NO-LICENSE STATISTICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1388, 14 March 1912, Page 3

NO-LICENSE STATISTICS.

Sir,—ln your Monday's issue it was mentioned that the New Zealand Alliance executive were disappointed that the Governor's recent Speech at the opening of Parliament made no mention of proposed license legislation, and that steps were being taken with a view of securing the removal of the three-fifths handicap without further delay, which, of course, means that we are shortlv to have a return of alliance discreditable tactics that have been common for many years, and which were so justly "denounced iu a sermon by Archdeacon Harper at St. Peter's, as fully renorted in your and other papers of December 11. But probably this is not the root of the alliance trouble. Wo have in the New Zealand Gazette of February 15 the official results of the last election on Local Option and National Prohibition schemes,, which to mo aro of much interest, although I am quite unconnected with the alliance or those I hey seem to glory in attacking. From the tablo enclosed, with tho ratios attached, much can 1)0 learned. A reference will show that at the 1908 poll but 15 out of the C 8 districts had 5D pei cent, and over ofj votes recorded in favour of continuance of licenses, whilst at the 1311 poll there were 33 of the 08. Of course, such a vast improvement in favour of Continuance tells on the total votes recorded. Instead of 1i.!)3 per cent, for 1808, there has been a rise to 50.25 per cent. There has been also a great gain iji the Xo-Licensc districts. This 1 called attention to in your issue of December 23, from tho earlier press returns. The Gazette official figures makes this, of cour.-c. more telling. "With your consent I will in a day or two furnish an up-to-date report on this.—l am, etc., . B. WIGHTMAN. Wellington, March 13. The table enclosed by our correspondent is the following:—