LOCAL OPTION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 992, 11 March 1909, Page 22

LOCAL OPTION.

The new South Australian Licensing Act, as relating to local option, provides that: — Each electoral district is a local option district, which may be subdivided into several local option districts. A quorum of electors in any district may, within six months of the next general election, cause a local option petition asking that a local option poll be taken in that district. If the petition is in order, it shall be published in the “ Gazette.” The Governor shall, upon receipt of the “ Gazette,” direct the returning officer to cause a poll of the electors in the local option district to be taken at the next general election. The resolutions to be submitted at a local option poll are:— 1. That the number of licenses be reduced. 2. That the number of licenses be not increased or reduced. 3. That the Licensing Bench may in their discretion, increase the number of licenses. These resolutions refer to all licenses, publicans’ licenses, wine licenses, storekeepers’ Australian wine licenses, storekeepers' licenses and registration of clubs. The first resolution means that as to each class of license, of which there are not less than three current within the local option district at the date of the poll, the number of such licenses so current be reduced by one-third of such number. The following provisions shall obtain in regard to the votes recorded at the local option poll:—(a) If the votes recorded in favour of the first resolution constitutes a majority of the valid votes recorded at the poll, the first resolution shal 1 be adop-e rl . (b) If the votes recorded in favour of the first resolution do not constitute a

majority of the valid votes recorded at the poll, the votes recorded in favour of the first resolution shall be added to the votes recorded in favour of the second resolution, (c) if the sum of the votes thus found constitutes a majority of the valid votes recorded at the poll, then the second resolution shall be adopted. (d) If the sum of the votes thus found does not constitute a majority of the valid votes recorded at the poll, then the third resolution shall be adopted.