THE LICENSING POLL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 294, 11 December 1896, Page 2

THE LICENSING POLL.

(To the Editor). Sir, —The returns advertised by the returning officer are peculiar. It is stated that 16,369 voters voted, apparently it single issues, licence 6,269, reduction 5,317 no licence 4,783, totalling 16,369. There is a serious blunder somewhere. It would appear that Mr King has only reckoned one vote to each voter. Voters may rote tor one or two issues. It is safe to say thai the majority of top lines did so, so that! evidently reduction has been carried—what everyone expected. Ia any case 6,269 U not the majority vote of 16,369. The ro« turning officer is evidently mixed. In the public interest an explanation ia necessary.—l am, etc., Secretary Prohibition Leagub. [The Retwraing Officor for Auckland city has adopted a reading of the Act which we bijlievo to be entirely erroneous. Beau counted all the votes recorded instead of the voters as provided by clause 8 of tba Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act AmeidMont, 1896, and the third (schedule to th« same Ace. The only way to ascertain accuiately the nuiabar ot voters ia by counting the ballot papers, and most of tho Returning Officers appear to have followel that course. We cannot see iv the city returns any evidence to support oar correspondent's conclusisn that " reduction has been carried." We believe that) tho 4783 prohibitioniflta were nearly all "top liners." Those were swelled by a numb«r ( of reduction voters up to 5,317, which tigui'a in all probability comes within i kundred or two of the rotan on that side, as against 6,269 for continuance ef existing: licenses. However, Yv c agreo with our correspondent that there should be a furthur count of the votes. E uctore reem to have adopted an erratic course in sevoral districts. For example, if tke " strike out th« top line" policy h«d been generally pursued by the 1,989 eleetori who roted for prohibition in Clutha, tW single license exietiKsf in that district1 would have been cancelled, and the desire of the prohibitionists attained, wheteu the 1,618 votes for reduction were lesithan a-half of the 3.735 voters who recorded; their rotea in tho election, and the liceßM remains in force,—Ed., E.S.]