Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing (Poll and Election of Board) Regulations (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1927. No. 61

––––––

REGULATIONS UNDER THE PEARL-SHELL OVERSEAS MARKETING ACT 1927.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, do hereby make the following Regulations under the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927, to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this

 30th day of June  1927.

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Minister of State for Markets and Migration.

 

Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing (Poll and Election of Board) Regulations.

Part 1.—Preliminary.

Short title.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing (Poll and Election of Board) Regulations.

Parts

2. These Regulations are divided into Parts, as follows:—

Part I.—Preliminary.

Part II.—Enrolment.

Part III.—Nominations for Board.

Part IV.—Voting.

Part V.—Scrutiny.

Part VI.—Disputed Elections.

Part VII.—Offences.

Definitions.

3.—(1) In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

“The Act” means the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927;

“The Minister” means the Minister for Markets and Migration;

“Officer” means an officer of the Department of Markets and Migration;

“Candidate” means any person nominated for election as a member of the Board;

“Voter” means a producer or a representative of a producer entitled to vote at the election;

“The poll” means the poll of producers under section 2 of the Act;

“Representative of a producer” means a person who has been duly appointed a representative of a firm or company which is a producer;

“The election” means the election of members of the Board in pursuance of sub-section (2) of section 4 of the Act.

C.6002.—Price 6d.

 

(2) Any reference in these Regulations to a form shall be read as a reference to a form in the schedule to these Regulations.

Part II.—Enrolment.

Appointment of Returning Officer and Deputy Returning Officers.

4.—(1) The Minister shall appoint an officer to be the Returning Officer for the purpose of carrying out the poll and the election and the Returning Officer shall make all necessary arrangements for the conduct of the poll and the election.

(2) The Minister may, if he thinks it desirable, in order to expedite the taking of the poll and the holding of the election, appoint Deputy Returning Officers to act under the direction of the Returning Officer.

Rolls to be used.

5. The rolls to be used for the poll and the election shall be those prepared under the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing (Preparation of Rolls) Regulations.

Qualifications of electors.

6.—(1) Each producer or the representative of any producer whose name appears on the rolls shall, at the poll, be entitled to one vote, and at the election to one vote in respect of each pearling vessel or attendant schooner owned by him and licensed by the Commonwealth, a Territory of the Commonwealth, or any State authority to carry on pearl-shell recovery operations.

(2) For the purpose of this regulation, where two or more companies have the same board of directors, those companies shall be deemed to be one company.

Part III.—Nominations for Board.

Candidates must be nominated.

7. No person shall be capable of being elected as a member of the Board unless duly nominated.

Nomination of Western Australian member of Board.

8.—(1) A nomination of a member of the Board to be elected by the producers of the State of Western Australia shall be in accordance with Form A and shall be signed by not less than five producers or representatives of producers entitled to vote at the election.

(2) A nomination shall be lodged with the Returning Officer on or before the day fixed in that behalf by the Minister.

Nomination of Queensland member of Board.

9.—(1) A nomination of a member of the Board to be elected by the producers of the State of Queensland and the Territory of North Australia shall be in accordance with Form B and shall be signed by not less than five producers or representatives of producers entitled to vote at the election for which the candidate is nominated.

(2) A nomination shall be lodged with the Returning Officer on or before the day fixed in that behalf by the Minister.

Requisites for nomination.

10. A nomination shall not be valid unless—

(a) the person nominated consents to act if elected; and

(b) the nomination-paper is received by the Returning Officer on or before the day fixed in that behalf by the Minister.

Form of consent to act.

11. The consent of the person nominated to act if elected shall be sufficient if he signs the form of consent at the foot of the nomination-paper but the Returning Officer may accept any other form of consent, whether accompanying the nomination-paper or not, that he deems satisfactory, and such acceptance shall be final.

Declaration of nomination.

12. On the day following the day fixed by the Minister as the last day for receiving nominations the Returning Officer shall produce to the Minister all nomination-papers received by him, and the Minister shall announce the name, place of residence and occupation of each person nominated and cause notice thereof to be published in the Gazette.

Withdrawal of consent to nomination.

13. Any candidate may withdraw his consent to his nomination at any time on or before the day fixed for the close of nominations by lodging with the Returning Officer a notice of withdrawal bearing his personal signature and witnessed by a Justice of the Peace.

