LICENSING POLL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2360, 28 November 1908, Page 5

LICENSING POLL

GISBORNE DISTRICT

Mr. H. E. Hill, Returning Offi>r for tlio Licensing District of Gisborne, officially announces the result of the local option poll as follows: Continuance ... ... 3258 Red action ... •••' 2700 No-license 0719 , Number of voters ... ... 7000

As none of the proposals obtained the prescribed majority, none of them is declared carried.

DOMINION RESULTS

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Nov. 27

A. synopsis of the recent local option poll from the figures so far available shows the voting was: Continuance ... ... 186,302 It eduction ... ... 101,815 No-license ... ... 209,144 Valid voters ... 410,197

In addition to the original six NoiUcengo districts No-license was carried in 'Eden, Ohineimwi, Masterton, Wellington South and Suburbs, and Bruce.

Reduction was carried in V aitenjata, Auckland, Manukau, Parnell, Chalmers, Dunedin, Dunedin South, and Taieri,

Continuance was carried in 14 districts and no proposals in the rest. The local option valid votes were : Bay of Islands 5145, Marsden 4513, Kaipara 4649, Waitemata 5920, Auckland 18,567, Eden 6430, Parnell 6509, Manukau 5725, Franklin 4364, Thames 4166, Ohinemuri 5408, Waikato 6066, Bay of Plenty Tauranga 5198, Gisborne 7000, Napier 052-7, Hawke’s Bay 6863, Waipawa 4911, Pahiatua 4067, Masterton 5106, Wairarapa 5101, Egmont 4688, Taranaki 5207. Taumarufrul 4233, Patea 4968, Stratford 4652, Wanganui 6550, Rangitikei 4251, Oroua 4780_. Palmerston 5460. Manawatu 4697, Otaki 3956, HDntt 6034, Wellington City 18.188, Wellington South 6381, Suburbs 6879, Wairau 5442, Nelson 5894, Motueka 3500, Bulle-r 5347, Grey 0614. Westland 5541, Hurunui _4I7S, Kaiapoi 5410, Riccarton 5820. Avon 6574, Christchurch 20,161, Lyttelton 6424. Ellesmere 4728, Selwyn 4550, Geraldine 4512, Tianaro 6411, Waitaki -1904, Tnapeka 4446, Chalmers 5121. Dunedin 20.278. Dunedin South 7376, Ta.ieri 4559, Bruce 4880, Wakaiipu 3270. ■Wallace 3721, Avarua 4594. Against restoration: Mataura. 2524, Clutha 1825, Ashburton 3028, Grey Lynn 5046, Oamaru 2847.

MISTAKE AT ASHBURTON

ASHBURTON, Nov. 27

A. mistake occurred in connection with tlie official recount of the 'local option poll, and the returning officer lias now issued an amended declaration, which shows the votes for restoration to be 3085, and for non-resto-ration 2638. The position is unaltered.

AN UNFOUNDED STATEMENT.

CHRISTCHURCH. Nov. 27

It was stated to-day that the Nolicense party proposed to take proceedings to upset the Christchurch local option poll on the ground that at one' of the booths in the Christchurch North electorate some twenty five or thiry electors were not given the local option voting paper with the Parliamentary paper. A “Truth” reporter saw Air. T, E. Taylor, the member for ..Christchurch North, and was informed by him that there was no truth whatever in the statement.

INCREASE OF NO-LICENSE VOTE AND OF DRINKING.

WELLINGTON, Nov. 27

The “New Zealand Times” remarks that the most surprising of the No-license movement in New Zealand is that, concurrent with a steadily increasing vote for the abolition of hotels, tliere has been a still greater proportionate growth in the national drink account. During the twelve years covered by tlie five local option polls tlier© has been an increase of 22 per cent, in the number of people voting “No-Jiconso,” and an increase of 33 per cent, in the drink bill, or from £2 19s 8.1 per head of population in 1596 to £3 15 lOd in 1907. This growth lias been contemporaneous with the extension of No-license areas, -and with a reduction of the number of hotels in other districts. Clearly the No-license vote is swelled to its present large proportions by the co-operation of moderate drinkers with true-blue prohibitionists. Tlie drink bill for the whole Dominion -and the entry of almost unlimited quant ites of spirituous liquors into the No-license areas proves that absolutely.

AN AUSTRALIAN OPINION

United Press Association. Copyright

SYDNEY, Nov. 27

The secretary of the Liquor Trade Defence Union, in an interview, said the result of the New Zealand' local option poll was a most serious and direct warning to everyone concerned in the trade "in New (South Wales. “Unless,” he added, “our people are prepared to put their backs to the wall our opponents will score a big victory at the next poll. x