LICENSING POLL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2359, 27 November 1908, Page 5

LICENSING POLL

INCREASE OF LICENSES. A FORGOTTEN' ISSUE. SUGGESTED LEGAL DIFFICULTIES. [SPECIAL TO • l’lilES.”] WELLINGTON., Nov. 26. .V statement has been circulated about “A Forgotten issue" in connection with .the licensing polls recently taken. "Briefly put." says the "Post,” "it is to the effect that continuance, reduction and No-license are not the only issues that may be -put to the electors upon a local option poll. ‘These issues,’ it is stated, •fail to provide tor the possible increase in licenses required by a growth of population.' and that if the population of any licensing district has increased by 25 per cent since the taking of the last poll ‘under certain circumstances the voice of the people .oust also be taken upon the following proposals, ‘That the number of licenses in the district be increased. ’ ■that the number of licenses in the listrict be not increased.* it is not quite clear, however, whether some action: on the part of the electors prior to the taking of the poll is not required. Clause 144. for instance, provides that 'when the population of any riding in a county or any road district outside or any such county has suddenly increased in a large degree, anil a petition signed by not less than 100 residents thereof respectively has been presented to the Governor praying that power may be granted to the Licensing Committee to issue a publican’s license or licenses therein, the Governor may, unless the determination of the electors has been previously made that no licenses shall he granted* by Order-in-Couneil grant such authority, and thereupon publicans’ licenses may be granted in the said riding by the Committee at the ratio of one licensed house to every seven hundred persons residing within a ratlins of two miles Irani such licensed house. Clause 145 says, ‘Except as provided in the last preceding section. there shall not he granted any increase in the number ot licenses in anv district until after the taking ol the next census; (2) if the results ol such census prove that the population of any district lias been increased bv 25 per - cent, then a prop aval as to whether there shall be an increase ol licenses granted or-not slfall be .submitted to the electors for their determination ; and (3) if such proposal is carried by a majority of three-filths in number of the total votes recostlcd at .the poll, and such number of total votes recorded be not les s than one hall of the total number of electors on the roll of the district, then and in such case only the .committee may errant'"additional licenses in such district at a rate not exceeding one license for every seven hundred people, of such increase in the (listrict. i It will be noticed, in each instance, tout llie question of granting increased lire m-e.s is entirely in the discretion, ui the Licensing Committee. The -vet savs ‘may..’ not ‘shall,’ grant increased' licenses, and in any event the possibility of getting a tbroo-tiitliK vote for increase of licenses would appear to I,e remote, taking the results ol the hist poll throughout the country. While in Wellington the popu atiou has increased at a rapid rate, it i> difficult to say whether an actual -o per cent increase in a particular district could be shown. The boundaries, have been altered, and some people are prepared to argue that the present- districts, inasmuch as the boundaries have been altered, did not exi'-t at till at the taking of the counts prior to the last licensing poll, and that, therefore, they are entirely new for the pur]roses of the taking ot the local option poll, and had no existence until they were constituted b v notice in the Gazette oil 16th l'cbruary. 1907.” The whole question is reported to be under consideration, and will,provide a harvest for the lawvers if any definite, steps are tu'iion ■ 0 solve the points involved.

it ION OF AUCKLAND A 1 FTHODh.ST SYNOD. [Rness Association.] AUCKLAND. Not*. 2(5. The Auckland Methodist Synod elected the Rev. G. AA'. Spence representative to the coiilereuce. It pas--<-.(1 resolution recording gratitude it'the success of the efforts on bohah of No-license, encouraging the • hope that in a few years the drink traffic and its attendant evils will he abolished by the vote of the people, and urging church members to vote Uu •licensing committees who will, minimise the rule of the traffic.

RESOLUTION OF THE NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE. WELLINGTON. _Xov. 26. The executive of the Now Zcii’and Alliance passed a resolution congratulating their comrades on the gratifying advance of the No-license poll, expressing thanks for the good result. which would mean a total possible abolition of 110 bars, and rewarding this -result as ,; an encouragement and incentive to increased zeal in the endehvor to see New Zealand whollv free from the blight of the ■liquor traffic. Another resolution expresses gratitude that so many good friends of the cause have been returned to Parliament, especially Alesers Fowlds and Taylor, and regrets ' the detent of such staunch supporters as Alcssrs AleXab and Atkinson. NO-LICENSE PARTY EXPENSES. CHRISTCHURCH. Nov. 26. The campaign cost the No-liceiise party in the three city electorates so nmcii that an appeal for £BOO .is being made to clear off Jinbihties. The executive have no fear, in view of the satisfactory result of the po:l. that the sum will not he raised at once. A great demonstn.ition will be hold next week.

THE DUNEDIN POLL. The.’Dunedin licensing pod official returns .are :- —Continuance 8772. reduction 10,912. No-license 31,380: reduction carried by 393 A roles. THE AIARSIUSX DISTRICT. AVHAXGAREJ. Nov. 20. Tlic Afarsden official . local option poll figures are: Continuance 1891. reduction 2107, No-license 2-339. valid votes 4=184. Continuance carried, reduction short by 133 votes. Xo-license 131 short.