The Local Option Polls.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 359, 26 March 1903, Page 5

The Local Option Polls.

AN ANALYSIS OP THE VOTING. " Evening Star." Wellington, March 20. In view of the coming Licensing Committee election, it is interesting to note from a pamphlet prepared by the Registrar-General that an analysis of the voting at the Local Option poll in November last, shows that 148,449 votes were recorded in favor of continuance of existing licenses (including one district—that of Olutha--where the vote, 1,368, was for restoration of licenses cancelled at the poll taken in 1899}, 132,240 for reduction, and 151,524 for no-licenee (including 2,245 votes cast for non-restoration in the Olutha district). In twenty-nine of the sixty-eight licensing districts the majority of voters was in favor of continuance, in twenty-four no proposal was carried, in nine reduction, and in six no-license was carried ; but in two of the latter (Bruce and Newtown) the poll on petition was declared invalid. In twenty-four of the districts— Marsden, Grey Lynn, Franklin, Thames, Waiapn, Napier, Pahiatua, Hutt, Waitaki, Oamaru, Waikouaiti, Kaiapoi, Avon Lyttleton, Oourtenay, Selwyn, Geraldine, Timaru, Caversham, Taieri, Tuapeka, Wallace, Invercargill and Awarau—a majority of the votes polled was for No-license, but not in sufficient number to make up the three-fifths required to carry that issue. Of the total number of persons (318,859, including those whose votes were informal) 180,294, or 56.54; per cent., were men, and 138,565, or 43.46 per cent., were women. Compared with the polling in the year 1899, this shows a numerical increase of 19,335, or 12 01 per cent, on ths part of men, and 17,702, or 14.65 per cent, on the part of women, clearly showing that the latter are now taking greater interest in- local option matters than they formerly did. The large numerical and . centesimal increase hi the number of votes recorded for Nolicense or Reduction are prominent features in the table. It; : is also interesting to note the substantial increase shown in the number of persons who went to the poll, though these latter must not be accepted as absolutely correct, the figures for 1899 not being vouched for as perfect.