H.—l3.

1894. NEW ZEALAND.

LOCAL-OPTION POLL: NUMBER OF VOTES RECORDED, ETC., IN EACH DISTRICT TAKEN UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF "THE ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS SALE CONTROL ACT, 1893," IN THE MONTH OF MARCH, 1894 (RETURN SHOWING THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The following return has been compiled from information supplied by the respective Eeturning Officers, and, though not so complete as might be desired, it affords a fairly accurate survey of the results of the local-option polls. The main interest centres in the figures respecting publicans' licenses, the accommodation- and bottle-license proposals being minor issues; and in respect of publicans' licenses the return may be taken as correct enough for all practical purposes. The figures in respect of the other two classes of licenses are rendered of less value by the fact that a vote was taken on these licenses in districts in which they could not lawfully exist. For instance, accommodation licenses obviously cannot be granted in boroughs, and bottle licenses are confined to the Provincial Districts of Hawke's Bay, Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, and Otago, though there are none in force in Hawke's Bay. The votes polled in these five provincial districts in respect of bottle licenses were as follows : — For continuance as at present ... ... ... ... 14,829 For reduction ... ... ... ... ... 5,927 For no license ... ■ ... ... ... ... 23,596 The column headed "Informal Votes" is given for what it is worth, but it is not complete enough to be of much practical value. It may be mentioned that in two cases in which the Eeturning Officers included the informal votes in the count the Supreme Court decided that the informal votes should not have been so counted, and the declaration of the polls was amended accordingly. In a third district the Eeturning Officer, having noted the Supreme Court judgment, altered his return without waiting to be moved thereto. In 33 districts the polls were void; in 12 reduction was carried; in 12 it was resolved that the present number of licenses continue; in 2no proposal was declared carried; in 1 the abolition of all licenses was carried; in 1 the poll was void as regards accommodation licenses, and for reduction of publicans' licenses; and in 1 reduction of publicans' and accommodation licenses, and abolition of bottle licenses, was carried. C. J. A. Haseldbn, Under-Seeretary. Department of Justice, Wellington, Ist August, 1894.