ELECTION PETITION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12537, 7 May 1915, Page 8

ELECTION PETITION.

THE TAUMARI'NUI SEAT. (Feb Press Association. 1 Auckland, May 6. ■ The hearing of tlio Taumarunui elec■tion petition against the return of Mr Jennings was resumed to-day before Justices C-coper and Chapman. Ihc :petitioner (Mr C. K. A\ilson) was represented by Mr A. H. Johnston, and Mr Jennings was represented by Mr (Jr. I\ Finlay. Mr' Finlay explained tluit_ in counting over the voting papers 79 cases of dual voting had been discovered. Apartfrom this number, 30 had been shown on the original petition. He submitted there was still a question of taking the evidence of these people. He suggested that'it should be taken by affidavit. Many of these people had assured liiih that they did not vote twice. , Mr Justice Chapman remarked that in the Hawke's Bay petition -alleged' cases o: dual voting melted awa.j when investigated, and it was suggested that in some cases the voters had been impersonated. Mr Johnston said that- there were o«0 counterfoils issued which bore no roll number, including 79 discovered by the registrar.' He submitted that he should ■be allowed a scrutiny it the law points went against- him. . The Court announced that the position would be further considered. It would have to be decided .whether further evidence could be taken by davitTile deputv-registrar's report wag-to the effect that the result of an examination of the roll was' as follows: Names marked by himseH on the roll as the result of examination of counterfoils. 7230; names marked on examination of the local option papers. Mahirikau booth, 187: marked ironi rolls by deputy-returning officers. 53 names representing double voting, and therefore not shown on the roll, 78: number of counterfoils bearing 110 roll number, 79; absent voters (.less 2. marked on roll after examination of counterfoils), 265; total, 7892; total number votes according to return in returning officer's office, 7917. In a- number of instances the deputy-returning officer had not initialled the counterfoil as required by section 38 of the 1910 Act. In a. few instances the official mark was not placed ou the counterfoil.