THE ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 8, 25 August 1911, Page 6

THE ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES.

(To the Editor “Stratford Post.”)

Sir, —The papers of late bare, undo!' various headings, tlie f.flowing: “Now Boundaries,” “Nine Hotels to lie Closed” A meeting of the Trade was held in. Wellington recently, and requested that the law he altered to protect licensed houses being put into boundaries; further, a meeting is to be held fn Porirua to protest against it, and the Temperance people down there object to hotels being closed without a vote—just what you might expect from Porirua, considering they have a population of 12 to 1500 in tire Asylum there. Now, Sir, all the above statements are what usually emanates from the “Trade.” No hotels aie to be closed by the alteration of boundaries unless the people decide so; but the sore point that makes the “Trade” tremble is this: To retain the nine licenses they are put into the same boat that the NoLicenso party have vowed for so many years—namely, they must poll a three-fifths majority to hold the licenses, and that is what hurts. Surely if it was fair for our party to win by a three-fifths majority it must ho equally fair for them to win by the same vote. Therefore, no hotels will be closed, and no licenses cancelled unless the people in those electorates will it. i frankly admit it may ho a minority vote that will close them, but then the trade must agree it was a 'minority vote hire election that knit the Trade alive at all in New Zealand. Tiie No-License party have offered, and are still willing to accept, a bare majority for both local and Dominion No-Liconse, and then let the- majority rule if the Trade is game to take it on.—l am, etc., C. D. SOLE. Stratford, August 23rd, 1911.