THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10378, 1 March 1897, Page 5

THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

■It will be seen from ; the official annoucemont in aaother portion ,of ■ this issue that) the returning officer for the city of Aucklane} has fixed o\v the lGfcli of the present month, At four p.m., as (lie clay anil hour for receiving nominations for qualified persons' toserve as. members of the Licensing Committee. for the said'district, and that the poll will take place at the gazetted centres on Wednesday the 34th instant, between the hours of .'nine a.m. and seven p,m. After nonsuiting:: Hie, Worship the Mayor, Mr. King has decided to reduce the number of polling booths' from seven to five, eliminating the City Hair and the Newton West School owing'< to the number of persons struck off the general and sup: plementary. rolls subVequ?nti to last l)ocem< per, and also to reduce expenses as much as possible. It is also intended to have, only three divisions of the ';' roll on election day, if a contest take place, so that there will be a very considerable reduction in the number of deputies and poll clerks employed. The ballot boxes, screens, and other requisites required in the conduct of the late-/ eloatiou 'will ■ be forwarded !in accordance with official liiatrucfciona from the head, office by the Government without any expense to the lnoal municipal eat'horities- In the Amendment v Act of 1895, as \ye ■ have already : nptjqed, .the number of Ijoensirig Commissioners do bo elected has been reduced from eight to five, 'and these gentlemen, i together with- the Stipendiary Magistrate' for Auckland City, will form the! Licensing Committee for the next) three years. : The. Returning Officer laid all his proposes before[pur Chief' Magistrate, who went carefully into every detail, ■ and approved generally of the contemplated arrangements fqr , the. mode of procedure and coi)trpl and management of all judicial matters connected • with tho undertaking.. It : : is; also believed "<■ that' the v Returning Officers for Eden and Parnell districts have decided tofix the : 584 th' for the holding of their polls, the day being suitable,' it being the ': general half <h,pljday; ' papers can be, obtained on application .to the : Returning Ofßcir, , at the Law Court) ;; - • :; ;,: - :