Opinion Polls "Similar"

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31480, 21 September 1967, Page 1

Opinion Polls "Similar"

(N Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, Sept. 20

“Public opinion polls on the licensing referendum throughout the country show extraordinary similarity in favoui' of change,” Mr J. W. Thompson, chief executive of the licensed trade, said at Wanaka today.

Mr Thompson said that the recent poll by the mathematics department of the Christchurch Teachers’ College showing that 75 per cent of men and 54 per cent of women favoured 10 p.m. closing was almost exactly the same result as the independent national survey made by the licensed trade 18 months ago.

He said that public opinion was quite obviously still strongly in favour of later closing. Wanganui Result

The Press Association reported from Wanganui that 76 per cent of Wanganui citi|zens who expressed firm opinions in a newspaper poll last night on the licensing referendum expect the country to bring in late drinking. Results of a poll disclosed by the “Wanganui Herald” showed that 74 per cent of | men questioned saw a change coming and 78 per cent of women. But many of the women indicated that they would not necessarily be voting for 10 o’clock closing. The poll, conducted by telephone, reached a cross-section of the community the “Herald” said.

Of 638 persons questioned, 410 said they firmly expected a change on Saturday, 128 expected the retention of six o’clock closing, and 100 had no firm opinion. Those taking the poll reported they were surprised at the degree of public awareness on the issue, and the number of people in a traditionally conservative city who felt the change was needed in the cause of progress and as an aid to the tourist industry.