LICENSIHG POLL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2355, 23 November 1908, Page 5

LICENSIHG POLL

GISBORNE POLL

ABSENT VOTERS’ PERMITS

The absent voters’ ballot papers loathe licensing poll were cast as follows: Continuance ... ... 55 Reduction ... ... 30 No-license ... 44 REDUCTION IN WA ITEM AT A. The recount- of votes in the Waitern ata electorate shows that reduction lias been carried by four votes. NO-LICENSE IN MASTERTON. [Pkess Association.] MASTERTON, Nov. 21. A recount of the votes at the recent no-license election has just been completed, with the result that noficenso has been carried by 84 votes over the required three-fifths rityHUTT —NO-LICEXSE LOST BY 28 2-5 VOTES. WELLINGTON, Nov. 22. The Mutt local option recount was completed list night, with the following result: —Continuance 2±<l. reduction 2824, No-license 35u2: valid votes 6034. No-license lost by 28 2-o votes. OTAKI RESULTS. The following is the officio, result of the Otaki local option poll : —Continuance 1811, reduction 1311, Nolicense 1970; valid votes 39c-(5. No proposal carried, THE TIMARU POLL, TIM ART, Nov. 22. The recount of the licensing no, gives the following result Continuance 2952, reduction 2758. No-1 iconic 8505: valid votes 0477. No proposal carried. LYTTELTON POLL. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 22. The official recount for the Lyttelton electorate has been completed by Mr. C. Ferrier, returning officer, tlm figures being:—Continuance 307-3. reduction 2773, No-lieeiise 3274. The j total number of valid votes w is 0424, so that uo proposal was earned. SOME OUTSIDE OPINIONS. (. \Y<_. 11 iugl oli "Post.") The feeling of the public a- a whole ran be- judged only from the votes polled, and that test shows a steady movement in the direction of limiting, if not extinguishing, tiny public sale of intoxicating licjuor. Zealand is not alone in this experience. The remarkable “wave ’ oi Probm-tion which lias lately swept over the Southern States of America, at one time apparently a very unpromising field for reform, is a ease in point. Hie ".Post” has never advocated the prohibition or extinction of the liquor traffic: but it hap always recognised that the trade exists for the people and not the people for the trade: and that the restrictions and regulations imposed by law must he strictly obeyed In the past ill ere lm s been too much laxity in this respect, but in •the face of the growing power or the anti-liquor, party, and the sympathy with their crusade, there are not wanting signs of a movement m the direction of reform from within. The interests in a prosperous city hotei are so large, that ordinary business policy would dictate that- they should not be imperilled bv breaches cf the law. More than ever we may expect “the Trade” t o put-and keep its own house in order, and the tendcnc-x is one to be commended and encouraged.