Proceedings on nomination day.

14.—(1) If the number of candidates nominated is not greater than the number of candidates required to be elected, the Minister shall declare the candidate or candidates nominated duly elected and cause notice thereof to be published in the Gazette.

(2) If the number of candidates nominated is greater than the number required to be elected a vote shall be taken to decide the election.

Part IV.—Voting.

Voting to be by post.

15. Voting at the poll and the election shall be carried out by post.

Date of close of election.

16.—(1) The date fixed for the close of the poll and the election shall be the date fixed in that behalf by the Minister.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this regulation, where, in the opinion of the Minister, such circumstances exist as render it necessary to alter the date fixed for the close of the poll and the election the Minister may alter that date, and that date, as so altered, shall be the date fixed for the close of the poll and the election.

Voting papers and form of declaration.

17. As soon as practicable after the date for the close of the poll and the election has been fixed, the Returning Officer shall initial and transmit by post to each producer or representative of each producer whose name is set out in the rolls, a ballot-paper for the poll and a ballot-paper for the election, or, if a voter is entitled under regulation 6 of these Regulations to more votes than one, so many ballot-papers as are equal to the number of votes to which that voter is entitled, together with an envelope having printed thereon a form of declaration in accordance with Form C or Form D, as the case requires.

Envelopes to be endorsed

18. The envelopes containing the ballot-papers posted by the Returning Officer to the voters shall be endorsed with the words “Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing (Poll and Election of Board) Ballot-papers.”

Particulars to be inserted in voting papers and declarations.

19. Before posting the ballot-papers and envelopes bearing the voters’ form of declaration, the Returning Officer shall insert in the ballot-paper in the space provided for the purpose the date fixed for the close of the poll and the election, and shall initial the ballot-paper in the space provided for the Returning Officer’s initials, and, in the form of declaration on each envelope, he shall insert—

(a) the name in full of the producer who is entitled to vote; and

(b) the date fixed for the close of the poll and the election.

Voter to make declaration.

20. Each producer or the representative of each producer shall complete and sign with his personal signature the prescribed declaration in the presence of an authorized witness who shall sign his name in his own handwriting in the place provided for the purpose, and add the title under which he acts as an authorized witness and the date.

Authorized witnesses.

21. The following persons are authorized witnesses within the meaning of these Regulations:—The Returning Officer and all Deputy Returning Officers appointed in connexion with the poll and the election; all ministers of religion; all postmasters, postmistresses and postal officials and all other permanent officers of the Public Service of the Commonwealth or of a State; all magistrates and justices of the peace; all teachers in charge of a school; all members of the Police Force; all legally qualified medical practitioners; all legal practitioners; all bank managers and all railway stationmasters.

Form of voting paper for use at the poll.

22. The voting-paper to be used at the poll shall be in accordance with Form E and the voter shall record his vote in accordance with the directions thereon.

Form of voting papers for use at the election.

23. The ballot-paper to be used in the election of a member of the Board shall be in accordance with Form F and the voter shall record his vote in accordance with the directions thereon.

Arrangement of names of candidates on ballot-paper.

24. In printing the ballot-papers to be used at the election, the names of the candidates shall be arranged in such order and with such description or addition as the Returning Officer thinks fit.

Ballot-paper not received, miscarried, or destroyed.

25. Upon a producer or a representative of a producer making and transmitting to the Returning Officer a statement in writing setting out his full name and address, and that he has not received a ballot-paper or that a ballot-paper received by him has miscarried or has been destroyed and that he has not already voted at the poll or the election, the Returning Officer may at any time before 3 o’clock in the afternoon of the day next preceding the day fixed for the close of the poll and the election, issue a ballot-paper to any such producer or representative.

Voting-papers to be kept in ballot-box until scrutiny.

26. The Returning Officer shall keep a locked and sealed ballot-box with the words “Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing (Poll and Election of Board) Ballot-box, Ballot-papers received from Voters” marked thereon and shall place and keep therein until the scrutiny all envelopes containing ballot-papers received by him at or before 4 o’clock in the afternoon of the day fixed for the close of the poll and the election.

