Waimate Notes

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 10009, 27 November 1908, Page 1

Waimate Notes

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

A large number of people attended at the Temperance Hall on Thursday night, when a basket social was held on the occasion of the departure of Mr Smedley and his lady helpers. Several speeches were made during the evening dealing with the local option outlook in Xew Zealand. Mr George Dash spoke of the result of the late poll in the Waitaki electorate, and used some comparisons and Hgnres that are quoted below. The Rev. Faii-dough dealt with the colonial aspect of the question, and by dealing separately with each province showed the rapid strides that the No-license Tarty were making. During the evening Mr G. 11. Graham, on behalf of the Waimate T.K.I". and the people of the district, presented the guests of the evening with an address which emphasised the good work done by these people in this district, and conveyed to them the heartfelt thanks of the Prohibition Party. Mr Graham urged the visitors to use their influence on their return to the Homeland to induce the people to fiiiht for the same rights and privileges as were given to the people of Xew Zealand. Captain Widdup. Salvation Army, also spoke, and said that although the Army had always refrained from taking an active part in party politics, they were always ready to support any movement that was for the uplifting of the people, and were decidedly on the side of th' Prohibition Party. Although he was not a platform worker, he had done what he could to induce the people with whom he came in contact to vole Xo-license. He wished the visitors a pleasant voyage and a happy reunion. Short speeches of thanks to the Homeland workers were also made by the Rev. Morrison and Messrs Dohrmnnn and Kitchener.

Mr Smedlev thanked those present for their kind words. Although lie was very sorrv that the party were not victorious in Waitaki, lie and his fellow-workers felt that they had done what they could. The speaker gave several instances of the blunt receptions they were at time subject eu to while travelling through the country, but stated that on "the whole the treatment accorded them had been of the best and they had visited some 1500 houses, and he was afraid that som<! of those who had promised to vote Xo-license had failed to do so. Mr Smedley spoke very feelingly of the wav in which he and his lady helpers had been treated in the homes in which they had lodged, and said they would always remember the Waitaki district in. which they had been entertained so handsomely, ficfore concluding, Mr Smedley paid a bisli compliment to Mr George Dash, whom he looked noon as the lieart and soul of the Xo-license Party in this district.

During the evening refreshments were handed round by the ladies, and (he meeting broke, up at 11 p.m. by the singing of the doxology. WAITAKT ELI-'CTOUATE. Taking iho figures for the last poll from the polling places included in the present electorate, the number of votes necessary to carry No-license totalled 2641. 'represent.' poll is so much heavier that the total yote necessary to carry no-license is 2944. The No-license vole of this poll was 2729 and would have been siillicienl to carry the issue at the previous poll. Of the 225 increase in the No-license vote, the polling places north of the Waitaki gave 157 and the south 63. Of the 286 increase in the Liquor vote, the North Waitaki booths save 79 and the smith 297. The No-license majority was: North 283.. south 170; total 453. 'Reconstructing the old Waitaki electorate, the No-license maiority is 535. as against 455 in the present territory, but as the total vote was larger, the old'olectorate is 27 votes further from No-license than the present dec (ovate. The average increase in the Liciuor vote for the last four polls has been 153. If at the next poll this average is sustained, the No-license party has to bring into operation an additional 769 votes for No-license in order to win. This large number of votes is made necessary by the operation of the three-fifths majority law. The 215 votes which at this poll stooo 1 between the majority and No-license would, unless won from the continuance vote, require the bringing into operation of no less than 539 votes before No-license could be gained. The booths at which No-license was carried are: Bortons, Tokorahi, Ngawas. carried are : Borlons, Tokarahi, Nuastone. Peebles. Tlannaton, Waituna, Kapua. Willowbridge, Waihaorunga.