LICENSING POLL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 170, 12 April 1919, Page 8

LICENSING POLL

LATEST FIGURES

| PROHIBITION STILL

LEADING

! SOLDIERS' VOTES REDUCE i MAJORITY TO 9148

| ■ An official .return .issued by the Chief I Electoral Officer at 51 p.m. yesterday I ' showed 226,167) votes for continuanco and ! .1238,568 votes for prohibition, thus giv- ; ing. prohibition a majority of 12,401. The district..figures, on which these totals were based, - were not complete in all : cases, and "later telegrams from some of ... tho electorate's make unimportant ' changes- in the total. _ The ■ prohibition majority is reduced L substantially, however,: by the count of tho first batch of soldiers' votes. Tho I, Minister in charge of the 1 Electoral Dej stated last night that .of 5693 votes cast by Now • Zealand soldiers at j . hospitals in the United Kingdom and in | 'London, 1161 were for continuance and 1211 for prohibition. Theso votes, which 1. account for less than a the \ Boldiers remaining in the United Kingi, donv and France, reduce the prohibition ! majority to 9145. •• [ Tho official Tcturns, as at 5 p.m. yesf' terday, are published below. They do ! not include any of tho votes cast by I ; absont voters or seamen using porinits. | .ffhe Electoral Department is still unable i '.to say how many permits vfere used. 1 (Absent voters' permits wero issued, for j the first time, up to tho day preceding ! ;the polling, and the number of electors j .who took advantage of this method of i 'Jvoting was larger than at anv preceding j election or poll in the Dominion. r J lie [. votes will be included in tho returns i jssued by the returning officers after the I' bfficial counts, which will be completed' j in most electorates next . week. | SOLDIERS 7 "im l FIRST RETURNS RECEIVED i SUPPORT FMNTINUANCE !- _ 'J '. ' 1 j. The Minister in charge of the Electoral ! Department (Hon. T. M. Wilford) an- : ijiounced lost night that he had received tie' following returns of votes cast by ew Zealand (soldiers in tho United ingdomi— . I Con- In- . : tinu- Prohi- forj. . ' ance. bition. mal. Total | Brookonhnrgt . j : Hospital 80 28 — 108 j jWalton Hospital, I including Brigh-. | ton Convalescent I ' Officers' Hospi- | tal 645 179 1 825 i <Oatlands Hospi- , !, tal 400 93 1 -494 :■ Kidworth Hospif. tal 47 .11-68 i IHornchurch Depot 448 151 6 605 | > M.2. Headquari i tors' booth 1068 342 6 ; 1410 i Commis- , !' sioner's booth 279 67 2 348 ! Brocton Depot... 1480 335 ' 2 1817 ; Southampton De- 1 j pot 17 5 — 22 ; ' . 4464 1211 18 5693 i The Hon. T. M. Wilford, in announc- }, ing these figures, said they did not inj!. elude .the Teturns from booths at Sling | nnd Codford, and in Franco, Egypt, and ! Sain.oa, , The votes cast by undischarged i soldiers in Now Zealand and by return- ! ing troops on transports at sea had also i to be received. The numbor of New Zealand soldiers ! abroad entitled to vote is estimated to i have been 34,341; mado up as follows — ; At sea, from United Kingdom 10,996 ! At sea from Egypt j'jjj ! Remaining in United Kingdom ' 1 and Franco jjjoo ; Remaining in Egypt ; In SftuiOtV Total ...A 341 I This total includes tho 5693"men whose Totes are accounted for in'tho announceKent mado la6t night by the Minister. i SOLDIERS IN NEW ZEALAND COUNTING OP THE VOTES. , The counting of tho votes cast by un- , discharged soldiers in New Zealand will ; not begin until nest week. The soldiers' : ballot papers have been pluccd in spccial boxes, which are to be forwarded to the ' Department in Wellington. , i 'When they have all arrived, there will ' m? ECrutm y an d A' l official count. ■ Ihe' .number of these votes is not yet i JS'JSJi 11 definitely. Thero were about j.10,000 soldiers in Now Zealand entitled i to vote on thoir Expeditionary Force qualification on Thursday. Some of them : I were also entitled to vote as civilians, :i.their names being on tho rolls, but it u anticipate! that .nearly o)l tue iucn ; used the military qualification in preference to tho civilian. • Tho Minifltor in ; charge of the Electoral Department will announce the returns of soldiers* voting , in New Zealand as soon as the figures are i iavailable. RETOMZ TOTALS i LATEST OFFICIAL FIGURES I The following are the official returns as j &t pjn._ yesterday. . Informal votes,. ; whioh'appear'to have been more "than s numerous, are not included. | Some 'later returns are shown in tele- ; grams following the oiiiical figures:— - ; NORTH ISLAND > S go S o d i ■ ■ go "H a IH o j Electorate. . 2 3 jj | 3 2 O- O 3 i ' p 2 52 Bay of Islands 2285 2543 — 258 ! Marsdon 2062 3009 — <J47 : Kaipara 2180 2195 — 315 ; Waitemata ... 3181 47G9 — l«88 : Edon 3806 6322 - 2516 ' Auckland East 3612 . 2798 814 — i Auckland Central' 3516 2076 14-10 — | Auckland' West 3674 3835 — 161 s Grey Lynn 3685 4775 — 1090 : Parnell 3738 4621 - 886 i Manukaui ' 4006 5160 — 145 i ! Franklin 2658 3918 — I'so ; Kaglan 2699 3708 - 1009 j Thames 22-18 2582 — 331 I Ohinemuri 224! l 1982 267 — i Tauianga ' 2983 3549 — 56G i Waikato 3249 4266 — 1017 : Bay of Plenty 3255 2996 259 — ; Taumarunui ... 3280 2797- 483 — | Gistorno 3650 3700 — 150 ; Hawke's Bay ... 3917 3839 78 — I Napier 3762 3672 . 90 : — ! Waipawa 2591 270t 187 — ' ! Pahiatua 2277 2202 75 — I Masterton 2627 2601 23 . — j Wairarapa .... 2785 2356 429 — ? Stratford 1915 2684 — 769 : Taranaki 2615 3839 — 1191. ■ Egmont 2211 2639 — 428 : Patea 2777 3606 — 889 ! Wan'ganui 3897 4290 — 393 ; Waimarino ... 2923 1952 971 — ; Oroua 2260 2760 — 500 ! Bangitikei .... 2417 2395 52 — ! Palmerston ... 3386 4095. — 709 : Otaki 2301 2432 - 13) ' Hutt 3793 3550 2-13 - j Wellington N. 4757 3377 1380 — i Wellington C. 4110 2553 1 887 - i Wellington F, 4091 3972 ;19 — i Wellington 8. 3791 3636 ;i55 — ! Wellington Sub. 3231 3313 - 112 | soutiHsland I Nelson 3037 2916 121 — , Motu.eka 2585 1850 735 - : Buller 1897 fO2 - ; Grev 3212 1835 1-107 - ! Westland 3085 1110 1(3 - I Wairau 2%: i 2729 251 - j Huritnu.i 2525 1731 7(11- - ' Kaiapoi 2728 2554 174 — ■' Chmtchnrch-N. -4257-. ■.4510 : •> . 259 i Christchurch E. 3910 - 2805- 1075 — ; Christchurch S. 3471 3723 — 252 ; Eiccarton 338 1 3386 — 2 : Avon 3720 -4329 - 609 I Lyttelton 3029 3106 - 77

