How the Prohibitionists View the Results.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 143, 16 December 1896, Page 2

How the Prohibitionists View the Re sults.

Mr H. Field, Secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, has supplied us with tbe following statement and remarks, which indicate the view taken of the reeeut Local Option poll by the Probibition party. Particulars are to hand from 44 out of the 62 electorates, and these show the total voting on the representative issue to be: — Foe continuance, 102,412; re> duction, 73,145; no licence, 72,745. There is thus a difference of 29,667 between the continuance and the prohibition vote, out of a total of 175,157 votea cast. Roughly speaking, out of every five voters, three voted for continuance and two for prohibition. There was sot 1000 vote 3 difference between reduction and no license, and as the plan of the Prohibitionists was " Strike out the top line only," it may now be regarded as certain that there is not a large section of tbe community who believe in a policy of reduction as opposed to the policy of prohibition. In comparison with the Local Option poll of 1894, it is needful to remember that a positive inducement to abstain from voting was then piven to the Liquor Party by the " half must vote" clause. In many districts the Prohibitionists then put forth their strength though the " Trade" did not. Aa might be expected under the provision that the issue should be determined by those who vote, not those who stop away, both parties have now had to fight. The result shows an increase in the prohibition vote in the 44 electorates reported upon of 32,934. In the four chief cities, the increased vote for No License is as follows: — Dunedin. 560; Christchurch, 1295; Wellington, 1454 ; and Auckland, 3864. Bat it is needful to note here that Auckland did not make a real effort in 1694, belie viDg that under the local conditions then existing effort would be wasted. Tbe difference between continuance and tbe prohibition vote in tbe four cities is as follows :— Dunedin, 3324; Christ* church, 2997 ; Wellington, 1968 ; Auckland, 1513. Tbe total increase in the Prohibition vote in the colony will not be less than 40,000, and the voting strength of the party is about 90,000, being a full third of the whole vote of the colony. The Prohibitionist newspaper admits that tbe result of the late election as a whole, ia very disappointing to the party it represents. Alluding to tbe general election, after deploring the defeat of Mr Atkinson for Wellington, it cays : — "We are gratified at the return of Sir Robert 'Stout, Mr Gilbert Carson, and many of our old friends. Wo deplore the defeat of the Auckland and Dunedin probibibitionist candidates, Mr H. F. Taylor, of the Thames, Mr Withy, Mr Bobbins, Mr Maniety, the Bey. Mr Neave, Mr W. Anld and others. The defeat of Mr M'Nab and Dr Newman is a calamity."