Public Health Act 1875

Returning Officer.

32 The returning officer, for the purposes of the election of a local board, shall be the chairman of the board, or in the case of the first election, if the district is constituted by provisional order, such person as may be appointed by order of the Local Government Board ; and if the district is constituted in pursuance of a resolution of owners and ratepayers, the summoning officer of the meeting of owners and ratepayers ; and all powers and duties by this Act vested in or imposed on the returning officer, and all other duties requisite to be performed by him in relation to such election, shall be exercised and performed by the chairman or such person as aforesaid.

33 If the office of chairman is vacant at the time when any such power or duty must be exercised or performed, or if the chairman or such other person as aforesaid, from illness or other sufficient cause, is unable to exercise or perform such powers or duties, or is absent, or refuses to act, some other person shall be appointed (in case of the first election) by the Local Government Board, and (in any other case) by the local board, to exercise or perform such powers and duties.

34 The local board, or (in case of the first election) the returning officer, shall, before or during the election, appoint a competent number of persons to assist the returning officer in conducting and completing the same.

35 If any returning officer appointed by the Local Government Board dies refuses or becomes incapable to act, the Local Government Board may appoint another person to act in his stead.