LICENSING POLL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 1, 11 December 1911, Page 4

LICENSING POLL.

THE NATIONAL ISSUE,

(Per Press Association) Wellington, December 10. Following are the total figures to date for the National Prohibition Poll Far Prchiaition 245,110 Against 193,696 These totals show a deficiency of 18,173 in the number of votes required to carry prohibition. RESULTS STILL COMING IN. Wellington, December 10. The official results for the National Prohibition vote are still drifting through the chief electoral officer (Mr F. W. Mansfield), but the results do not differ materially from those already published. It is generally anticipated that the vote in favour of prohibition will fall short of the required majority by 5 per cent. LEADERS’ IMPRESSIONS. Auckland, December 8. Mr. Arthur M. Myers, M.P., interviewed to-day in regard to the result of the licensing poll, said it was clear from the vote recorded that the majority of tiro people were still- in favour of a regulated licensed trade, and were not prepared for the drastic change advocated by the Prohibitionist Party. The fact that in Masterton, Ashburton, and Ohinemuri a majority of votes had been cast in favour of restoration, should open the eyes cf the prohibitionists to the wisdom of requiring a substantial majority to effect a change in the established order of things, so as to avoid the unsottlement and inconvenience attaching to the liability to frequent fluctuations. Asked how he accounted for the largo vote recorded in favour of National Prohibition, Mr. Myers said that until it was ascertained how many votes had actually’ Deem cast on both sides of this question, and how many .of the 1 electors had failed to' record their votes,' he thought it would be premature to venture anopinion on the'subject. The vote cast ! for National Prohibition would give ''! leading members of the trade -consid- 1 orabie food for thought. .

Tiie opinion of the Prohibition Party on tlie results of yesterday’s voting was sought to-day from the Rev. JV'Cbckek, president of the Auckland City No-License League. He said the result of yesterday’s voting was based upon a long and continuous education of the people upon the no-li-conss question. It was part of the trend of public opinion towards a sober State. Every poll recorded in the 1 " past lias been a growth upon one preceding it, which shewed that more and more wore voting- for nolicense. It was felt that local noiicense had been an educational factor in preparing the people for the wider issue of National Prohibition. It was for this reason that the nolicense loaders asked that the national question be placed upon the ballot papers, so that the people might vote upon the question from a national standpoint.” “The vote cast yesterday,” remarked Mr. Cocker, “emphasises the correctness of the opinions thus expressed. The returns which have been received up to the present give a vote of over 55 per cent, for National Prohibition. At this rate of progress the next vote will mean a dry New Zealand!” DISCUSSED IN AUSTRALIA. 'By Electric Telegraph.—Copyrigl t.) (United Press Association.) Sydney, December 10. ’The secretary of the New South Wales Alliance is jubilant at the New Zealand vote at the liquor poll. Ho says nobody can deny that it is a grand victory, and that, with the assistance of the Catholic vote, New Zealand could probably have carried prohibition with a good deal to spare. Mr. Tennyson-Smith, the temperance advocate, predicts that the liquor trade will bo badly beaten at next elections.

The officials of the Licensed 'Victuallers’ Association declined to discuss the matter on the incomplete figures.