THE LATEST RETURNS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 283, 26 November 1908, Page 3

THE LATEST RETURNS.

AUCKLAND LICENSING POLL. The returning officer's count and scrutiny in connection with the Auckland licensing poll is now in progress, but owing to a numbeT of cases in which double voting seemß to be apparent) considerable

care is necessary in tracing the identity of the voters, and iv this connection every precaution is being taken. Several absent voters' papers also rema-in to come in. MANUKAU VOTES REDUCTION. The scrutiny of the local option voting in the Manukau electorate was completed shortly after three o'clock yesterday afternoon. The recount shows that Xo-license has been escaped by thirty-one votes, and that reduction has been secured by 278 votes. The total number of people who voted was 5725. j The poll has now been declared. OHINEMURI. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WAIHI, this day. A recount of the local option poll is to be commenced at Paeron, to-day. A COSTLY CAMPAIGN. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The campaign cost the Xo-license party in the three city electorates so much that an appeal for £800 is being made to clear off liabilities. The executive have, no fear in view of the satisfactory result of the poll, that the sum will not be raised at once. A great demonstration will be held next week. N.Z. ALLIANCE RESOLUTIONS. WELLINGTON, this day. The executive of the New Zealand Alliance passed a resolution congratulating comrades on the gratifying advance of the No-Jicensu poll, expressing thanks to God at the result, which would I mean the total possible abolition of 140 '.bars, regarding this result- as an encouragement and incentive to increased zeal lin an endeavour to set New Zealand wholly from from the blight of the liquor traffic. Another resolution expresses gratitude that so many good friends of I the cause have been returned to Parliament, especially the Hon. G. Fowlds and Mr. T. E. Taylor, and regrets the defeat of such staunch supporters as the Hon. R. MeNab and Mr. Atkinson. DUNEDIN. (By Telegrunb.—Pre3S Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. The Dunedin licensing poll oflicial figures are as follows: —Coutinuance. 8772; reduction, 10,912; no-license, 11,080. Reduction is carried by 595 i votes. AFTER RESULTS ON BUSINESS. AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. Conversing with a member of the Trade regarding the effect of the No-license vote, a "Star" reporter was informed 1 that it undoubtedly meant the stopping lof a lot of expenditure that had been I contemplated, but was held over until the decision of the people was ascertained.

I"I knuw of one case,' , he s;iid, "where an architect had received instructions to j prepare plans for one building to cost 'about iJO.OOO, which it has now been decided not to proceed with, because no I one can tell what will be the outcome of the local option poll next time. L T nder such circumstances, there is no encouragement to build for our particular trade. I know of another case in the city where an order for enlarging one hotel, at a cost of £3000, has been cancelled, and in another instance the figure was £ ISOO.

"That means loss work for the people, but 'what can we do? When a business gets a knock like this, it simply means that as a matter of ordinary precaution expenditure must be out down and everything made as ready as possible for what may happen in three years' time."

"Is them any truth in the story that the Trade lias decided to organise a boycott against those who fought for Xolicensp?"

"There is .absolutely no truth in that statement, for I can assure you that there is no organised boycott, though naturally you cannot expect our people to look with favour upon those who have taken such an active part against our interests. It is o"ly right to assume that we will support those who supported Ui in the recent contest, hut at the same time T can assure you that thr Trade has no intention of undertaking anything like an organised boycott against tho.-e who opposed u-O

'"Have you any theory to advance as to the reason for the sudden increase in the No-license vote";"

'"Xo: but 1 for! Kiirp that n certain soo-li-on of the public do not give those intorested in thr hotel business Ihp rredit due for the groat improvement that has taken plar-p ir>. the management of such institutions of latp years, compared with what was (he case a while J contend that the reformation of the Trade has been going on slowly but steadily for tho lost ten years, iinu a- ;i irmuc a better state of things has been gradually evolved. It is not by revolution that such reforms are gainrd, hut by steady evolution. This has been the object aimed at by the Trade in the past, and with the mandate of the people, as fhown by the recent vote. 1 feel it quite safe to say that the Trade will more than ever move JTi tlio direction of reform during the next three year?." METHODIST SYNOD RESOLUTION. At the sittings of the Auckland Methodist Synod, yesterday arternoon, the following resolution was carried:—"This Synod desires to place on record its gratitude to Almighty God for answers given to the prayers of His people for tb e success of their efforts on bphalf cm No-li-cense in New Zealand. The increase of about 30,000 votes throughout the Dominion, and the beneficial effects resulting therefrom: the definite and democratic vote in the Auckland Province, which has cancelled the legalised trade in the electorates oE Eden and Ohinemuri; the reduction vote of the electorates of Auckland City, Waiteinata, Parnell and Alanukau; as well as the non-restoration vote in Grey Lynn, are all inspiring victories, encouraging us in the hope that in tlic course of a few years the drink traffic, with its attendant evils, will be abolished by the vote of the people, thereby removing one of the greatest stumbling blocks to the progress of the Kingdom of God. We respectfully urge our people to vote for the election of licensing committees who will endeavour to minimise the rule of the traffic."