LICENSING POLL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 11, 8 October 1943, Page 6

LICENSING POLL

Position In Invercargill (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, October 7.

The official count of votes in the local optic*; licensing poll for Invercargill and the counting of absentee and postal votes was completed by the returning officer and his staff this evening. The result of the complete count was as follows:— Restoration 7194 No licence 5331 Bare majority for restoration .. 1860 Deficit for restoration on threefifts majority 322

The counting of the absentee and postal votes gave the following results: — Absentee: ’Restoration, 401; no licence, 181. Postal: Restoration. 216; no licence 215. Totals: Restoration, 617; . no licence, 396. Tlie figures show that the restoration deficit of 361 votes on the first count lias been reduced by 39 votes. When the absentee votes had been counted the deficit was reduced to 279, but in turn the postal votes, which were almost equally divided, increased the deficit. The servicemen’s votes, which have yet to be included, are estimated to total between 1450 and 1500. In figures so far announced for the voting in the national licensing poll the soldiers’ voles for liquor licences repre--Rented approximately 90 per cent, of the votes cast. On that basis of voting for restoration by soldiers in the Invercargill electorate, the chances of licences being restored cannot be overlooked.