LICENSING POLL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22741, 29 November 1935, Page 9

LICENSING POLL

ADDITIONAL RETURNS PROHIBITION MINORITY INCREASED (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 28. The latest figures in connection with the licensing poll show that the vote for continuance has been increased and that there has been a corresponding increase in the prohibition minority, which is now 304,437, compared with 132,128 in 1928. The present totals are ae follows: — Continuance 476,695 State Control 52,483 Prohibition 224,742 Prohibition minority, 304,437. Further returns which have come to hand are as follows: — Clutha— Continuance, 4571; State Control, 413; Prohibition, 3493. Local option: Local No-licence, 4062; Restoration, 4099. Bay of Islands.—Continuance, 5975; State Control, 827; Prohibition, 2706. Thames.—Continuance, 6363; State Control, 872; Prohibition, 3015. Oroua. —Continuance, 5494; State Control, 423; Prohibition, 2321. Motueka Continuance, 6932; State Control, 651; Prohibition, 1775. Westland Continuance, 6946; State Control, 692; Prohibition, 1973. There are about 350 absent votes, and 230 postal votes. A DECISIVE VERDICT FURTHER POLLS UNNECESSARY (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 28. Mr Percy Coyle,' general secretary of the National Council of the Licensed Trade, interviewed, said the licensing vote was a clear indication of the feeling of the people. "New Zealand, has not got a drink problem. Statistics have shown year by year that the -New Zcalander is a temperate person, and that there is no need to shackle him with such repressive restrictions as prohibition entails. At the successive polls the electors have shown an ever-increasing sentiment against prohibition, and yesterday's huge majority must surely be taken as an indication that the continuance of these polls is neither necessary nor desirable." NOT CAST DOWN VIEWS OF THE ALLIANCE (Per United Press Association) AVELLINGTON, November 28. "The New Zealand Alliance is neither surprised nor cast down," said the president, the Rev. Mr Blanchard, in a statement to-day. He congratulated the voluntary workers who had given active support on what they had achieved, and said that the recent repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment in the United States had affected the cause unfavourably, but there _ was every indication that the American situation would yet swing again in their favour. They were particularly pleased that the no-license areas had been held. The figures on the national issue showed that they had lost ground, but in other ways the alliance was in a stronger position to continue its educational work than it was seven years ago. "We are going forward," he said.