THE LOCAL OPTION POLL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11239, 7 December 1899, Page 6

THE LOCAL OPTION POLL.

The licensing polls on the three questions: (1) Continuance of licenses as at present; (2) that licenses be reduced; and (3) that there be no-license, were taken in all electorates at the same time as the Parliamentary elections. The following are the results to hand: — AUCKLAND CITY. The result of the poll in the city is that the licenses continue as at present, there being 6839 votes for continuance, against 6229 for reduction, and 5545 for no-license. At Kewlon West, and St. George's Hall there were majorities for reduction and no-license, and in Ponsouby there was a majority for reduction, but the vote at the other polling stations brought out the total result as stated. Following are the details:— Licenses Reduc- No- Incontinue, tion. license, formal. Agricultural H. 1480 973 955 54 St. James' Hall 1076 991 978 99 Newton West... 103 173 166 14 Drill Hall ... 1569 1136 1024 57 St. Benedict's... 832 737 676 61 St. George's ... 683 1012 971 61 Ponsonby ... 1096 1207 1075 25 Totals ... 6339 6229 5845 371 PARNELL. In Parnell licenses continue as at present. Parnell and Newmarket were largely in favour of the existing licenses, nullifying the votes at Eden Ten-ace and Mount Eden,

which were in favour of reduction and nolicense. Following are the results: — Licenses Reduc- No licontinue. tion. cense. Parnell ... 1077 659 stt Newmarket ... 507 292 300 Eden Terrace 521 558 549 Mount Eden 266 393 333 2371 1902 1723 Informal, 31. MANUKAU. The results of the poll in Manukau, so far as to hand, show a majority in favour of continuance. Five small returns have yet to come to hand. Licenses Reduc- No continue, tion. License. Onehunga ... 496 506 483 Epsom ... 276 165 152 Ellerslie ... 230 19 17 Remu.ra ... 259 351 255 TamakiEast 77 99 95 Mt, Eden Road 156 211 146 Totals ... 149+ 1351 1148 EDEN. The Eden results, so far as to hand, show a majority for the continuance of the present number of licenses, but a number of returns are not yet to hand. Licenses Reduc- No continue, tion. License. Devonport ... 733 607 549 Northcnle ... 133 130 116 Archhill ... 149 207 105 Kingsland ... 306 389 358 Mount Albert 93 65 62 Pt. Chevalier 54 77 84 Avondalo ... 227 158 162 Waikumeto ... 58 32 30 Titirangi ... 24 6 8 Totals ... 1777 1671 1474 BAT OF ISLANDS. Licenses will continue as at present in the Bay of Islands electorate, the result of the poll, with only a few returns to come, be ing:— Licenses continue 2308 Reduction ■>■ ... 983 No-license 1155 WAITEMATA. The 'Waitemata licensing return, so far as known, are: Licenses continue, 669; reduction, 491; prohibition, 553. MABSDEN. The result in Marsdon, so far as is known, is: —Whangarei: Licenses continue, 1620; reduction, 961; no-license, 1205. OHINEMURI. With returns to hand something like 1877 votes were recorded to-day, so that up to the present 2926 votes are wanted to cany nolicense. The returns at present available sliow : License continue, 1846 ; reduction, 1861 j no-license, 2596. Taking these figures only 400 votes (ire required to cany prohibition. The Golden Cross and Kopu returns are not in. thoueti the electoral votes are included in the 4877. THAMES. The total local option returns to hand, with only three small returns to come, are : Continuation. 2064 ; reduction, 2080 ; nolicense, 2359 ; informal, 92. WAIAPU. Continuance 2075 Reduction 1743 No-license 2244 Thirteen small returns to come in, cannot affect the result. TARANAKI. Continuance 1622 Reduction 1696 Prohibition 1872 HAWKE'S BAY. Continuance 77 Reduction 532 No-license 611 The poll is inoperative, as half the electors did nut vole. WAIPAWA. Continence 2015 Reduction 1236 No-license 1703 A few small returns to come in, cannot affect the result.

WELLINGTON. The election was Uμ dullest and most dtvoid of incident ever known. PAHIATUA. Continuance 1,400 Reduction 1,013 No-license 1,092 CHBISTCHURCH. Continuance 8889 Reduction 6383 No-license 6538 TIMARU, Continuance 1983 Reduction 1868 No-license 1921 AVON. Continuance 2187 Reduction 1504 No-license 1592 ASHLEY. Continuance 1725 Reduction 1995 No-license 1285 CAVERSHAM. Continuance 2351 Reduction 1824 No-license 1898 0 AMARU. Continuance 1622 Reduction 1779 No-licenso ... 1854 BRUCE. Continuance 1517 Reduction 1698 No-licenso 1967 Reduction carried. WAITAKI. Continuance 1756 Reduction .: 1187 No-license 1495 KAIAPOI. Continuance 1.588 Reduction : ... 1,899 No-license 2,192 No-license was lost by 76 votes. WAIHEMO. •Twenty-fonr returns have yet to come in. The poll is evidently null and void through the required number not voting. BULLER. Continuance 1026 Reduction 933 No-license 1014 Informal 144 About 12 returns have to come in. WESTLAND. Continuance 360 Reduction 166 No-license 218 Several returns to come in. [t will be some days before the final result is known, as there are over 4400 on the roll. It is very improbable the poll will be valid. GREY. Continuance 2734 Reduction 1248 No-licenso 990 OAMARU. Continuance 1622 Reduction 1779 No-license 1854 WELLINGTON CITY. Continuance 7319 Reduction 6124 No-license 5190 NAPIER. Continuance 1933 Reduction 1797 No-license 1684 TIMABU. Continuance 1983 Reduction 1868 No-licenso 1921 EGMONT. Continuance 2959 Reduction 1438 No-license 1765 WAIAPU. Continuance 2222 Reduction 1860 Prohibition 2427 Nine returns to come. HAWERA. Continuance 1803 Reduction 1417 Prohibition ... , 1707