Voting-papers received after close of poll or on which postage not fully prepaid.

27.—(1) No ballot-paper received by the Returning Officer after 4 o’clock in the afternoon of the day fixed for the close of the poll and the election shall be admitted to the scrutiny

(2) No ballot-paper sent by post to the Returning Officer shall be accepted by the Returning Officer unless the postage on the ballot-paper has been fully prepaid.

Part V.—Scrutiny.

Scrutineers at the scrutiny.

28.—(1) The Minister may appoint from persons nominated by any association of pearlers not more than two scrutineers to represent the producers at the scrutiny.

(2) Each candidate for the Board may by notice in writing or by telegram addressed to the Returning Officer appoint one scrutineer to represent him at the scrutiny and such notice or telegram shall be signed by the candidate and shall give the name and address of the scrutineer.

Scrutiny of votes and declarations.

29. The Returning Officer, and any Deputy Returning Officer directed in that behalf by the Returning Officer, shall, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon of the day fixed for the close of the poll and the election:—

(a) open the ballot-box and produce unopened all envelopes containing ballot-papers received by the Returning Officer up to that hour;

(b) examine each envelope and if the declaration is in the opinion of the Returning Officer or Deputy Returning Officer, signed by the voter and is duly attested, accept the vote for further scrutiny but if not so signed and attested disallow the ballot-paper without opening the envelope;

(c) place the envelopes containing the disallowed ballot-papers in a parcel, seal the parcel, and endorse it “Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing (Poll and Election of Board), Votes Rejected at Preliminary Scrutiny” and add his signature and the date;

(d) number consecutively from one upwards, and initial each envelope accepted for further scrutiny on the address side thereof, and place it on a table before him so that the address side only shall be visible;

(e) withdraw from each envelope each ballot-paper contained therein and without unfolding it or inspecting the vote or permitting any other person to do so, place thereon a number corresponding with that placed on the envelope from which it was withdrawn, initial the number, and forthwith deposit it in a locked and sealed ballot-box for further scrutiny; and

(f) place the envelope in a parcel, seal the parcel and endorse it “Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing—Poll and Election of Board—Envelopes from which ballot-papers have been withdrawn” and add his signature and the date.

The further scrutiny.

30. At the further scrutiny the Returning Officer or a Deputy Returning Officer shall open the ballot-box referred to in paragraph (e) of the last preceding regulation and the scrutiny shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the next two succeeding regulations.

Counting the votes.

31.—(1) In the taking of the poll, the Returning Officer or such Deputy Returning Officer as the Returning Officer appoints in that behalf shall examine and count the votes.

(2) In the election of the member of the Board to represent the producers of the State of Western Australia or the State of Queensland and the Territory of North Australia, as the case may be the scrutiny shall be conducted in the following manner:—

(1) The Returning Officer or such Deputy Returning Officer as the Returning Officer appoints in that behalf shall, in the

presence of an officer appointed by the Returning Officer, and of such authorized scrutineers as may attend, count the first preference votes given for each candidate on all unrejected ballot-papers.

(2) The candidate who has received the largest number of first preference votes shall, if that number constitutes an absolute majority of votes, be elected.

(3) If no candidate has received an absolute majority of first preference votes, the Returning Officer or the Deputy Returning Officer, as the case may be, shall proceed with the scrutiny and the counting of the votes as follows:—

(i) the candidate who has received the fewest first preference votes shall be excluded, and each ballot-paper counted to him shall be counted to the candidate next in the order of the voter’s preference;

(ii) if no candidate then has an absolute majority of votes, the process of excluding the candidate who has the fewest votes and counting each of his ballot-papers to the unexcluded candidate next in the order of the voter’s preference, shall be repeated until one candidate has received an absolute majority of votes; and

(iii) the candidate who has received an absolute majority of votes shall be elected.

(4) If on any count two or more candidates have an equal number of votes, and one of them has to be excluded, the Returning Officer shall decide which shall be excluded; and if in the final count two candidates have an equal number of votes, the Returning Officer shall decide which shall be elected.

(5) In this regulation an absolute majority of votes means a greater number than one-half of the whole number of ballot-papers other than informal ballot-papers. The decision of the Returning Officer, given in pursuance of the last preceding sub-regulation shall, in reckoning an absolute majority of votes, be included as if it were a vote.

