THE LICENSING POLL

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 137, 7 December 1922, Page 8

THE LICENSING POLL

VOTES IN PAST YEARS,

The result of the lost licensing poll, taken in December, 1919, was as follows:— Continuance 241,251' State Purchase and Control ... 32,261 Prohibition „.. 270,250 Total valid votes 543,762 Prohibition was thus lost' by 3262 votes. ■ . sThe percentage of valid votes cast for Prohibition in previous polls is shown in.the following table:— Year. Per cent. - 1896 ...-. 37.82' 1899 , 42.23 . 1902 , 48.88 1905 51.27 1908 . 53.45 1911 „„ 55.83 ■ 1914 ...i 48.99 April 1919 49.00 Dec. 1919 49.71 All polls up to and including that taken in 1908 were on a local option No-License issue, not for absolute Prohibition, as it is now provided for. A 60 per cent, majority was required to carry No.-Lioense in any district, and when the district carried No-License it was not "bone-dry." Sale of- liquor was forbidden, but it could be brought into the district from outside. Electors at tho same time had the option of Voting for reduction of. licenses. The first National Prohibition poll was taken in 1911. National Prohibition, if carried at' this poll, would have been of the "bone-dry" variety, and the manufacture, sale, or importation of liquor would have been forbidden exoept for medicinal, sacramental, or industrial purposes. The National poll was on two issues, Prohibition or Continuance, but if carried by 60 per cent, majority, Prohibition would not have taken effect till four and a half years after the poll. There was also voting upon the local option, but not on reduction. In 1918 the issues were again changed. A special poll was provided for in April, 1919, the issues being National Continuance and National Prohibition with compensation, to bs decided by a bare majority. The compensation was estimated at £4»500,000, and was for loss of business and depreciation consequent on tlaat loss, not for purchase of premises cr plant. The four and a half years' notice to quit was altered at tho same time to six months. The Act which authorised this special poll also provided that if Prohibition were not then carried tiie issue at future triennial polls should be that upon which the electors are voting to-day. .There is to be no compensation if Prohibition \is carried, and the change'will take effect on 30th June next succeeding the date of the poll. ,___