LOCAL OPTION IN WELLINGTON.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 118, 17 November 1908, Page 4

LOCAL OPTION IN WELLINGTON.

(Contributed.) WELLINGTON, last night. ' The local option campaign is boing vigorously conducted by both sides. The trade and moderates in Wellington are extremely confident that continuance will be carried by a very large majority, they having put 1200 new names on the roll. The majority of business men are satisfied that No-license has been a failure in Ashburton " and Invereargill from the retailers' point of .view as evidenced by 100 acknowledged business people of Invereargill. Nolicenso ■ people seeing their cause hopeless in Wellington, are. devoting their energies to other districts, mostly Masterton and the Hutt. The new suburban' : electorate, which includes hotels at Island Bay, Kilbirnie, Kiawarra, Ngahauranga; : John-r sony ille, is making a big fight for continuance and figures obtained as the result of a canvass of the moderates show that the public by a large majority, are in favour of continuance, although this electorate contains very populous districts, in which there are no hotels existing, the general feeling being that the trial of No-license at Invereargill and Ashburton has been the cause of more drunkenness and unhappiness than, under license when the hotels were well conducted. Tho Hutt electorate is a seething mass of excitement between champions of license and No-license, the party having turned all their guns on this spot and have brought the best speakers from everywhere and have- had agitators touring the district from house to house, but the vote is very uncertain.. Petone usually carries a majority for Nolicense, but the Hutt, where there are more ' business and independent 'men and a number of new arrivals from the Old Country, are in favour of continuance by a large majority, n the consensus of opinion being that No-license will not be carried. South Wellington., which, in 1902 carried No-iieonse and reversed the vote in 1905 when continuance was carried, is said to be sure this year for continuance, the residents and shopkeepers having liad enough of the ■one trial of No-license and aro very strongly in favour of license. Tho sitting member, Mr Barber, who is a moderate on the licensing question, is being opposed by an ardent prohibitionist, Mr Wright, who considers that Mr Barber was not strong enough agaiSst license.