THE 1914 POLL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15788, 9 April 1919, Page 4

THE 1914 POLL.

The electors cannot complain that they are being aoked to vote in the dark. Every argument that it is possible to adduce has been presented .by both sides during the past few weeks. From one end of the Dominion to the other the electors have had placed before them, by public addresses and by the dissemination of literature, arguments for and against prohibition and continuance, and they really should have no difficulty tomorrow in coming to a decision oil the grea-t question. It will bo of interest to onr readers to know how the voting went at the last licensing polls. Tho poll taken on December 10, 1914, was upon two issues, local option or national prohibition. No-lioense was not carried in any license district, nor was restoration carried in any no-license district. A three-fifths majority was necessary to carry a change either way. In the 50 license districts 237,118 votes were cast for continuance and 187,463 for no-license. In only eight of them was there a majority in favour of no-license, and in no ca.se was the majority sufficient to carry the proposal. In the 12 mo-license districts 37,21.7 votes were ■cast for restoration and 45,011 for nolioense, In four of these districts —Ohinemnri, Mas ter ton, Wellington South, and Ashburton—a majority of the votes recorded was in favour of restoration, but iu no case was the requisite three-fifths majority obtained. On the national prohibition issue the voting throughout the Dominion was 257,442 for continuance and 247,217 for prohibition. A three-fiftbs majority was required. In the license districts the voting was 219,719 for continuance and 206,400 for prohibition, while in the nolioense districts the ■ figures were 37,723 and 41,817 respectively. In the local electorates the voting was as under: Wanganui—for prohibition 3906, for continuance 3777; Waimarino —for prohibition 2422, for continuance 3630; Eangitikei—for prohibition 2394, for continuance £868; Patoa—for prohibition 3477, for continuance 3023.