Recount of votes.

32.—(1) At any time before the declaration of the result of the election the Returning Officer may, if he thinks fit, on the written request of any candidate setting forth the reasons for the request, or of his own motion, direct a recount of the ballot-papers.

(2) If the Returning Officer refuses, on the request of a candidate, to direct a recount of any ballot-papers, the candidate may, in writing, appeal to the Minister to direct a recount of those ballot-papers, and the Minister may, as he thinks fit, either direct a recount of the ballot-papers or refuse to direct a recount.

Powers of officer conducting recount.

33.—The officer conducting a recount shall have the same powers as if the recount were the scrutiny, and may reverse any decision in relation to the scrutiny as to the allowance and admission or disallowance and rejection of any ballot-paper.

(2) The officer conducting a recount may, and at the request of any scrutineer shall, reserve any ballot-paper for the decision of the Returning Officer.

(3) The Returning Officer shall decide whether any ballot-paper, reserved for his decision in pursuance of this section, is to be allowed and admitted or disallowed and rejected.

Informal voting papers.

34. A ballot-paper shall be informal if—

(a) it is not initialed by the Returning Officer;

(b) it has no vote marked on it;

(c) it is so imperfectly marked that the intention of the voter is uncertain; or

(d) it is not marked in accordance with the directions on the voting-paper.

Declaration of poll and election.

35.—(1) The Returning Officer shall make out a statement showing the number of votes—

(a) in favour of the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927 being brought into operation;

(b) not in favour of the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927 being brought into operation; and

(c) rejected as informal.

(2) The Returning Officer shall make out a further statement showing the result of the election and the names of the candidates elected.

(3) The statements referred to in sub-section (1) and (2) of this regulation shall be transmitted to the Minister, who shall announce the results of the poll and the election and cause notice of the results to be published in the Gazette.

(4) The notices published in the Gazette shall, subject to these Regulations, be conclusive evidence of the result of the poll and the election.

Voting papers to be placed in parcels.

36. The Returning Officer or a Deputy Returning Officer shall—

(a) place in a separate parcel all the ballot-papers received by the Returning Officer which have been rejected as informal, together with the envelopes from which they were withdrawn; and

(b) place in a separate parcel all the unrejected ballot-papers received by the Returning Officer together with the envelopes from which they were withdrawn and the copy of the roll used for the poll and the election, and endorse on each parcel a description of the contents thereof, add his signature and the date and shall retain the parcels until the authority of the Minister has been obtained for the destruction of the contents thereof.

Destruction of papers.

37. At the expiration of six months from the date of publication of the result of the poll and the election the Minister shall cause the ballot-papers and the voters’ declarations to be destroyed.

Intruders.

38. Every person, not being authorized pursuant to these Regulations to be present at the scrutiny who wilfully intrudes into the room appointed for the examination of the voting-papers, shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Fifty pounds.

 

Part VI.—Disputed Validity of Poll or Election.

Disputing validity of poll or election statement.

39. The validity of the poll or the election or of any statement or notice showing the voting at the poll or the election may be disputed by petition addressed to the High Court.

Requisites of petition.

40. The petition disputing the roll, election, statement or notice shall—

(a) set out the facts relied on to invalidate the roll, election, statement or notice;

(b) contain a prayer asking for the relief to which the petitioner claims to be entitled;

(c) be signed by a candidate at the election in dispute or by a person who was qualified to vote thereat;

(d) be attested by two witnesses whose occupations and addresses are stated; and

(e) be filed in the Principal Registry of the High Court or in the District Registry of that Court in the capital city of the State in which the petitioner resides within thirty days after the publication in the Gazette of the notice of the result of the poll or election.

Jurisdiction of High Court.

41. The High Court shall have jurisdiction to entertain and hear and determine the petition.

Notice of petition.

42. The petitioner shall, within seven days after the filing of the petition, notify the petition in the Gazette.

Joinder of parties.

43. The High Court may on the application of any voter order him to be joined as a party petitioning or responding as the case may be.

Powers of Court.

