LICENSES RESTORED

Grey River Argus, 23 December 1943, Page 2

LICENSES RESTORED

TO INVERCARGILL The Poll Declared INVERCARGILL, Dec-. 22. The official declaration of the final figures for the local option poll in Invercargill was made this morning. There is no change on the figures previously announced, these being: Restoration 8,590, no-license 5,651. Consequently! restoration is carried by a margin of 45 votes. The figures of the servicemen’s voting are not being disclosed separately, though it is known the change was effected largely by the servicemen overseas favouring restoration. In the preliminary announcement made by the Chief Returning Officer (Mr. L. Irwin) late in October, restoration wa's carried by a threefifths majority) of 45 votes, and a bare majority of nearly 3000 votes. PRESBYTERIAN ATTITUDE. DELAY OF RESTORATION URGED. INVERCARGILL, Dec. 22. A discussion took place at the meeting of the Southland Presbytery on liquor reform and restoration in Invercargill. It was decided that in view 7 of restoration having been carried in the Invercargill electorate, the Presbytery should make clear the historic desire of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand for the total abolition of the liquor traffic, but that, in the present circumstances and in view of public discussion on the subject, and of the possibility of the appointment of a Royal Commission on liquor, the Presbytery strongly commended any movement, for the reform of the conduct and control of licensed hotels, which would make for a decrease in intemperance. The Presbytery also urged that no action on the restoration of licenses in Inveroargill should be taken without a referendum on the norm of control desired by the peopte themselvts. NO LICENSE PARTY. WANTS VOTES RECOUNTED. P.A. INVERCARGILL, Dec. 22. Licensing’ poll no' license supporters in Invercargill say that they are applying for a re-count of the ’votes in the no-license poll. TRADES COUNCIL PROPOSAL. FOR INQUIRY INTO LICENSING REFORM. P.A. Dec. 22. The Southland Trades Council naswritten to the Prime Minister stating that, in its opinion, there is great need for licensing reform, and suggesting that a committee of inquiry be set up to consider this question. Valuable suggestions would, no doubt, be offered to this committee, stated the Trades Council’s letter. The matter was urgent, and if there were to be reforms, people would like to know about them before tne Licensing Committee is set uo.' Tne Trades Council was anxious* to see Invercargill a model city so far as hotel licensing was 'concerned, but that would be impossible as the law stood at present.