LOCAL OPTION POLL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13925, 5 December 1908, Page 6

LOCAL OPTION POLL.

THE WAITEMATA RECOUNT.

REDUCTION LOST BY THREE VOTES.

The recount of votes in the Waitemata electorate for the local option poll, which was ordered by Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., at the request of those interested in "license," took place yesterday, under the supervision of Mr. H. H. G. Ralfe, and before Mr. Webster, J.P. It resulted as follows :— Continuance ... 2471 Reduction ... . 2967 No-license ... 3369 Valid voters, 5941; informal, 94. No proposal has been carried. Reduction has been lost by 3£ votes, and nolicense by 195 3-sth votes. The previous recount resulted thus: Continuance, 2459; reduction, 2964; nolicense, 3362. Valid voters, 5920. Reduction was thus carried by four votes, and 190 more were required to carry nolicense.

THE CITY POLL. DETAILS OF THE VOTING. The following details of the voting in the local option poll in the three Auckland City electorates were, made available yesterday: — Valid votes. Con. Red. N.L. West 6.680 , 2.260 4,134 4,320 Central ... 5.967 3.101 2.551 2,802 East 5,933 2,670 2,876 3,133 Absent voters and seamen 371 224 108 140 18,941 8,255 9,669 10,395 Auckland West carried no-license with 312 votes over the requisite three-fifths and 979 above the bare majority. Continuance in Central obtained 122 above the bare majority. In East, no-license was 166 over the bare majority, but 427 short of a three-fifths majority. The voting was distributed as follows :— 7627 for continuance, 394 for reduction, 1542 for no-license, 8750 for no-license and reduction, 525 for continuance and reduction, 103 for continuance and no-license. RECOUNT IN OHINEMURI. [BY TEI.EGRAI'H.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi, Friday. It is stated that a recount of the Ohinemuri local option poll by a magistrate will take place next week. MASTERTON POLL. [AT TELEGRAPH. —PBESS ASSOCIATION.] Masterton, Friday. A petition has been lodged, signed by 50 electors, to invalidate the local option poll on numerous grounds set out in the petition.

THE BORDER BREWERY.

LEGISLATION NECESSARY.

[BT TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.]

Chri:stch:j ich, Friday. Several telegraphic messages have passed between the Prime Minister and Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P., in regard to the proposal to erect a brewery in the Selwyn electorate, near tho boundary of the Ashburton nolicense district.

Mr. Taylor sent the following telegram to Sir Joseph :—" Representative liquor men assert that a brewery will be started in tin* Selwyn electorate, on the bolder of Ashburton town. I trust that the Customs authorities will be forbidden to issue a license, as such an act would outrage public opinion, rtnd defy the clear intention of the law. I shall be glad of your assurance that the* Government will prevent the license."

Sir Joseph replied:—"lit reply to your telegram, I agree with the view you ex-pret-s, and if a license can be legally refused it will he refused. If wo aro compelled, however, to issue one, of course wo must obey the law. lam getting the considered opinion of the Crown law officers on the matter." Later on Sir Joseph sent another message as follows:—"In further reference to your representations regarding the proposed erection of a brewery (Hi the borders of Ashburfon, I am advised that tinder the law the Government cannot prevent this, but I am publicly intimating that 1 consider it is practically a defiance of the will of tire people, jus expressed recently at the polls, and that if the course is pursued I will ask Parliament, to legislate to deal with it, and prevent what. I regard as technically a. breach of the law .and certainly what is contrary to the decision of the majority of the people." Mr. T. K. Taylor pent the following message of thanks:—"Many (hanks for your telegram regarding the proposed brewery on the boundary of the Ashburton electorate. livery fair-minded elector will appreciate your attitude, and approve* of your decision to introduce legislation to prevent the liquor interests from insolently defying public opinion. In the meanwhile. I understand the Government has power to disapprove of the proposed site. If that is so. 1 hope the promoters of the brewery will be forced to build on the CluiVtchtucli edge of the Selwyn electorate, and thus free Ashburton from the designed insult."

THANKSGIVING MEETING. [m TIsLKCBAPH.—I'RESS ASSOCIATION.] CuittSTCHDUcrr, Friday.

The No-license party held a great demonstration in His Majesty's Theatre yesterday afternoon and evening. The building was crowded on both occasions. Speeches were delivered by leaders in the movement, and resolutions of thankfulness to God for past success and confidence in the future were passed. The meeting was very enthusiastic, and £130 was raised in the*meeting for a lighting fund.