LICENSING POLL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 174, 17 April 1919, Page 7

LICENSING POLL

ABSENT VOTERS FAVOUR PROHIBITION

THE OFFICIAL COUNTS

Some of the official counts of tho votes :ast at the licensing poll, including the votes of electors using absent voters permits and seamen's permits, lave been completed. Tho figures'that have reached Wellington indicate that the absent voters are slightly inoraasing the prohibition majority. The latest official totals are as follow: Continuance 213,101 Prohibition 243,428 Informal ■ 2,377 Majority for Prohibition 32t Those figures, it should be noted, are subject to frequent alterations ns !<;iv returns arrive. The next big change in the relative position of parties will be made when the results of the votes recorded by soldici'3 in New Zealand are announced. The counting of these votes is expected to begin on Tuesday next. The official counts are announced: WELLINGTON SOUTH. . Continuance 3879 Prohibition 37i5 . Continuance majority ... 134 CHBISTCHURCH SOUTH. Continuance '...'. 3510. Prohibition 3773 . Prohibition majority 263 Twelve absentee votes to come. OAMAEU. Continuance 2560 Prohibition 3191 ' . Prohibition majority 625 HUTT. . Continuance .'. 3874 Prohibition 3617 Informal 05 > Continuance majority 257 This total includes 163 absentee votes— 72 for Continuance and 91 for Prohibition. There are still a few absentee -.otes WELLINGTON CENTRAL. Continuance 4556 Prohibition aH9 Continuance majority 1927 This includes 75 absentee votes for Continuance and 67 for Prohibition; also 53 seamen's votes for Continuance and 11 for Prohibition.

.v DUNEDIN CENTRAL. Continuance 3035 Prohibition 3829. Prohibition majority 794 DUNEDIN SOOTH. Continuance 3457 • Prohibition 4708 .Informal ' i° Prohibition majority 1251 This includes absent voters, of whom 160 roted Prohibition and 92 Continuance. By Telegraph-Press Association. Christchurch, April 16 The official count has been concluded in thn three Christchurch. and tho Iliccarton electorates. The aggregate for the i'liur electorates means an increase of 310 in the numbers for continuance. The revised figures are:— CHBISTCHURCH SOUTH. Continuance' ■•• 3510 ■. Prohibition 3773 Informal ....'. .51 CKBISTCHURCH NORTH. Continuance 43G0 Prohibition '• 4894 ~ Informal 118 , RICCARTON. Continuance 3455 Prohibition :... 3459 Informal 68 CHRISTCHURCH EAST. • Details are not available, but the result of the recount, is. that,.tho, majority for continuance'is increased by. 159, tnakinjf the continuanco majority for the electorate 1231. AVON. It is understood that the changes in tho . figures in Avon are very light. Invercargill, April 16. The.official count at Invercargill resulted:— . . . Continuance : 3280 Prohibition 4301 Informal .;.... 55 The figures include absent voters' permits. ' Dunedin, April 16. The final returns for Dunedin North and Bruce are:— DUNEDIN NORTH. Continuance ; 2770 Prohibition 41C8 BRUCE. Continuance 2073 Prohibition 2454 THE SOLDIERS , VOTES RETURNS ANNOUNCED AS AVAILABLE. There has been some doubt for the past day ov two as to what action the Si iaister of Justice would take in regard to the announcement of the votes of .soldiers' returning by transports and of soldiers voting in New Zealand—whether lib would announce the returns as they were made available to him by tlio v Chief Electoral Officer or whether lie would delay his announcement until the total count was completed. Mr. Wtlford stated, -yesterday that ho would announce the returns from each ship as they were given to him, and that the total of'the soldiers' vote in . "New Zealand would be made public as soon as it was available. Soldiers' votes for individual electorates will not be given.

SEASONS DISCUSSED. (Rec* April 17, 0.15 a.m.) .»■ London, April 17. The "Manchester Guardian," commenting on the soldiers' anli-prohihition vote, suggests that the Aiusacs' familiarity with French cafes has given the liquor problem a more human aspect than is presented to the habitues of public-houses m New Zealand. Other factors include tho effect on British hospitality as expressed in beer.—United Service.