THE LOCAL OPTION POLL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 50, 3 March 1903, Page 3

THE LOCAL OPTION POLL.

THE POSITION AT NEWTOWN.

Press Association. Electric Telegraph.

OopyWjtfit. Inveboargill; March 2.

The Rev. Mr Walker, the Good Templar honorary Parliamentary agent, interviewed on the licensing position at Newtown, said he considered the action of the " trade" was winning for no-license many thousands of votes. Conditions accepted by the defeated Parliamentary candidates should not upset the licensing polls, and such an overwhelming declared majority as three-fifths should be a protection from uncertainty as to tne merely possible but unknown effect of irregularities. As the poll was declared void it would bo unlawful to irrant licenses on or after June or sell liquor until a valid poll was taken. The poll would require authorisation by Parliament and should be confined to those who lawfully voted at the' last poll. Universal provision of this kind, also retrospective, was the only remedy for the hew conditions that had arisen. A short Act could be passed imme diately on assembling for electing a Licensing Committee thereafter if necessary, beside remedying the electoral anomalies and providing for a universal recount. The detnand would be repeated, for the provisions were already endorsed by the Lower but rejected by the Upper House, including colonial option, abolishing bottle licenses, and including clubs under the local option.