Ellesmere 2514 2067 447 — Selwyn 2366 1908 458 — Ashburton 2997 2487 510 - Timaru 2995 4019 — 1054 Tomultii 2780 2539 241' - Waitaki 2289 2598 — 309 Oamaru 2522 3109 — 587 Otago Central... 2152 2269 — 117 Duncdin North 2708 4359 — 1651 .Dunedin West- 2957 3875 — 888 Duncdin Central 2927 3704 — 777 Dunedin South 3401 4193 — 1092 Chalmers 2008 3705 — 2697 Bruco 2007 2323 - 316 Clutha 173-1 2394 - , 660 Wakatipu 2180 1870 310 - Mataura 2217 .2728 — 511 Wallace 2176 1950 218 - Invercargill 3209 ' 4155 — 946 Awarua 2171 2359 — 18S 226,167 238,563 Majority for Prohibition, 12,401. SOME FINAL FIGURES PKEVIOUS TOTALS 11EVISED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Blenheim, April 11. The further returns referred to above are as follow:— WAIRAU, Wairau final—Continuance, 3027; Prohibition, 2762. Majority for Continuance, 265. HAWKE'S BAY. Napier, April 11. Ifawke's Bay final—Continuance, 3924) Prohibition, 3SI|9. Majority .for Continuance, 85. TAURANGA. Tauranga, "April 11. Tauranga—Continuance, 2062; Prohibition, 3598. Majority .for Prohibition, 536. One small return to come. THAMES. Thames, April 11. Thames final—Continuance, 1262; Prohibition, 2589. Majority for Prohibition, 827. HOW WELLINGTON VOTED COMPArxISON WITH 1914. The voting in the six Wellington City Suburban electorates—Wellington North, South, Central, and East, Wellington Suburbs, and' Hutt—indicates a net gain for prohibition as compared with the 1914 poll of about 1450. The totals are as follow:— ! Continuance. Prohibition. Major. C. ; 1911 ... 24,762 19,625 5137 1919 ... 24,099 20,417 8882 ■ THE AUJANCE VIEW HOPEFUL OF RETAINING THE LEAD . ■/■ .FACTORS IN THE CONTEST A brief statement was mado by tho Eev. 11. S. Gray, organiser for the New Zealand Alliance in this-last-campaign, to a -Dominion reporter yesterday, concerning the result of the poll to date. "I 6hould havo been glad if the present majority had been larger; I confidently expected it would be," said Mr. Gray, "and nm correspondingly disappointed. I refuse, however, absolutely to accept the suggestion that tho trade has already won the conest.' It has throughout claimed that the soldiers' vote would ■bo overwhelmingly in its favour. Until absolute proof of this is forthcoming I decline to believe that the young manhood of this Dominion, which risked its lifo in the interests of tho Empire, is more interested in the continuance of the liquor trado than in the welfare of the country . ' About Compensation. s "Thero is no doubt that one of the greatest difficulties with which we have had to contend was the provision for the payment of compensation, and the tactics adopted by the trade in regard to it. Compensation was accepted by the New Zealand Alliance as a compromise at tho suggestion of tho National Efficiency League, and as the only means of removing from tho legislation of the country the grossly unfair handicap under which the two last national prohibition polls were fought, namely, the extension to the trade of trading rights for 4i- years if prohibition should bo carried. I need, hardly repeat that the fjreat body of Prohibitionists in the Dominion were impelled very much more largely bv' the moral than tho economic aspect of this phase of the question. They couid not reconcile it with \ their consciences to refuse to voto for the immediate, extinction of the trade with compensation rather than allow it to continue its de- ' grading work .for the four and a half years. . x

