REFERENDUM IN ENGLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14930, 1 March 1912, Page 5

REFERENDUM IN ENGLAND.

OVER A ; PUBLIC HOUSE. LARGE MAJORITY AGAINST. ' A. poll, conducted by the parish council,; was taken in January at Letchworth, at the request of the First Garden. City (Ltd.), on the question whether, a public;, house: should bo established. A special register of the inhabitants had been prepared, thoso entitled to.be placed on it being all persons of the age of 25 and over, who had a six' months' residential qualification. Women, equally with men,-were allowed! to vote, and the total, number of electors was 2562, out of a nopulation of about > 7000. '"..I. '" '..,..:.' '-~'l .""I,: v:V, t '■ ..The result .was declared thus :—-■■:•- ... In favour ... .... ... 521 v "". Against...;';.. ..;... 1117 '.. ' Majority against... ..' .... '596 The question has thus been settled for a further- three years. " All along, the "no public house " party had been confident o£ success. It is true- that at the two pre- • vious contests their majority had been under 100, but this time they had put in an exceptional, amount of hard .work. There were house-to-house canvasses, of a very systematic character, and at publio meetings their views have been put with the utmost vigour. This time, too, they, had a strong pull' over their opponents in, the matter of vehicles. ';*' Their cause was greatly strengthened in consequence of the publication of a manifesto signed by a number . of leading residents. This manifesto said :—,,.,..;', • "A public house is always an unpleasant neighbour, and there is no one who would willingly choose to havo'it erected near his own home. The phenomenal growth of Garden City proves that the absence of a. public house in the shopping area has not militated against the rapid .progress, of Letchworth. Wo are proud 'of our Word in having the lowest infantile mortality in the United Kingdom, in possessing superior housing accommodation, and in having created a comparatively high standard of comfort for the inhabitants.. We therefore* call upon all residents to unite in resisting any- attempt to. impose'' now conditions, which may have the effect of retarding development in these directions." . .. ■ At present the only " public house " in •wliafc is known as "tiio "* tg\m area " is . : . 1 no Sj'alues inn, and tins ifi run on puiely temperance lines. 'JAne manager, a JLoHaoa I" ma]]; lias worM Molatisply lor dub "no g public house " party. 1 - "To have a fujty-; licensed - public house in the -centre o£-.ihia .■„■ beautiful city would.- be like, putting- ! Ail ■>.: East End feather on a. ; well-a>6SS6cl' lilkly, - i is his picturesque way.of sammirigop M9 controversy.' ' ..' ■:'-''. .*'"'" * « ■ On the other hand, those; m .*■*«"?,°j a licensed house olahned'^t: "Worgig men are accustomed to have a place.where thev can ;take refreshment,-and that .they merely «> elseif^TO to supply- their w*nte Th« \Jkot » prtMa house apt to lead &SW- -Peon's to S It ought Q «t ' "".'. ; ! ';••■ ;>..;. : -.. ■"." ~x& ..■..■'■■'■' ,■'.;•■■'■■ ■"■■■.'■.'.'.■..' ' ..■ <-.' • '.•■•! •■•■. ■-.' 1". .. ■ "-^'M,-V:,.'J-:.T'-'i:ss'