LICENSING.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8729, 27 February 1894, Page 3

LICENSING.

[ TO THS EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —In a leader you published a short Hon* since on licensing matters, you stated a ''bare majority of those voting carried.a reduction of licenses." There seems soma doubt about this; perhaps you would kindly tell us iv a future issua if such is the case for certain. — Yours, &c, Walter Spring. [Clause 18, sub-section 2 is as follows :— " If, on counting the votes, the Returning Officer finds that an absolute majority of the votes recorded are given in favour of the-proposal that the number of licenses in the dibtriot shall be reduced, theu such proposal shall be deemed to be carried, and the Returning Officer shall notify the Licensing Committee thereof and the number ot licenses shall he reduced accordingly."—Ed. Press.] to the editor of the press. Sir, —In tbe matter of licensing elections and the three-fifths majority, what is a majority * I take it that a majority is tho number iv excess of the minority ; in other words, the matter stands thus : Presuming that in my district 2000 votes are polled, the prohibitiouists will have to secure 1600 of the total number, for if the moderate party score 400 the other side must register 1600. In other words— Prohibitionists ... ... 400 Moderates ... ... 400 Prohibitionist majority, being three fifths ..." ... 1200 2000 —Yours, &c, William Adams, Ashburton.