Result of the Licensing Polk.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 287, 13 April 1894, Page 2

Result of the Licensing Polk.

It is three weeks since the licensing polls took place, but some of the results have not yet been officially declared, so far as we have been able to ascertain. We have, however, with considerable trouble, succeeded in arriving at a very dose approximation of the figures showing the general results throughout the colony. Although these figures may not be : absolutely accurate, they are substantially and relatively so. The Bay of Islands results are not included, as, although we hare wired to the Returning Officer for the figures, we have not received them, and the result is not known in Auckland. The figures as to the number of informal votes are to a large extent merely an estimate, as in many districts iio state--1 inent as to their number has been made. In every case as to the result - of a poll, we have accepted the decision of the Returning Officer, ' although in many instances these ' decisions are quite irreconcilable. 1 With these explanations y& proceed to . give the results :— There are 62 liceh- | sing districts in the colony. Of these, 39 have elected cominitteees in which r the Moderate members are .in a , majority, and in 23 committees, the . extreme Temperance Party is in the I majority. In two districts (Bay of I Plen ty and BuHaj-j where iwore than » half voted, the Returning Officers have [ declared none of the proposals carried r by a majority. In 37 districts the . poll has been declared void, half the 5 electors not having voted The total r number of votes recorded on the rolls 1 is, in round numbers, 257,250. The : total number of votes recorded as i effective on the several issues submitted was 104,560. The informal ) votes may be taken at about 6000, so 3 that tho total number of electors who f went to the poll may be put down at ♦ between 110,000 to 111,000. Ofthe J effective votes 40,757 appear to have , been given in favor of licenses reJ maining as at presents 16,089 in favor t of reduction, and 47,714 in favor of 0 prohibition. In 13 districts—Waira- , rapa, Wellington, Kaiapoi, Selwyn, Christchurch, Ash Burton, Waitaki, Oamaru, Chalmers, Dunedin, Mataura, - Caversham and In vercargill, reduction has been carried. In one district— Clutha— Prohibition has been carried. c In nine districts — New Plymouth, - Wanganui, Nelson, Wairua, Grey, I, Rangitata, Pareora, Tim&ru, and '. Westland— the effectual vote was in favor of licenses continuing as they ' s are. In the Buller the majority was in favor of licenses continuing as at 1 present, while in the Buy of Plenty £ the majority was in favor of reduction, i but in neither case was there an absolute majority of those who voted, ;. informal votes being counted by the i- respective Returning Officers. — Post.