THE NEWTOWN LOCAL OPTION POLL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12601, 3 March 1903, Page 5

THE NEWTOWN LOCAL OPTION POLL.

(Per United Pbess Assooiatiok.) ' • TOLLINGTON, March 2. ' The Rev. Mr Walkor, hon. parliamentary agent for tho Good Templars, interviewed - on tho licensing question at Nowtown, saict that ho cormiriwisd tho action of the trade i was a win for tho No-license party. Many thousande of votes under like conditions had been accepted by defeated' parliamentary candidates, and should not upset licensing polls, and such an overwhelming declared, majority as three-fifths should be protection from uncertainty aa to merely possible but unknown effect of irregularities.'. As the poll had been declared void it would be-un-lawful to grant licenses after June to sell liquor until a valid poll is taken. The poll would require authorisation by Parlia- . nient, and should be confined to thoso who lawfully voted at tho last poll. A universal provision of this kind, to bo also retrospective, was the only remedy for the new conditions which had arisen. A short act could ,bo passed immediately on the early : assembling of Parliament, including a provision for the electing of Licensing Committees thereafter, if necessary,' besides remedying electoral anomalies, and prorid-' ing for a. universal recount, Demand would bo mtule for the repeal of provisions already endorsed by tho Lower House but rejected by the Upper House, including coloniaj option, abolishing battle licences, 'and including clubs under the local option vote;'