LICENSING POLL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18285, 22 December 1919, Page 6

LICENSING POLL.

THE PRESENT POSITION. [Prn Pres* Association.] WELLINGTON. December 20. Slight amendments have been made to the licensing poll figures from two electorates, with the result that at noon to-day prohibition bad a minority of 1059. The votes by soldiers returning from Samoa in the Taluno aro: — Continuance ... 2 State Control ... 1 Prohibition ... 2 With alterations in the Waipawa and Oroua totals tho figures now give Prohibition a minority of 1526. ABSENT VOTES. There is an impression in some quarters that somo of the absent voters’ results aro included in the Dominion totals telegraphed from Wellington, but inquiries from registrars show that this is most improbable, and these figures have yet to be declared. When an absent voter records his voto tho ballot paper is immediately put into a registered envelope and posted to the registrar of tho district in which tho voter is enrolled. In most cases tho counting would not ho commenced before tn-day, although in Kaiapoi tho official licensing count was in progress on Saturday. Reference has been made from time to time to tho telegraphing of absent voters’ results, but this refers to tho numbers cast in each electorate. In Christchurch the official count of tho licensing poll will be commenced to-day, and the absent voters’ results will be made available then. Several instances are already recorded in which absent voters in and around Christchurch who cast votes for no licenso districts were refused, national prohibition papers. The Alliance is considering what action.will be taken in this matter, but no decision has been come to so far. DISTRICT RETURNS. KAIAPOI. Tho following is the result of tho recount:— Continuance . * . 2983 State Control . . . 254. Prohibition . . . 8200 Informal .... 99 Absent votes not yet counted.