LICENSING ELECTION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14290, 28 February 1912, Page 12

LICENSING ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOR 0» "THE PRESS.'H ' Sir, —At the recent licensing poll the •rote for continuance was so pronounced that it is a sui-pris© that no on©, up vto tho present, has come forward to support this side of the question oh tho Lice__in2 Bench at the coming election. It appears very onesided to liavo tiie work which is .called ■upon to bo performed, undertaken by a committeo only representing one party, nnd that ono tho minority. Out of the 22,916 votes at the ral licensing poll, 11,967 voted continu- • arico, and 10*949 for No-lioense. Thus a majority of over 1000 votes was given in favour of the ex_tting state of **■ affairs, yet .the members of the Licensing Bench aro comnosed, in the maih, of members representing tho opposite section of the parties, and .tho majority vote is thos absolntely ignored. This shoidd not be. and the present is a good opportunity for some broadminded citizens, with liberal views, to come forward in the interests of the majority vote. It is not for af moment, suggested tfhat tho present oonnnittee havo not done admirable work, and taken tho conditions of,affairs into consideration in a fair manner, but still they only ■represent one.side of the question, and that of the minority. The Mayoral election is close at hand, and no doubt one of the candidates, who has already intimated his intention of contesting.the honour of filling the civio chair, might be prevailed upon to come forward as the majority's Topresenative. There would be little . question but what ho wonld be duly ■elected. Ho would bea most admirable member, an acquisition upon the Bench, • and an ideal Mayor.—Yours, etc., T. R. ROLYAT.