THE LOCAL OPTION POLL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11229, 25 November 1899, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE LOCAL OPTION POLL.

TO THE EDITOR. Having bad several inquiries from country friends and others as to the legal method of voting at the local option poll may I answer the inquiries through the me'(Hum of your columns ? The perplexity arises through confusing the provisions of the 1893 Act with the 1895 Amending Act. Unfortunately, some returning officers and some of their deputies in various parts of the colony conducted the 1896 election under the 1893 Act, and consequently rejected all ballot papers with one erasure only as informal. In 0110 case I found on full inquiry that this had happened in pure error; lam fully satisfied on that point. However, the present law is that there aro three issues in the ballot paper: " I vote that the number of licenses in the district continue: I vote that the number of licenses in the district be reduced I vote that no licenses be granted in the district." These issues should be printed on tho ballot paper, one to each line. At the last election, one of the returning officers ill the South made two lines of the first issue, thus making four lines. Those ballot papers with the top lino struck out ho rejected as informal. That officer did not comply with the schedule of the Act, which specifies the wording of (lie ballot paper. Every voter has the right of voting for two issues; by striking out the top lino only he votes for reduction and no-license. Each vote stands for the issue for which it is cast, and is not cumulative: that is. they are not added together. If three-fifths of the votes are cast for no-license, that issue is declared carried. Should that issue not be carried, but a majority of votes arc cast for reduction, that would bo carried. A few months since tho opinions of Sir R. Stout and Mr. Theo. Cooper were taken. Both concurred that to strike out the top lino only was a. perfectly legal vote. The Licensing Poll Regulation Act. enables both sides to apnoint scrutineers, which, no doubt, will bo done everywhere, =n that the coming poll should be carried out with satisfaction to all, so far as the conduct of tho poll is concerned.—T am, etc., R. VIIEKOH, Chairman, Auckland Prohibition League.