44.—(1) The High Court when hearing a petition shall sit as an open Court and its powers shall include the following:—

(i) To adjourn;

(ii) to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents;

(iii) to grant to any party to a petition leave to inspect in the presence of an officer the rolls and other documents (except ballot-papers) used at or in connexion with any election and to take, in the presence of the officer, extracts from those rolls and documents;

(iv) to examine witnesses on oath;

(v) to declare that any person who was returned as elected was not duly elected;

(vi) to declare any candidate duly elected who was not returned as elected;

(vii) to declare any poll or election absolutely void;

(viii) to dismiss or uphold the petition in whole or in part; and

(ix) to award costs.

(2) The Court may exercise all or any of its powers under this section on such grounds as the Court in its discretion thinks just and sufficient.

(3) Without limiting the powers conferred by this section, it is hereby declared that the power of the Court to declare that any person who was returned as elected was not duly elected, or to declare a poll or an election absolutely void, may be exercised on the ground that illegal practices were committed in connexion with the poll or election.

Inquiries by Court.

45. The High Court shall on the hearing of a petition inquire whether or not the petition is duly signed, and so far as rolls and voting are concerned may inquire into the identity of persons, and whether their votes were improperly admitted or rejected, assuming the roll to be correct, but the Court shall not inquire into the correctness of any roll.

Real justice to be observed

46. The High Court shall on the hearing of a petition be guided by the substantial merits and good conscience of each case without regard to legal forms or technicalities, or whether the evidence before it is in accordance with the law of evidence or not.

Evidence that person not permitted to vote.

47. On the trial of any petition the High Court shall not admit the evidence of any voter that he was not permitted to vote in any election unless the witness satisfies the Court—

(a) that he claimed to vote, in the poll or the election, pursuant to these Regulations; and

(b) that he complied with the requirements of these Regulations relative to voting by producers or representatives of producers in so far as he was permitted so to do.

Decisions to be final.

48. All decisions of the High Court under this Part shall be final and conclusive and without appeal, and shall not be questioned in any way.

Counsel or solicitor.

49.— (1) No party to the petition shall, except by consent of all parties, or by leave of the Court, be represented by counsel or solicitor.

(2) In no case shall more than one counsel or one solicitor appear on behalf of any party.

Costs

50. The High Court may award costs against an unsuccessful party to the petition.

Recovery of costs.

51. All costs awarded by the High Court under this Part shall be recoverable as if the order of the High Court on the petition were a judgment of the High Court of Australia, and such order, certified by the Court, may be entered as a judgment of the High Court of Australia, and enforced accordingly.

Effect of decision.

52. Effect shall be given to any decision of the Court as follows:—

(1) If any person returned is declared not to have been duly elected, he shall cease to be a member of the Board;

(2) If any person not returned is declared to have been duly elected, he shall become a member of the Board;

(3) If any poll or election is declared absolutely void a new poll or election shall be held.

Procedure on petition.

53. The procedure in relation to a petition shall, subject to these Regulations, be as prescribed by Rules of Court, or, in default of Rules of Court, as directed by the High Court or a Justice thereof.

Ministerial errors not to vitiate poll or election.

54.—(1) The poll or the election or any statement or notice showing the voting at the poll or the election shall not be avoided on account of any delay in relation to the taking of the votes of the voters or in relation to the making of any statement or notice, or on account of the absence or error of, or omission by, any officer, which did not affect the result of the poll or the election.

(2) The poll or the election shall not be disputed by reason of any defect in the title or any want of title of any Returning Officer or Deputy Returning Officer, if that person really acted at the poll or the election, or by reason of any formal error or defect in any statement, notice, instrument or publication made under these Regulations or intended to be so made, or by reason of any act or thing not being done at or within the prescribed time.

Part VII.—Offences.

Misfeasance.

55. Every person acting as Returning Officer or Deputy Returning Officer at the poll or the election, who is guilty of any wilful misfeasance or wilful or negligent act of commission or omission contrary to any of the provisions of these Regulations, shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Fifty pounds.

Failure of election.

56.—(1) Whenever an election wholly or partially fails a supplementary election shall be held.

(2) An election shall be deemed to have wholly failed if no candidate is nominated or returned as elected.

(3) An election shall be deemed to have partially failed whenever one or more candidates is returned as elected, but not the full number required to be elected.

Untrue statements in declarations &c.

