State Control Slumps in Hobson

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1949, Page 4

State Control Slumps in Hobson

KAIKOHE, Thu., (Sp.).— A solid inQ2*g3se in the vote for Continuance, a slight reduction in the vote for Prohibition, a sweeping drop in State Control adherants —these were the features of the poll on the licensing issue in Hobson yesterday. Election night results were as fol-

Thus it will be seen that nearly 1400 more Hobson voters favoured Continuance. Nearly 100 less called for Prohibition. The vote for State Control was almost halved.

There is a moral to be read in the trends shown.

SYSTEM VINDICATED

It springs undoubtedly from the national referenda held earlier on the licensing issue of closing hours, when the people voted solidly for a retention of the 6 p.m. “chuck-out bell'’ and. at the same time, called for reform of the gaming laws.

It appears clear that the people now think that the present system is a good one if administered on the proper lines—that there is no need for control of the liquor industry by the state.

In booths, both large and small, the figures showed the same trend of thought that the totals revealed.

It is hard to find booths where this tendency is upset. One may be Moerewa, where 137 voted Continuance. 49 Prohibition, and 50 State Control Opua was in the same category, the vote there bAing 61. 28 and 29. At Pukenui in the Far North. 26 wanted Continuance. 4 Prohibition and 11 State Control. At Takahue it was 39, 23. and 24. PROHIBITION MAJORITIES Prohibition actually gained a clear-

cut majority at Tokatoka, Northern Wairoa, where 30 voted for Prohibition. 22 for Continuance and tour for State Control. At Raupo the same applied, with 23 for Prohibition, 20 for Continuance and none at all for State Control.

But Waihopo, in the Farthest North, was the driest spot in the electorate. There, 36 people wanted liquor, five wanted the State to run it, and 86 wanted no liquor at all.

Waiotemarama. South Hokianga was for Prohibition by 19 to 13, with no Sate Control supporters.

Fairburns, Pakaraka, Okahu and Tuhipa, gave Prohibition an uneasy majority. The first voted 38. 34 and 5; Pakaraka said 39. 35. and 7: Okahu was 20, 19 and 5; Tuhipa voted 8. 6, and ?}.

lows—r 1946 1949 Continuance ... 6131 7508 Prohibition . . 3484 3399 State Control . 3093 1683