CLOSING OF HOTELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16253, 12 June 1916, Page 4

CLOSING OF HOTELS.

SIX N O'CLOCK PROPOSAL.

MAJORITY IN FAVOUR.

N.S.W. REFERENDUM.

RETURNS NOT COMPLETE.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received June 11.' 7 p.m.)

Sydney, June 11. From figures available in connection with the liquor referendum up to Saturday at midnight, when the count stopped, six o'clock closing of ' hotels appears to have established an unassailable mortgage on victory. The city and suburban counts are practically complete. The majority of the country counts are incomplete, but the balance of them substantially favour six o'clock closing. The latest totals show that 303,878 primary votes were cast for six o'clock closing and 158,679 for nine o'clock closing. The other four hours, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. inclusive, scored together 27,453 votes. This gives six o'clock closing a majority of 117,746 votes over all the other combined votes.

The poll proceeded smoothly, there being a complete absence of excitement or incident. The weather was fine and the polling heavy. The campaign was largely wanting in the usual humorous elements attaching to a, political fight. Both sides being greatly in earnest, they worked strenuously. As was anticipated, women polled very strongly, though the alliance leaders declare they failed to come up to expectations. They claim that the result was largely due to patriotic men's votes. The secretary of the Liquor Defence Union refuses to admit that the vote is a fair indication of public opinion, having been taken under abnormal conditions at a time of hysteria.