57. A person shall not make any untrue statement in any declaration, or in answer to any question under these Regulations, or in any information supplied to the Returning Officer or any Deputy Returning Officer for the purpose of obtaining a ballot-paper.

Penalty: Fifty pounds.

Duty of authorized witness.

58. An authorized witness shall not witness the signature of a person to any declaration under these Regulations unless—

(a) he has satisfied himself as to the identity of the person;

(b) he has seen the person sign the declaration in his, the person’s own handwriting; and

(c) he knows that the statements contained in the declaration are true, or has satisfied himself by inquiry from the person or otherwise that the statements contained in the declaration are true.

Penalty: Fifty pounds.

Making marks on voting papers.

59. Except where expressly authorized by these Regulations, a person (other than a producer or representative of a producer to whom the ballot-paper has been issued, or some person acting with the authority of a producer or a representative of a producer) shall not make any mark or writing on the voting-paper of a voter.

Offences in connexion with polling.

60. Any person or body of persons who or which—

(a) falsely impersonates any person or body of persons to secure a voting-paper to which the personator is not entitled; or

(b) personates any other person or body of persons for the purpose of voting; or

(c) fraudulently destroys or defaces any voting-paper; or

(d) except where authorized by these Regulations, votes more than once at the poll,

shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Fifty pounds.

 

THE SCHEDULE.

Form A.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

Reg. 8.

Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927.

Nomination of member of the pearl-shell overseas marketing board to Represent the Producers of the State of Western Australia.

To the Returning Officer—

We, the undersigned, being producers of the State of Western Australia entitled to vote at the election of the member of the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Board to represent the producers of the State of Western Australia, do hereby nominate [here insert the christian name or names in full, surname, place of residence, and occupation of person nominated] as a member of the Board to represent the producers of the State of Western Australia.

Signature of Nominator. Place of Living. Date of Signature. Witness to Signature.

I  of  consent to the above nomination and to act if elected.

Signature of Candidate—

Witness—

Address—

N.B.—The candidate’s consent to the nomination may be on a separate paper and in any form but if given on the nomination-paper in the above form its sufficiency is not to be questioned.

A nomination must be signed by not less than five producers or representatives of producers of the State of Western Australia entitled to vote at the election for which the candidate is nominated.

Form B.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

Reg. 9.

Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927.

Nomination of Member of the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Board to Represent the Producers of the State of Queensland and the Territory of North Australia.

To the Returning Officer—

We, the undersigned, being producers of the State of Queensland or the Territory of North Australia entitled to vote at the election of the member of the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Board to represent the producers of the State of Queensland and the Territory of North Australia, do hereby nominate [here insert the christian name or names in full, surname, place of residence and occupation of person nominated] as a member of the Board to represent the producers of the State of Queensland and the Territory of North Australia.

Signature of Nominator. Place of Living. Date of Signature. Witness to Signature.

I  of  consent to the above nomination and to act if elected.

Signature of Candidate—

Witness—

Address—

N.B.—The candidate’s consent to the nomination may be on a separate paper and in any form, but if given on the nomination-paper in the above form its sufficiency is not to be questioned.

A nomination must be signed by not less than five producers or representatives of producers of the State of Queensland and the Territory of North Australia entitled to vote at the election for which the candidate is nominated

 

Form C.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

Reg. 17.

Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927.

Poll and Election of the Member of the Board to Represent the Producers of the State of Western Australia.

Declaration to be Made by Voter.

*Strike out which is inapplicable.

(a) Insert name of owner.

(b) Insert number.

I  of  declare that I am *the owner *or authorized to act for (a)  the owner of (b)   pearling vessels and (b)  attendant schooners licensed by the State of Western Australia to carry on pearl-shell recovery operations and that I am entitled to vote at the poll and the election

of the member of the Board to represent the producers of the State of Western Australia which closes on the   day of  1927 under the provisions of the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927, and I also declare that I have not previously voted in connexion with the said poll or election.

Personal Signature of Voter—

Signed before me this  day of  1927.

Signature of Authorized Witness—

Address of Authorized Witness—

Title under which Witness acts as Authorized Witness—

Authorized Witnesses.

