The Licensing Poll.

White Ribbon, Volume 11, Issue 127, 15 December 1905, Page 7

The Licensing Poll.

Kff.s as was the interest displayed in the returns as they affected the Parliamentary candidates, the figures concerning the Licensing Poll were even more anxiously scanned. It was generally supposed that the Trade had awakened to a sense of its perilous position. It was known that money

was not to In* spared in safeguarding its interests. Its canvassers had been at work in every district. Capable «»r-------ganisers*—teetotalers,—teetotalers, men with capacity worthy of a better calling—had been Engaged. In Canterbury a strong apjsal for Continuance was made on the ground that No-License would mean “No Exhibition." Even’voter received a circular to that effect. The advertising columns of tin* daily pa|M*rs reiterated the ap|)enl—and d mbtless wane Faint-hearts and waverers were moved by the specious plea. Months before, all available public vehicles were engaged for polling day. Every vote that influence or interest could win was made operative. Invalids, inmates of religious lions s, all sorts and conditions of men and women, were conveyed to the |>o|ling booths in sumptuous fashion. The organisers proudly claim that not one vote was lost. The Result. The Trade claims a victory. Is it one? Where No-License was already an actuality it has been retained. New districts have been added to the prohibitory areas Grey Lynn in the North, Oamaru and Invercargill in the South. Bruce has come short of NoLicense by only 5 votes. In other districts, Timaru and kai; poi, for example, reduction has been carried. Owing to tin* new system of | permits complete returns are not at time of w riting available, but the colonial |*>- sition was admirably summed up by Mr A. S. Adams, President of the N. /. Alliance, in course of a con-

versation with an interviewer on Dec. 9 Mr. Adams said :

“ It is a great mistake to imagine that there lias lieen any set-hack in the No-License vote, or to suggest that the Trade has scored a victory. It is one of those ‘ victories which, if r pea ted once or twice, will end in extermination.

I am very well satisfied with the vote. It shows the largest advance made by the No-License party since 1811*5, when the women s vote came into operation. The figures for seventy-one electorates out of a total of seventy-six are available. Two or three of these are incomplete, but they do not affect the conclusions w hich one cannot help drawing. We set out in this campaign to secure 200,0110 votes for No-License.

That was our extreme expectation. The seventy-one electoral s referred to have given us 181,077 votes, and if the five electorates still to come maintain that average, that will bring the total up to 190,000, within 5( MM) of our highest expectations, that is. (Mir poll in 1902 was 151,524,representing an increase of 51,1 MM), and a majority over the continuance vote of 5075. The increase shown bv the present vote (taking the five returns still to come at the average) is 42,950 or thereabouts, a magnificent result for the three years' campaign. Die continuance vote has increased during the three years, hut not in the same ratio. In 1902 we polled 5075 more than the continuance vote, this year our majority is about 15, (MM).”