FINAL FIGURES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27044, 31 March 1949, Page 6

FINAL FIGURES

RECENT REFERENDA GAMING AND UCENSING PA WELLINGTON. Mar. 30. - A majority of 224,813 in favour of off-course betting through the totalisator and one of 319,918 for retention of the 6 o’clock closing of hotel bars was recorded in the gaming and licensing referenda respectively held throughout New Zealand on March 9. The official count was completed last night, and the final figures were announced. Details of the voting are as follows: Gaming Poll.—For off-course betting, 42C219. Against off-course betting, 199,406. Majority for off-course betting, 224,813. Licensing Poll.—For 6 o'clock closing, 473,768. For 10 o’clock closing, 153,850. Majority against 10 o’clock closing, 319,918.

In the King Country, European residents voted m favour of the issue of licences in that area, but the Maori vote against the proposal was sufficient to make it impossible to open hotels. The European majority, however, makes it possible for club charters to be granted for club premises in the King Country. The figures were:—

Licensing Issue.—Europeans: For 7737. Against, 1844. Majority, 5893. Maoris: For, 1550. Against, 1527. Majority, 23. Trust Issue.—Europeans: For trust control, 8300. Against trust control, 2738. Majority, 5562. Maoris: For trust control, 1957. Against, 838. Majority, 1119. Totals: For, 10,257. Against, 3576. Majority, 6681. Both Ashburton and Geraldine voted in favour of the restoration of licences, and also in favour of trust control. In Ashburton, where a three-fifths majority was required to carry restoration, there was a majority of 66 per cent, for restoration. A bare majority only was required in Geraldine. Details of the voting in these areas are:—

Ashburton.—Restoration: For, 3831. Against, 1917. Majority, 1914. Trust issue: For. 3911. Against, 2738. Majority. 1173. Geraldine.—Restoration: For, 580. Against, 558. Majority, 422. Trust issue: For, 1142. Against, 712. Majority, 430.