LICENSING POLL.

Northern Advocate, 22 December 1919, Page 2

LICENSING POLL.

NO NEW DEVELOPMENT

SIN CIO SATURDAY'S REPORT

TED I.OUS 10 NUM.ERA TION.

"WELLINGTON, This Day. There is uo change in the Licensing Poll figures since Saturday.

AUCKLAND This Day.

It is impossible that the final result of the polling in New Zealand on the licensing issues can bo known until after the Christmas holidays. The delay will be clue to the magnitude of tho counting to be done in (he four cities. With regard to suburban and country licensing districts the results may be known about Christmas eve. At each of the large centres, however,, the three urban electorates form one licensing area, with one returning officer directing the poll, though it was taken in separate electoral polling-places. In the case of Auckland, one officer had charge of the City East electoral poll and also of the combined poll for the three electorates. He has to conduct the official count for tlie Auckland East Parliamentary election, which cannot be begun until Monday, and will take fully two days, and he will then have to direct three separate licensing counts for the respective polls in tho three electorates. As his duty is a statutory one, it cannot be delegated, so that there is a prospect of about six days' work, with the holiday season breaking into the middle of it, before the anxiety of the public as to the decision of the all-important issue can be satisfied. Similar conditions, of course, apply.to the other three cities.

The final returns of the voting by soldiers outside the Dominion are not expected for some time. —Press Assn.