JAN. 18.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 183

48. If in any division of the Public Service the number of persons nominated is not more than the number of vacancies to be filled, the persons nominated shall be declared to be duly elected; but if the number of persons nominated exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled, a ballot of the voters concerned shall be taken.

49. In any case in which a ballot becomes necessary the Returning Officer shall, immediately after the nominations are closed, prepare and post to each contributor, through the head of his Department, a printed ballot-paper containing, in alphabetical order of surnames, a list of all the duly nominated candidates for whom such elector is entitled to vote; and such ballot-paper shall be in the form or to the effect following:—

BALLOT-PAPER for Use at Election to be held on the Day of , 19 , of Members of the Public Service Superannuation Board by the Contributors employed in [Name of division of the Public Service concerned].

Candidates.

[Full names, official titles, and place where stationed of all duly nominated candidates, in alphabetical order of surnames.]

Directions.

The number of candidates to be elected is .
The voter must draw a line through the name of every candidate for whom he does not intend to vote, and the number of names left uncancelled must not exceed the number of candidates to be elected.
The voter’s name must not be written on the voting-paper.
This ballot-paper must be enclosed in a sealed envelope, and, if posted to the Returning Officer, must be posted on or before the day of the election, or, if delivered to him, must be delivered before the day of the election, or not later than 5 o’clock in the afternoon of that day.
An envelope addressed “The Secretary, Public Service Superannuation Board, Wellington,” and marked “Voting-paper,” is enclosed for your use.

50. The ballot-paper sent to each contributor shall bear his registered number, which shall also be written opposite his name on the voting-list. The number shall be written on the left-hand bottom corner of the ballot-paper by the Returning Officer, who shall fasten down with gum or otherwise such corner, and impress his official stamp thereon.

51. The ballot-paper, if delivered to the Returning Officer, must be so delivered in a sealed envelope before the day of the election, or not later than 5 o’clock in the afternoon of that day; and, if posted to him, must be posted in a sealed envelope so as to reach him either before that day or not later than 5 o’clock of the afternoon of the fifteenth day thereafter.

52. The poll shall close at 5 o’clock in the afternoon of the day of the election; but all valid ballot-papers shall be included and counted which are received by the Returning Officer in due course of post not later than 5 p.m. of the fifteenth day after the day of the election.

53. A ballot-paper shall be informal in any of the following cases, that is to say,—

(a.) If the name of the voter appears thereon; or
(b.) If the number of candidates whose names are left uncancelled exceeds the number of candidates to be elected; or
(c.) If, being personally delivered to the Returning Officer, it is not delivered at his office before the close of the poll; or if, having been forwarded by post, it is not received at the office of the Returning Officer on or before 5 p.m. of the fifteenth day after the day of election;
(d.) If, from the postmark on the envelope or otherwise, the Returning Officer is satisfied that it was not posted until after the day of the election;
(e.) If any such ballot-paper be returned mutilated in any essential detail, or if the official stamp of the Returning Officer be defaced or obliterated; or
(f.) If any such ballot-paper be delivered or sent by post unsealed.

54. On the sixteenth day after the day of the election the Returning Officer shall, in the presence of not more than three scrutineers appointed by the Board to be present, open and examine all the ballot-papers duly delivered to him or received by him through the post as aforesaid, and, after rejecting all informal ballot-papers, shall ascertain the candidates (not exceeding the total number to be elected by each division of contributors) who have received the greatest number of the votes of such contributors, and shall declare the result of such election.

55. If by reason of an equality of votes given for two or more candidates the election is not complete, the Returning Officer shall complete the election by casting lots in the presence of one of the non-elective members of the Board.

56. The voting-papers shall, after being counted, be enclosed in a sealed packet, and, unless a scrutiny or recount is demanded, shall be kept unopened in the custody of the Returning Officer for two months,