LIQUOR REFERENDUM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 171, 14 April 1919, Page 6

LIQUOR REFERENDUM

RETURNS FROM SOLDIERS' BOOTHS PROHIBITION MAJORITY REDUCED MARGIN FOR CONTINUANCE ANTICIPATED

The latest returns of votes cast at the licensing poll give a civilian majority for prohibition of approximately 12,350. But this majority has been reduced very greatly by the votes of tho soldiers, and it is anticipated now that the iinnl count will givo a small majority for continuance. Amended civilian returns issued on Saturday gave a prohibition majority of 12,343. Thesc.retiirns are not final, and are liable to be altered substantially when the absent, voters' permits and seamen's permits have been counted. The figures are:— ' Continuance 226,397 Prohibition 238,745 Informal ■ 2,011 Majority for prohibition 12,343 The overseas soldiers' votes available on Saturday including the first batch of votes announced in Saturday's issue if The Dominion) were as follow:— Continuance .'. 15,875 Prohibition 3,955 Informal ' 82 Total 19,913 Majority for continuance—ll.92o. The effect of those soldiers' votes is to reduce Ihe prohibition majority to 428, the totals being— ' Continuance 242,272 Prohibition 242,700 It is estimated that there are about 1000 votes still to come fvora the United Kingdom and I'rance. Then there are over 12,000 troops at sea, as well as troops in Egypt and Samoa. Some 10,000 votes cast L>y undischarged soldiers in New Zealand have also to ho reckoned with. The counting of tho votes cast by soldiers in New Zealand will begin this week in Wellington. The figures should be available before the end of the week. The returning officers will begin their official counts of the civilian votes this week, after they iiavo received their parcels, of absent voters' permits from various parts of the country. Their official announcements will include the votes cast by absent voters and seamen. It is estimated that there are not less than 1 12,000 of these votes still to. bo included in the returns.

The lenders of the Efficiency league and the Prohibition Party will make a statement regarding future effort when the final figures have- been made public. They expect now that prohibition will be defeated by a small majority. They attribute .this defeat chiefly to the compensation part of the proposal, and are prepared to undertake a fresh campaign for prohibition without compensation, ns was indicated on Saturday by the president of tne Efficiency League and the presi-. dent of tho New Zealand Alliance.

It appears to be assumed by both parties that no amendment to the licensing legislation will he, secured during the short session that is expected to take place before tho general election. Tho next prohibition campaign, therefore, will be fought on the three-issue ballot-pnper —Continuance,. Prohibition without Compensation, and State Control. The following corrected returns have been received from electoral districts :~ Maj. Maj. for for Cont. Pro. Con. Pro. Pahiatua 228.1 2210 73 - Ohiuenniri .'.. 22W 2013 269 — Tauranga 2983 3549 -- 566 Thames 2262 2589 - 327 Wnirnu 3026 2703 263 Waipawa 2921 271G 205 — The Hon. T. M. Wilford states that the seamen's votes and absent voters' permit votes will be announced be the returning officers in each district when the official count is completed. As regards Dunedin, the returning officer should bo in a position to make an announcement shortly. There is no withholding of returns. As soon .is the returning officer in each district has made 'his official count the returns are announced.

MASS MEETING AT CODFORD MOTION OF PROTEST AGAINST REFERENDUM. (Rcc. April 13, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 11. . A large mass meeting of New Zealand soldiers, held in Codford Camp on April 3, passed a resolution hotly opposing the Government faking a liquor referendum during the absence of the troopsUnited Service. VOTE OnTtMNSPORT Newport News, April 11. The New Zealanders on board the steamer Northumberland, on their way home, voted on the prohibition issiie. The majority voted for continuance.—Aus.N.Z. Cable.Assn.