LICENSING ELECTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10308, 29 March 1894, Page 3

LICENSING ELECTION.

TOTH* EDITOR. Sib,—l am truly sorry that Mr P. Isitt has been able to make the statement which appears in hia letter to you of this morning. It now turns out that when Mr Taylor, sen., and Mr G. J. Smith were informing me that the prohibitionists would nominate no committee, and consequently that it was of no use our .making arrangements to support their list at the poll, there were certain other leaders concerting a nomination without their knowledge. If, therefore, we had only gone to those other leaders, instead of to the ostensible representatives of the movement, a committee would at this moment have been elected by our united vote pledged to a reduction to the important extent of 25 per cent. That oo prominent a leader as Mr F.Tsitfc should not see what a severe condemnation he is passing upon his organisation makes the case, if possible, even more hopeless than I had imagined. With reference to our former “inaction,” Mr Isitt will permit me to remind him that up to this election we moderates held no tenable position. Our vote must Lave been cast either for prohibition or for the trade. Wo agreed with neither—certainly not with the trade. As soon as the new Act gave us a Zooms standi we, stepped forward, and with so much effect that our vote has saved the prohibitionists from a void poll, which would have left things as they are. —I am, &c., CHARLES J. POSTER.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—l see by your issue this morning that the Selwya County Council holds over the Eicoarton election expanses till their next meeting, in order that the account may be taxed. May I ask, who is to be the taxing-master ? The returning-officer has the conduct of the election as regards expenses, as well as all other matters, and it is to him and not to the Selwyn County Council that the several deputies and their poll clerks look for the payment of their remuneration, which is small enough in all conscience, and for the most part regulated by agreement before acting. I consider it most disgraceful on tho part of the Selwyn County Council to keep these men (in many cases needy men) out of their money till it should please the Council to meet again, which may not be for another month.—l am, &c., POLL CLERK.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,— Under the above heading a letter appears in Tuesday’s issue, above the signature of Chas. J. Poster, in which that gentleman gives his. reasons for resigning his position as licensing commissioner. Amongst other things he says, “If we moderatas had not intervened the prohibitionists came within one hundred and fifty of the three-fifths majority required.” To arrive at this conclusion' your correspondent, evidently, assumes that had it not been for the intervention of the 25 per cent reductionists all votes, except those polled for licenses to remain as they are! would have been cast for prohibition. As one who voted for the 25 per cent reduction, I beg to state I am not in favour of prohibition, and had the issue been “ prohibition,” or “remain as we are,” I would most certainly have voted the latter ticket, and I know numbers of others who would have done the same or refrained altogether from, voting, and I think any impartial. or just committee will take into consideration the number of electors who have refrained from voting, as undoubtedly there would be very few amongst their number who would favour any drastic alteration.—l am, &c., ECHO.