BAY OF ISLANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1938, Page 6

BAY OF ISLANDS

RESULT OF LATE ELECTION CHALLENGED PETITION GOES FORWARD. ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WHANGAREI, This Day. Petitions signed by Clive Cameron, of Kaikohe, and Sydney Walter Smith, of Pakaraka, were forwarded to the Chief Justice today seeking the constitution of an Electoral Court to inquire into alleged irregularities in the Bay of Islands election. The petitioners say that certain persons not lawfully entitled to vote at the election did register votes and that their names were illegally placed or retained on the electoral roll of the district for the following reasons: — A. They were not British subjects. B. They were Maoris other than half-castes. C. They were lawfully registered on the electoral roll for another electoral district, or were qualified to be so registered. D. They were not of or over the age of 21 years. The petitioners further allege that certain persons committed an offence within the meaning of Section 228 of the Electoral Act, 1927, and that votes were" recorded at the election in the names of persons who died previously to the date of the election. The petitioners. further say that certain halfcastes who were on the roll for the electoral district and who had voted at the Maori election for the Northern Maori electoral district on October 14 also recorded their votes at the election held on October 15. The petitioners say that, apart from votes which should be disallowed for the reasons given above, Harold Fisher Guy, the National Party candidate, obtained a majority of the valid votes polled at the election and was accordingly entitled to have been declared elected. The petitioners ask that it be determined that Harold Guy be returned.