The Licensing Poll.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17632, 8 December 1922, Page 8

The Licensing Poll.

The licensing poll has resulted in the defeat of Prohibition. At the poll in Daomber, 1919, the figures were:— Continuance ... 241,251 (State Control ... 32,261 Prohibition ... 270,250 , The Prohibitionists failed to secure a majority by the narrow margin of 3000 votes,: Yesterday the voting was not but quite conclusively, against Prohibition. With ten returns wanting at the time of writing, the figures were: — Continuance ... 224,813 State Control ... 29,649 Prohibition ... 230,220 There is here a majority of over 24,000 against the proposal that the country should go dry. We need not now delay to examine the causes for this set-back to the Prohibition movement, which, we have no doubt, the Prohibitionists will assure us will recommence forthwith. But it is exceedingly likely that yesterday's verdict will turn out to be the death-blow of the Prohibitionists' hopes. The Government is pledged to introduce legislation revising the whole system of dispensing alcoholic liquor, and the friends of Reform are obliged to seie to it that Parliament attends to its duty. The prospect of reform must bo held (very largely accountable for the increase in the majority against Prohibition, even though the rotes for State Cbnirol made about the same proportion of tie total as in 1919. The country -will m time to come .have reason to feel glad that the onward march of Prohibition has been sharply checked and thrown back.