The following persons are authorized witnesses, namely:—The Returning Officer and all Deputy Returning Officers appointed in connexion with the poll and the election; all ministers of religion; all postmasters, postmistresses and postal officials, and all other permanent officers of the Public Service of the Commonwealth or of a State; all magistrates and justices of the peace; all teachers in charge of a school; all members of the Police Force; all legally qualified medical practitioners; all legal practitioners; all bank managers; and all railway stationmasters.

 

Form D.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

Reg. 17

Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927.

Poll and Election or the Member of the Board to Represent the Producers of the State of Queensland and the Territory of North Australia.

Declaration to be Made by Voter.

* Strike out which is inapplicable.

(a) Insert name of owner.

(b) Insert number.

I of declare that 1 am *the owner *or authorized to act for (a)  the owner of (b)   pearling vessels and (b)  attendant schooners licensed by the State of Queensland or the Territory of North Australia to carry on pearl-shell recovery operations, and that I am entitled to vote at the poll and the election of the member of the Board to represent the producers of the State of Queensland and the Territory of North Australia which closes on the  day of   1927, under the provisions of the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927, and I also declare that I have not previously voted in connexion with the said poll or election.

Personal Signature of Voter—

Signed before me this  day of  1927.

Signature of Authorized Witness—

Address of Authorized Witness—

Title under which Witness acts as Authorized Witness—

Authorized Witnesses.

The following persons are authorized witnesses namely:—The Returning Officer and all Deputy Returning Officers appointed in connexion with the poll and the election; all ministers of religion; all postmasters, postmistresses and postal officials, and all other permanent officers of the Public Service of the Commonwealth or of a State; all magistrates and justices of the peace; all teachers in charge of a school; all members of the Police Force; all legally qualified medical practitioners; all legal practitioners; all bank managers; and all railway stationmasters.

Form E.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

Reg. 22.

Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927.

Voting-paper.

Directions to Voter.—The voter should indicate his vote as follows:—

If he is in favour of the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927 being brought into operation he should make a cross in the square opposite the word “Yes.’’

If he is not in favour of the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927 being brought into operation he should make a cross in the square apposite the word “No.’’

Question.—Are you in favour of the Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927 being brought into operation?—

     YES.

     NO.

Further Directions to Voter.—After marking his vote, the voter should fold the voting-paper and place it in the envelope bearing his declaration (duly signed and witnessed), securely fasten the envelope, and forthwith send the envelope, by prepaid post or otherwise, to the Returning Officer to whom the envelope is addressed.

Note.—Unless the vote is marked on this voting-paper and is received by the Returning Officer at or before 4 o’clock in the afternoon of the day fixed for the close of the poll (namely, the   day of   1927), it will not be admitted to the scrutiny.

N.B.—If this voting-paper is sent to the Returning Officer by post the postage thereon must be fully prepaid otherwise the voting-paper will not be accepted by the Returning Officer.

 

Form F.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

Reg. 23.

Pearl-shell Overseas Marketing Act 1927,

Election or Member of the Board to Represent the Producers of the State of Western Australia (or the State of Queensland and the Territory of North Australia, as the case may be).

Ballot-paper.

Directions.—The voter shall mark his vote on this ballot-paper by placing the number 1 in the square opposite the name of the candidate for whom he votes as his first preference, and must give contingent votes for all the remaining candidates by placing the numbers 2, 3, 4 (and so on as the case requires) in the squares opposite their names, so as to indicate the order of his preference for them.

Candidates.

      BROOKMAN, John.

      CRANE, Joseph.

     FRENCH, Charles.

     KING, William.

      WILSON, Henry.

Further Directions to Voter.—After marking his vote, the voter should fold the ballot-paper and place it in the envelope bearing his declaration (duly signed and witnessed) securely fasten the envelope, and forthwith send the envelope by prepaid post or otherwise, to the Returning Officer to whom the envelope is addressed.

Note.—Unless the vote is marked on the ballot-paper and is received by the Returning Officer at or before 4 o’clock in the afternoon of the day fixed for the close of the election (namely, the  day of  1927), it will not be admitted to the scrutiny.

N.B.—If this ballot-paper is sent to the Returning Officer by post the postage thereon must be fully prepaid otherwise the voting-paper will not be accepted by the Returning Officer.

 

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by H. J. Green, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.