THE REFERENDUM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18075, 17 April 1919, Page 4

THE REFERENDUM.

THE LATEST RETURNS. It was announced yesterday that the latest returns made the prohibition majority 150. It has been increased however by recounts subsequently declared—

CHRISTCHURCH NORTH. The recount for the North Christchurch electorate where practically all absent voters and seamen’s voteß have now been received, increases the prohibition vote by 75 votes. The final

RICCARTON. The official figures for Riccartdn are:—

There are nine absent voters’ papers to come. ASHBURTON. The official count,for the Ashburton electorate is finished, but the figures 1 aro not yet available for publication, as there are several absent voters’ permits still to come in. DUNEDIN CENTRAL. Returns, including absent voters and

Majority for prohibition, 784. DUNEDIN SOUTH.

Majjrity for prohibition, 1251. This includes absent voters, of whom 160 voted prohibition and 92 continuance. DUNEDIN NORTH.

SOLDIERS’ VOTES. STORED IN WELLINGTON. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, April 16. The Willochra’s soldiers seemed quite 6ure in predicting a big continuance majority in their ballot box, but this question will not be settled for many weeks, as the authorities intend counting all the transport votes when the last arrives. Air M’Callum, member for Wairau, who looked into the position, to-day remarked to a representative of the “Lyttelton Times” that ho wished to protest vehemently against the official decision not to count the votes on arrival. “ Over a thousand boxes containing New Zealand soldiers' votes and the transport Wilioehra’s box are,’’ he said, “ stored in a certain Wellington building under guard day and night. Probably there are about 3000 uncounted votes stored. Some boxes probably contain only a few papers, others none at all, but they have to wait till the last transport arrives, about May 15, when approximately ten thousand votes will be counted and bulked, bo as not to give away details of minorities. If something happens to the transports’ boxo3 those votes will be lost. Surely all tho boxes in hand should be counted, so as to reduce the seriousness of any subsequent interference or accident, such as fire." Air Ai’Callum added that he intended protesting to the Acting-Electoral Alinlster, the Hon W. H. Herries. TO BE ANNOUNCED AS ABLE[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 16. The Alinister of Justice stated tonight that he would anno'unce the returns of soldiers’ votes from each transport ns they wore given him and that the total of the soldiers’ vote in New Zealand would be made public as soon as it was available. The soldiers’ votes for individual electorates will not be given. AUSTRALIAN OOAIMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association-- Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY. April 16. The “ Daily Telegraph,” in a leader on the New Zealand prohibition vote, after referring to tho fact that the reduction of the Prohibition lead resulted almost wholly from men on active service, says:—New Zealand soldiers may be regarded as typical manhood and none had been so long away as to forget local conditions, among which Prohibition was one of tho best known and most discussed. Their vote may therefore be taken as a guide to the feeling of the rest of the population. It is a fair inference that a greater number of supporters of Prohibition are women and a greater number of its opponents are men- If this is so, the people of New Zealand may fairly be congratulated that they refused to take tho irrevocable step. They will have abundant opportunities of introducing national prohibition in future. BRITISH PRESS COAIAIENT. “ MANCHESTER GUARDIAN’S " ' VIEWS. United Service. (Received April 16. 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, April 12. The “ Alanchester Guardian,” commenting on the soldiers’ anti-prohibi-tion vote suggests that the Anzac’s familiarity with French cafes has given the liquor problem a more humane aspect than is presented to tho habitues of public houses in New Zealand. Other factors included tho effect of British hospitality as expressed in beer.

Continuance ■e » . 243,297 Prohibition « • c 243,447 Prohibition majority 160

figures are:— - * 4360 Continuance Prohibition * « 4694 Informal . K 118 Total S 9172

Continuance v *. • . 8455 Prohibition * V 3459 Majority for Prohibition: 4 Informal . 68

seamen, are: — , Continuance . ¥ . 8035 Prohibition . • . 3829

Pinal returns are * — Continuance . . 8467 Prohibition . , . 4708

(Final.) Continuance v 2770 Prohibition " a i 4478 BRUCE (Final) Continuance • • 9 2073 Prohibition « a hi 2454 INVERCARGILL. Continuance * f V 8280 Prohibition :« * 4307 Informal » > . 55 The figures include absent voters.