Voting Analysed by No-License Leader.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 442, 26 November 1908, Page 4

Voting Analysed by NoLicense Leader.

Miawiaw EH WM M w • ■ At a No-license meeting in the Wellington Town Hall on Sunday evening, the Rev. J. Dawson moved, and it was carried, that “ this meeting of Wellington citizens hereby expresses its devout gratitude to Almighty God for the splendid vote cast for Nolicense throughout the Dominion on Tuesday last. It hails as an encouraging sign of moral progress the fact that by a majority of mote than 30,000 votes above those cast three years ago the people of New Zealand have denounced the liquor traffic as a menace to the public weal. It rejoices over the fact that at least six electorates, including Wellington South and Wellington Subutbs, have been added to existing No-license areas, and it pledges itself to renewed effort in the endeavour to make No-license the law of the laud from the North Cape to the Bluff.” Speaking to the resolution, he gave a very interesting analysis of the voting as far as it had been at present recorded ; 216,000 people had voted against the liquor traffic, and only 184,000 had voted for Continuance, thus giving the No-license vote a majority of 32,000. In the North Island there was a majority vote for Noliceuse of 23,000 in 34 electorates ; in the South Island of 9,000 in 24 electorates ; or a total of 32,000 in 58 electorates. The people in one No-license electorate were living under minority rule. Ashburton had voted by a majority against Nolicense, and it was an unfair position. Forty-five electorates were living under License by a minority vote, and that was unfair. He suggested that “ the trade ” should work 10 have this unfairness removed, and then Ashburton could have License and the 45 other electorates No-license. He did not regret the seeming injustice in Ashburton. It was just one little thorn in the side of the liquor party to let them realise how the dwellers in other electorates lelt. There were only x 8 ekctoiates in the Dominion where the liquor traffic would exist by the majority vote of the electors, 7 in the North Island and 11 in the South. The result of the poll would be to close 140 bars, 95 by No-license and 45 by Reduction. Speaking of the position at the Hutt, he said that matter was not yet ended.