The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, November 26, 1908. UPSETTING LICENSING POLLS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 442, 26 November 1908, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, November 26, 1908. UPSETTING LICENSING POLLS.

In view of the rumour that an attempt will be made by the “ trade ” to upset one or two licensing polls where No-License has been carried, it may be mentioned that three years ago. when a poll could be upset on technical grounds, the “trade” automatically secured a new lease of life until the time for next general election came round. Now, however, matters are different. Even if a local option poll were upset, a fresh poll would have to be taken under section 37 of the Licensing Act, 1908 (consolidated statutes), which reads as follows:—“Where any licensing poll is declared void . . . notice thereof shall be given by the Chairman of the Court to the Returning Officer, and a fresh poll shall, on a day to be fixed by the Returning Officer, being not later than 40 days after the date of such notice, be taken in the manner prescribed by this Act in the case of a licensing poll: Provided that no such fresh poll shall be valid unless the number of voters who recorded valid voles thereat is not less than 55 votes per cent, of the number of such voters at the voided poll.” It will therefore be seen that the “trade ” would have little to gain by taking the suggested action, even if it succeeded. It has been argued that under these circumstances all the supporters of continuance require to do to secure a victory is to sit tight, stay away from the booths, and so deplete the poll that it will fall short of the 55 per cent, stipulated in the proviso of the section quoted above. On the other hand, No-License advocates contend that they could flood the electorates with canvassers and augment their voting strength to such an extent that the “trade” could not risk the adoption of a non-voting attitude.