months prior to the election, having no intention of returning, <md not, in fact, returning, and that person obtaining a ballot paper in consequence of a false, declaration? '<

Two other cases quoted were those of persons becoming registered in the Grey electorate while still registered in' au adjoining electorate, and a person .Whbse name is on the 1913' Grey roll'only "and has not been'removed.- , ■

Mr. Hannan, dealing with tlie Issues, contended that the only qualification for a vote was residential. The whole {foundation of "one man one-vote" was strictly residential. He maintained that votes under the first and third cases quoted were npt valid, according to the Act. "Place of residence"- was ''! where the voter has his usual place of abode," Any man who removed to a new district was entitled to vote there after one month's residence. Mr. Eanan contended that this cancelled his other qualification. In the fourth (case the man had left his wife ( in his home, so there could be no argument; he was stilLentitled to vote.

•Mr. O'Regan said the teat of the first and second issue was residence. : ,The question before the Cotart was: '"ifthat is residence?" He stated that men,'par. ticularly miners who had no settled abode, would, in many cases, be deprived of their vote if the contention of petitioners' counsel was upheldi < In the case 'of the Reefton miners, many of these people could be in any of three electorates, such as the Buller, Grey, and Westlar.dsclectorates, as they all bordered on Reefton. Many worked at the mines in either Buller or Westland, but made their homes in Reefton. Mr. O'Regan spoke for 2% hours. The court adjourned at 11 o'clock till to* morrow.