THE LICENSING QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 144, 16 December 1919, Page 7

THE LICENSING QUESTION

Three issues,

To-morrow, for the first time, electors will have the opportunity of voting upon three licensing issues :

National Continuance State Purchase and Control .National Prohibition (without compensation). It should be clearly understood that the, elector may vote for only one of these issues; and must strike out two lines on the ballot paper, otherwise the paper will bo invalid. The issue for which over 50 percent.-of the'-votes cast aro recorded will be carried. ; If no issue obtains 50 per ceiit of the votes, the present conditions of Continuance wiH be maintained. If National Prolix bitiou or State Purchase and Control is carried, it wlll.coftie into operation on 30th June, 1920. { There will be no local option poll except in those districts where No-License is now in operation. These are : Eden, Grey Lynn',. Roskill, Ohinernuri, Mas-tert-on, Wellington South, Wellington Suburbs, Ashburton, Oamani, Bruce, Ciutha, Mataura, and Invercargill. The issue submitted vrill be local Restoration or the continuance of local No-License, and Restoration will not be deemed to be carried unless it obtains a threefifths majority. ! Soldiers in England or cii route to New Zealand are entitled to vote on the - National Licensing issue, and arrangements have been made for recording their votes to-morrow. There aie now only a few meft remaining in Great Britain, and the result of their voting will be cabled to the Dominion; but results of the voting on transports will not be available until the troopships reach New Zealand. The transport., with the number- of soldiers on board and the approximate date of arrival, are .<is follow : Ruahine, due Auckland, 20th December1, 384; Rimutaka, due Wellington 27th December, 492; Kigom-j due ; Wellington 20th January, 311; Ruapehu, due Wellington 25th January, 186; total, 1373. Licensing results will, however, be announced as soon as each district is complete, and as the soldiers' vote on | this occasion represents at most about 1,1500 votes, the issue should not be long in doubt.