"Whatever may ]>e the final result of the present poll, one thing has been settled for ever, and that is the question of compensation. It has been finally disposed of by the trade itself. During the whole history of the liquor fight .the trade has protested against the injustice of what it always called confiscation. It was definitely offered under .the present proposal tho compensation! which it Always, demanded. No revival of the compensation plea would ever again be tolerated, ft has asked persistently throughout this campaign, "Why pay £i,500,000?" If it should turn out that continuance has been carried at this poll the trade will not only be given the opportunity, but will bo compelled to answer its own question, the only difference being that the prohibition party instead of the trade will ask the question, and will ask it with even more persistence.

"It would bo premature even if it were wise to compare the different parts of tho Dominion. In view of all the difficulties our people have done splendidly. There is one point, however, that I should like to emphasise with regjrd to this question of compensation, as showing that the Prohibition Party was absolutely loyal to its agreement to accept the compromise: there was no part of the Dominion in which objection to this was more keenly felt than in Dunedin and Otago, and yet the vote cast there is, I think, heavier proportionately than in any other part of the Dominion. The Influenza Scare, "The other chief factor in my judgment in preventing a heavier' vote for prohibition was the influenza scare, through which the liquor trade and tho moderate party worked upon the fears of the people. Their notorious fako proclamation and their uso of the names of authorities, who repudiated the trade's statements, doubtless affected many voters, and tho only reason I can why the adoption of such tactics did not meet with an overwhelming moral proteat is that the great mass of the electors did not rightly understand the facts. Evidence Came too Late. "In proof of my statement of their misnso of authorities I wish to say that I have to-dny received from London a cablegram in which the following appears:— "Sir James to-day signed the following statement regarding inaecurato report published in New Zealand. 'I was wrorigly reportedspirits are no preventive of influenza, but useful as a stimulant in exhaus-' tion, which accompanies or follows influenza. Spirits in my opinion are a drug to ta obtained only from a chemist by doctor's prescription when everything elso fails." "It will be remembered that Dr. James Cantlie was the chief authority relied upon by the trade, and that they advertised him as saying:— 'Alcohol is the only known antidote for the new influenza.' "They also,, as it will be remembered, by the fake cablegram and otherwiso, fltated that tho releasing of an increased 25 per cent, of spirits was due to tho demand for influenza remedies. Sir Malcolm Morris, president of the Institute of Hygiene, says: 'It is absurd to pretend that tho releasing of 25 per cent, of spirits was duo to the demand for influenza remedies. Tho releasing of spirits and beer iR the natural result of the armistice, and tho greater easiness of food supplies. Alcohol is not essential for the prevention or treatment of influenza.' Sir Alfred I'earce Gould says: There lias not been any shortage of alcohol' for medicinal use.' "In conclusion, I am of opinion that wo have still a distinct fighting chance of winning this poll, but if it should prove that we are defeated we shall on the very day that the announcement is made begin preparations for the fight at

the general election, nnd I linvo sufficient faith in t)u> righteousness of our causo to beliovo tlint wo may I lion witno.su such nn illustration of ixietie justice us will inako tho iratio bitterly lament (.hut it did not accept tho compensation which was offered to it."

