LOCAL OPTION POLL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 108, 19 November 1908, Page 5

LOCAL OPTION POLL.

<■ - The great interest centred in the results of the local option poll is undoubted proof of the keenness of the struggle between the license and nolicense parties, and the fact that the interest on the part of the general public is an increasing quantity each election ensures a substantial polling. The results of he poll just held prove clearly that the no-license movement is steadily gaining ground, and the advocates of the cause have every reason to view the position with satifsaetion. On the other hand, those engaged in the trade cannot fail to realise that the wave of public feeling in favour of nolicense is steadily growing. From the returns to hand it is seen that in all places where no-license had been previously carried, the electors have again affirmed the principle of no-license, though at Ashburton a fairly good fight was put up by the advocates of license, the figures reading: for restoraion, 3039; against restoration, 2630. As regards the Auckland district, reduction has been carried in Auckland City; reduction, and possibly no-license, in Parnell; reduction in Manukau and Waitemata, and no-license in Eden and Ohiremuri. Further south, no-license has been carried at Wanganui, Masterton, Wellington South, Hutt and Christchureh North, while Dunedin City is plegded to reduction. Other results may be affected somewhat by recounts or additonal returns, but the foregoing practically depicts the advantage gained by the no-license party. In the Taumarunui electorate the vote was conclusively for continuance, and Waikato, which affects the King Country, considerably, decided in favour of license the figures indicating that the no-license party has lose ground.