THE LICENSING POLL

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1919, Page 3

THE LICENSING POLL

(fbb fbem association.—copybiqht.] - Con. S. Con. Pro. Rotorua r ... 2790 514 2930 Con. S. Con. Pro. ©ruce 2522 283 2807 (Restoration 2501 No License 3030 Olutha (final) ...... 2295 219 2971 Restoration, 2311; No-license, 3083. Con. S. Con. Pro. 'tK Htirunui 2845 308 . 2350 Jfc, CONTINUANCE LEADING. WELINGTON, Dec. 18. Wiring at 9.20 p.ra., the latest figures for the licensing National Referendum are as follows: Continuance 217,161 State Control 28,737 Prohibition 244,308 Wet majority 1,590 Four districts have still to come.

LATER RESULTS. MARGIN STILL CLOSE. ABOUT 400 MAJORITY. WELLINGTON, Dec. 18. In the National Licensing Referendum the four districts from which the official returns have not yet been received are Waitemata, Hurunui, Bruce and Kaiapoi. A return received by the New Zealand Alliance gives the totalsi for these four electorates as : Prohibition 12,600. Continuance and State Control, combined, 12,414. , These figures added to the official total made it appear that the majority against prohibition is 1404. • It seems likely however that, there are errors in the official figures from the Waikato, and that the Prohibition total should be 1000 greater than returned. This would bring the majority, against T: V Prohibition to 404 votes. There are over 2000 soldiers’ votes that have still to be counted. There are also about 1800 seamen’s •permits. There are 16,000 absent voters’ permits on issue. The soldiers include 1373 at sea and about 700 in England and Samoa. The votes cast hv seamen and the absent voters will be counted when the official counts are taken.

LATEST FIGURES . WELLINGTON, This Day. The position of the Licensing Poll at -pi noon to-day was. Continuance 225,378 State Control ....... 29,909 Nat. Prohibition .. v. 253,701 This gives Prohibition a minority of 1,586, There are still about 2,000 absentees votes to be .counted, while at present no official returns have been receivel from Kaiapoi or Hurunui. Pro. minority for Hurunui ... 803 .5 i Total minority 2,389 COMPLETED RETURNS. CONTINUANCE LEADS BY 1327 The complete electorate returns for the Licensing Poll are:— Continuance 231,206 State Control 30,470 Prohibition 260,340 _ Continuance leads by 1327. The counting of absentees, votes is expected to be completed before ’Xmas., but the final soldiers’ vote is not expected until 25th. Jan. (The totals and minority figures as telegraphed do not tally).