LOCAL OPTION POLL.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9596, 10 December 1896, Page 3

LOCAL OPTION POLL.

TO ME EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Siß, —I have no doubt that a number of psople are laughing at the temperance party for fighting the drink curse under such an Act as we have at present. And no doubt we have been fools. It is a mystery to mc how it has been possible for so many to be blind so long. It is now patent to ati3'one that we have been handicapped whichever way we turn. The three-fiftli3 majority is bad enough, but that is not the worst. As an instance I would draw your attention to the fact that there might be 2000 voters go to the poll, not one of them shall vote for continuance of license, and still all the licenses must continue as they are in the district; 1000 shall vote for reduction, IQOO for no license. There is not a majority of the voters polled, and therefore nothing is carried, and so the licenses shall continue. Do you not think we deserve to be called fools for spending energy and time fighting under such a glorious liberal (?) measure ? — Yours, &c, RJ.B. Woodend, December Sfch.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TRESS. Sir, —Having read your comments upon the local option poll, will yon allow mc to express my views upon the subject. To commence with, were you aware how the affairs of the poll were to be conducted, the manner the votes were to be counted, &c, before last Friday? If you did, how was it you did not inform your readers, instead of letting them remain in ignorance (as it appears you have done), till after the day of election? I may state that I have spoken to several persons upon the subject, but not one have I met that understood how things were to be worked. To my idea the whole nation has been sold. I see in to-day's paper, one part states that reduction has been carried in the Clutha. On another page it states thab the license will continue. Wiiat does this mean ? I take it that the people have been made fools.- They, were asked to vote tor one of three things —they vote for that one (reduction). They are then told they can't have it, as one hotel cannot be divided. Did you ever hear of such bosh and foolery? —Yours, &c, Tommy Rot. [On the day before the election we explained how the poll was to be taken, and gave a copy of the voting paper. — Ed. Press].