EFFICIENCY LEAGUE'S VIEV

Mil. HUNT & THE "150011KRAN0." "Tho greatest obstacle tluit tho advocates of prohibition have hud to meet in fighting this campaign has been tho lact that if prohibition was carried tho trade was to ho compensated," said Mr. W. 1). Hunt, Dominion president of the National Efficiency League, yesterday. "This compensation question was tliu liquor trade's chief card in lighting their campaign, and they used it in every conceivable way. Through the Press, through their literature, through thoir public speakers and their canvassers, they have persistently instilled into tho minds of tho public that they could get prohibition for nothing by waiting until next general election. This has been a strong card nnd it has been played successfully. At first glancc it may seem strango that tho liquor trade should deliberately refuse oinpensation, and run tho gauntlet of a poll on which immediate prohibition without compensation is one of the issues. The matter is easily understood, however, when tho three-coniored eon lost provided at next general election is considered. I'n this it will bo difficult lor any one issue to get an absolute majority. If no issue gets a majority then continuance remains. These unfair conditions wero included in tho Licensing Act through the influence of tho liquor trade, and tho trade is relying upon theso conditions to carry it through to victory. "Tho weapon the trade has used, howover, is a double-edged one, and. will probably act like a boomerang. The electors who have taken the advice ot tho trade to wait until the next poll in ordor to got prohibition for nothing, will be voting prohibition next time. The trado will also lose tho support of many who in former years have supported it, not becauso they believed in liquor, but because they thought it unfair to put tho trade out without compensation. Iliese people will tako tho attitude at next poll that the trado has received a good olfer and has refused it. It must now lio in tho bed it has mado for itsolf, and does not deserve further considera■lion. In the light of my experience gained in this campaign, my judgmuut °» the temper of the electors is that wo 7T i n t TO • Prohibition for nothiug at a later date if continuance has a majority at the present poll. In view of the at. tirade taken up by the liquor trade on the compensation question, I feel confi. dent that the National Efficiency League Wll 'tf J lecessa !T' fight the next poll lot prohibition without compensation as keenly as they fought the last one." Air. Hunt added that the payment of compensation had been the idea of tho Efficiency League and not of tho prohi. bition leaders. The league, realising the advantages of securing prohibition quickly, had proposed the payment of co:». pensahou as a,.means of clearing the way for an immediate vote. It had induced tho Prohibition Party to accept the compensation proposal, as a matter of expediency and for the present poll on 'y. ( -j , he trade had chosen to uso the cry, Why pay compensation?" throughout the campaign, and if the battlo hnd to be fought again he certainly believed the compensation proposal 'would be eliminated. , • OTHER OPINIONS. Ar r t t, Christchurch, April 11. , J ; u '- J - J-KoJ'us, chairman of tho Canterbury Efficiency Board, eaid :~*Tlio result of yesterday's poll is not as decisive as we could havo wished. Tho result is._ of, course.'uncertain, and the prosent situation is not ono that makes comment of any great value."

ME. 'LYSNAE and the soldiers AT SEA. By Telegraph—P'ren* Association. Gisborne, April 11. Ihscussmg the referendum position, Mr. \\. D. Lysnar,; who took a prominent part in the recent national campaign, said to an interviewer that he was satisfied that when the uncounted returns of soldiers and other votors were received the final result would ba for continuance. Ho had full confidence in tlio soldiers doing the right thing on this grave question, just as they had done to savo us from our national enemies. ITo added that he was sorry to see it had been officially stated that the Government was not going to obtain result* by wireless from troopships carrying troops to New Zealand. Considering tlio position was so close, he would suggest that the Govern-/ ment, in the public interest, apart altogether from tbo fairness of letting'the trade know their approximate position at the earliest date possible, should reconsider their decision in this respect, and ibtain the total number of votes by wileless. These could be verified upon receipt of the returns themselves, particularly seeing that the Act itself provides that totals can bo sent by telegraph or other expeditious means. Even although tlio Minister acted upon this, and declared the result of tlio poll, lie had clear powers under the Act to issue an amended notification. ITo could not at any rate conceive why the Government should withhold tlio votes east !>y tlio soldiers at present in New Zealand—seamen and absent voters. The only passible reason why overseas votes may bo delayed is the risk of mistake in transmission bv wireless, but this caunot be the real objection, seeing that tlio Government has the right to issue ail amended notification of tlio result if necessary should they ever have niade an official notifiation based on wireless results."

The. totals published yesterday for Wn!linßton East were: 3520 for continuance, mid 3395 for prohibition. These totals should have read: 4091 for continuance and 3972 for prohibition.