CHRISTCHURCH. Continuance ...• 8889 Reduction 6383 No-license 6538 WAIAPU. Continuance 2222 Reduction 1860 Prohibition „ ... 2427 Nine returns to come in, SELLING OUT. [by telegraph.—press association.] Wellington", Wednesday. Mr. Martin Kennedy is reported to have disposed of his interest in Staples' Brewery Company to a local syndicate, for £32,000. BAY OF PLENTY. [by telegraph.— correspondent.] Taubaxga, Wednesday. Licenses continue, the majority being about 600. GENERAL. The prohibitionists carried nothing in Invercargill. Mr. Kelly attributes his defeat to the defection of the temperance party. THE LOCAL OPTION POLL OF 1896. We give the following figures, showing the result of the local option poll of 1896. It must be kept in mind that it requires a majority of three-fifths to carry "nolicense." In all the districts either continuance was earned, or no proposal was carried: — d> u it t '- 0 ™ 0 3 13 ? I District, ka -a hg 1 1 ° Bar ? f Islands J* ,f» J ~,««- :: g> s s S" ::: : «3 if Jrankim o o i7 l r <32 1.775 &: ": ••■ is »g «§ plenty: Z i I I « ::« Slf iy?'°' . ... 2.010 1.093 1.414 Pnhiatua J- 47 i ,136 ■;* . I .1111.U.U.1 ~, , [ n - M'lctortnn ... It'™ !,£»*> -■ " J Wairarapa , I I *« ■ |$ p- mo ,,t. 1.55) l.iu i- , - 1 m;™",..; ' 2.068 1.815 - (17 H wera "■ •• t« 1.531 I.WJ p vev "■ ... 1.354 1.094 1.295 Wwurai » 2.307 1.591 1.748 w£: mm }» fjg Palmerston I.TO ■» .274 Mamuvatu \Jg ] f, Otiki ■ •■• 1.'30 7fl WJ Sn'burljs of "Wellington 2.JWI 1.659 1.6W City of Wellington ... 6 3!6 5.66, 4.951 City of Nelson 2.120 1.316 1.030 Motueka 1.672 8B 854 j Wijnu " : : : 2.5 7 1.16 1 1.153 Bnicr .. 2.231 1..-37 1.4<8 Wetland '.'.'. 2.196 iM 992 A,hiev : ::: ::: 1.9 M'« 1.186 & •• wg '£! '$ Avon 1 - Hl ' - Citv of diristchnrch... 8.235 5.9;2 5.261 I.vttelton 2- 11>a IJW 1120 nicrarton 2.1«J <*". W9 EUfmere '-655 !.073 1.173 Fphvvn I.V>7 1.111? ,16 Afhbnrton 2.100 1.126 .56i Genildino 1.93 l.!« »■« Tim-iru Of ' '-:'-' 1 '■ r " ( ' n Waitaki .".' ... ... 1-7-1 1.317 1.625 Onniani 2,161 1.613 1.61) Waihemo 1.38.1 1.121 1.254 Wuikouaiti I.6"'> 1,107 1.278 City of nmicilin ... 7.8"-7 6.381 4.465 Cavmham 2.7T0 ' 5". I*J Taicri I.MO 1.0"3 1.124 Tjrnre Mil 1.*23 \.W Tnnnckii 1.8 n! n 4i 1.0=3 | Clutlia 1.618 1.65) 1,989 ! jrntanra 2.1« HM 1.P71 Waitntlpa 1.75 77(1 940 ■Wallace 1.951 784 1027 I Inverpargill 2.558 1770 1.824 Awarna 1.652 -9 1.113 139.5E0 91555 93,312

WHAT "REDUCTION" MEANS. The Alcoholic Liquors Kiil-> Control Act. of 1895 enacts that if the number of votes recorded in favour of tlio proposal that the number of licenses in the district shall be reduced is an alifoliite majority of all the voters whose votes were recorded, then the Licensing Committee shall be notified. The clause continues: —

(a.) At its firs-t annual mooting oftor the licensing poll the Committee shall reduce the number of publicans' licotisi-s by not less than five per centum nor infiri- than Hypiity five per centum of the total number existing in tin district at Hie time when tin , poll was taken, exclusive of license forfeited for breaches l of the law:

Provided in case when a reduction vole has be™ rarried the number of licenses shall bo '•educed by one at least where the number of licenses dries not exceed UMI, two at least \vhr>r<\ the number of licenses does not exceed thirty, and throe at least where the number nf licenses pxn«?ils thirty.

(n.) Those licenses which have hern indorsed for breaches of the law in respect of spiling liquor to children, or lo female aboriginal natives, or to drunken person?, or of selling liquor on Sundays, or of selling adulterated liquor, or in respect of which objections have been made and sustained under subsections one to four, inclusive, of section oighly-ono of the principal Act, shall bo the first to be. reduced, and next those held in respect of premises which comprise little or no accommodation for lodgers and travellers except the bar. (c.) In making any reductions the Committee shall make such reductions to extend over the whole district in such manner as it thinks equitable, having regard to the convenience of the public and the particular reouiroraents of the several localities within the district. Subsections 1 to I of clause 81 of the. Licensing Act of 1881. refer to the character of the applicant, the insufficiency of the premises, the conduct of the house, the nonfulfilment of the conditions upon which the license was granted.