LICENSING POLL

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 146, 18 December 1919, Page 6

LICENSING POLL

ISSUE STILL IN DOUBT

DETAILS NOT YET COMPLETE

The people of New Zealand, suddeniy faced to-day with the probability of the carrying ol Prohibition, have awakened to an* intense interest in the votes recorded for the contending parties, Throughout yesterday's polling the licensing question was never prominent ; all interest was concentrated upon the Parliamentary election. The public appai-ently thought the result of the licensing poll was a foregone conclusion, and even when, last night,, Prohibition was shown to have a slight lead, it was generally thought that the balance inevitably would swing back the other way. As more complete returns became available this morning, and it was seen that, if anything, Prohibition was increasing its lead, everything else was forgotten, and one and all sought whatever news was available. The Post was literally belieged with' inquiries throughout *the day, and to get into communication by telephone with. the headquarters of the opposing parties was well-nigh impossible.

At 2 o'clock to-day the official returns were still short. Thirteen electorates, including Waitemata, Manakau, Raglan, Rotorua, Taranaki, Rangitikei, • Hutt, Molueka, Hurunui, Kaiapoi, Avon, Temuka, and Bruce, had sent in no official returns, while a number of others were incomplete. The official figures available were as follow : Continuance, 184,----244; State Control, 24,584; Prohibition, 208,570, an apparent Prohibition minority of 258 votes. The returns yet to come include 16,000 absentee votes, 2000 seamen's votes, and about 1500 soldiers' votes.

The New Zealand Alliance, who have six additional returns, are fairly confident, however, that the completed returns will give them a majority. "So far as we are at present advised, with seven electorates of which we have not received particulars." stated the Rev. R. S. Gray this afternoon, "we have something over 5000 votes in hand. The seven electorates . yet to come gave in April about 1200 votes against us. The soldiers' votes are about 1500. If the absentee votes and seamen's votes, and declaratory votes arc-fairly equal, and even should the whole of ■ the soldiers' votes go against us,' it looks as though we should have a majority of between 2000 and 3000 when everything is cleared up."

The official position as at present disclosed as follows:— Continuance 184,244 State Control 24584 Prohibition 208^570 Prohibition minority ... 258 VOTES YET TO COME. Electorates, of which no details 13 Absentee votes 16,000 Seamen's votes 2,000 Soldiers' votes I*soo Should Prohibition be carried it will come into effect on 30th June, 1920. Additional returns to those published on page 10, or returns in which alterations have occurred, are- as follow : NATIONAL ISSUE.

NO-LICENSE DISTRICTS. BRUCE. For Restoration 2489 Against Restoration 3013 Result—No-license continues. OLUTHA. For Restoration , 2287 , Against Restoration 3053 Result—No-license continues.

i s _g a o O Jialmers 2209 Bruce - 2450 Wesfcland 3819 3roua 2535 fauranga' 2734 3utt (incomplete) 3570 13 "c o I M 139 337 473 240 479 577 3147 2754 2265 3148 3006 3269