LICENSING POLL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16911, 9 December 1922, Page 11

LICENSING POLL.

LATEST FIGURES. majority against PROHIBITION. (Pra Press Association*.') WELLINGTON, December 8. The reault of the licensing poll in respect of votes other than those of 16.000 absent voters and seamen was announced to-night as under: — Continuance . . 272.443 State Control . 34.261 Prohibition . 290,50$ Majority against prohibition 16.138 Of 19 000 absent votes 3000 have been recorded. LATEST RESULTS. f LICENSE DISTRICTS.

THE TRADE STANDPOINT. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 8. From inquiries made in Wellington rmong trade circles it was ascertained that it pronouncement with respect to the licensing issue would he made at a later date, possibly when the National Council shortly meets in the capital < ity. Until then no official statement iiom the trade’s point of view will be r ode. •* Naturally we are very pleased.” stated one official. “ hut we have no wi'h to be jubilant and flaunt over the i ictorv on the issue placed before the people. We were content to let the people decide. The people have de- • ? '-»rl. All T can say is that very i aturallv we are satisfied with the manner in which the people manifested thmr desires.”

STATE CONTROL ISSUE. STATEMENT BY MR FINDLAY. (T*er Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 8. Interviewed on the result of the licensing poll Mr D. M. Findlay, national president of the New Zealand Moderate League, said that the result | could only be interpreted as another in- ! rlication of the determined opposition of the majority of the people to prohibition in those parts of New Zealand where the league had been able with its limited finance to organise ans educate the electors on the meaning of State Control, for that issue hart substantially improved. The State Con trol vote had been hampered with j faulty conditions governing the issue, and it would he the Moderate League's aim to have this matter remedTed,. so that the people would in the future have a reasonable and definite schemebefore them when they went to the ballot-box. As no issue had been carried, it meant continuance of the system of prilate enterprise until such time as a further vote of the people was due. In this respect the Moderate League had already made proposals to the Government to improve the licensing I law in a number of directions in th-i public interest. The league would call i „ conference of its branches at an early ) date to review the position, with th.* j object of pressing for an entirely lieu i I.iconsing Act. It wa< to be hoped that the set-back j received bv prohibition would lea i j many of those who supported that. 1 issue, in the mistaken idea that it was temperance reform and within the hounds of practicability, to abandon their lost cause and join with the Moderate Longue in moving for real temperance reforms. The league, from its formation in 1914. was ready to we I come to its ranks all those who wished to improve our already notable record for national sobriety, and it was to he* hoped that the opportupity to join to not any longer be allowed to slip by cither bv individuals or organisations. The Moderate League was determined to press on with tlio programme to which it was pledged. PROHIBITION DEFEAT. AN INVERCARGILL VIEW. (Per Press Association.) INTERCARGII.!., December 8. I Mr Baxter, a prominent, prohibitionist. gave the opinion that their defeat j icsulted from the completeness of the j o. ganisntion ranged against them by I the trade and a campaign of misrepre- ; sen ration, assisted, with one or two ex- j i options, by the Press of New Zealand An appeal was made to prejudice and j self interest and the results. un- ! fortunately, showed the trade’s i grip on young people. Re- , form in the direction of eliminating the 1 State Control issue must be made. Prohibition had received no set hack, hut still was in a majority as against the two other issues and the fight would go on. NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE. TO PROMOTE ANOTHER CAMPAIGN. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. December 8. Regarding the licensing poll, tlie ex ecutive of the New* Zealand Alliance today adopted the following resolution:— “ That the executive of the New Zealand Alliance records its profound gratitude for the energy and enthusiasm which has been thrown into the campaign for prohibition by thousands of faithful workers in all parts of the Dominion While deeply regretting that their labours have not been crown*'! with success. Hie executive is satisfied—- “ U) That the result i* chiefly dns

to the groundless fear that prohibition will aggravate instead of relieving the financial depression, widespread unemployment and heavy burden of taxation entailed by the war and to other temporary causes arising from the same source. ,l (2) That the educative effect of one of the most strenuous campaigns ever fought by the party will remain for the benefit of its future propaganda. ; “ (3) That the executive will at an early date convene a conference of the party with a view to instituting a new campaign which will ensure victory at the coming poll.” ALUANCE DISSATISFIED. STATE CONTROL OPPOSED. (Per Press A»soi*satiow. ; WELLINGTON, December 9. In an informal statement on the result of the licensing poll, the Rev J. Dawson says that the party will fight on, hnt is very dissatisfied with the conditions under which the poll was taken. They recognise that the continuance vote hns increased, but. they claim that State Control is a distracting issue. wlv>li should be removed, or the result decided hv the issue which obtains the largest vote, as in Parliamentary elections. A new campaign has already been started. A DUNEDIN MOTION. (Pur Press Association.! DT’NEDTN December 9. The Executive of the Temperance j Reform Council and Business Men’s ; Efficiency League has passed the following resolution : “ This meeting expresses great gratification at the large Dominion vote for national prohibition, a vote which, whilst not giving an absolute majority over both the other issues combined, according to present returns. represents the considered .judgment' of the largest body, whose sentiment ;«= that the iiquor traffic must- cease. The council demands the elimination of the unnecessary issue of State pure 1 : u»e and control, the inclusion of which is proved to operate merely to peroetuate the traffic which can command only a minority of voters. The council fir. i her expresses gratification at the unshaken determination of the supporters of national prohibition to maintain tliir efforts until reform is secured.”

LATE RETURNS. Con. S.C. Pro. Wairau . « . 3722 457 3466

Con. S.C. Pro •VT.llar* . . . 3.351 170 3187 Eden . . 3056 oil 4698 Franklin . . 2861 450 4320 Kniapoi . . 3215 468 3460 W aimarino . . 4128 416 2272 Knipara . . 3106 365 3808 Avarua . . 3332 262 3413 Thames . . 3143 200 3502 XO-T.TCENSE DISTRICTS. C on. S.C. Pro. Res. No-l. ( diinerrr.; i 2915 458 3201 3560 2904 Mat-aura 3136 222 3489 3101 3511 Cmtha . 3201 258 3640 3201 3907