THE RECENT LICENSING ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9492, 23 April 1894, Page 5

THE RECENT LICENSING ELECTIONS.

THE INVARCARGILL PETITION. THE OPINIONS OF SIR R. STOUT. ' [BY TILSGBAPH.—PRESB ASSOCIATION.] InvkroaHgill, Saturday. The Invercargill licensing election petition enquiry closed to-day, Mr. Ramon, S-M., reserving judgment till Wednesday next. Mr. McDonald, for the respondents, while admitting irregularities in the conduct of the poll, urged that the magistrate was not called on to give an adverse decision unless these affected the result of the election, of which in this instance there was no fearGisbornk, Saturday. Sir R. Stout, who passed Gisborna in the Talune, was interviewed by a deputation of the Gisborne Temperance League, and thanked for his efforts on behalf of the cause of temperance. In a chat over the effect of the recent elections, he advised the party to Inculcate temperance sentiments In the community by iqwetrngß and literature. He expressed the opinion that ParliaHamenb would sweep away the half-roll majority which was required at the last election, and said that if the Government would nob bring in a Bill to give the people the full expression of their wishes he should do so himself, They did not want Parliament to declare for prohibition, bub for it to give the right to the people to do that if they desired. He said there should only have been one paper for the committee and the looal option polls, and many of the votes which were counted as informal should not have been so counted. Sir Robert suggested that the licensing poll should be held simultaneously with and at the same booths as the general election. He saw no reason that there should nob be a poll on prohibition whenever there was a general Parliamentary election. If this was done it would be a great saving in trouble and expense, and there would not be a difficulty in getting the people to go to tho poll.