THE LICENSE POLLS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1088, 30 December 1911, Page 3

THE LICENSE POLLS.

DATE OF THE NEXT.

WHEN WILL IT BE ?

The fact that in view of the uncertain position of political parties, local option polls may not take place for five years, was pointed out immediately after the results of the first ballot indicated the return of the days of .small majorities. The subject lias been enlarged upon somewhat by a man who has been interviewed by a Dunedin Star reporter, and he suggests some interesting possibilities.

“We may possibly uot have another licensing poll for live years, or vve may have one every year,’’ said the speculative one." He quoted the section of the Licensing Act which says that “if at any time Parliament is dissolved before it has been two years in existence, then at the taking ol the electoral poll lor the new Parliament no licensing poll shall be taken, but the result of the licensing poll taken at the last previous general election shall continue in force until such licensing poll is again taken simultaneously with the electoral poll next after the dissolution of such new Parliament.’’ The section, he said, was somewhat vague. Suppose (omtended this authority) Parliament A, just eiected, continues in office for less than two years, on its dissolution no licensing poll will be taken when the succeeding Parliament B is elected, as the result of the licensing poll taken at the election of Parliament A will continue in force until the election held after the dissolution or expiry of Parliament B. That may mean live years. Supposing, however, that Parliament exists only for six months, and Parliament B, which succeeds it, lasts for a similar period, then the obvious reading ol the Licensing Act is that as a consequence of numerous short period dissolutions ot Parliament, a licensing poll may possibly be taken every twelve months. On the other hand, if

Parliament A lasted just under two years, and Parliament B ran its full term of three years, there would consequently not be a licensing poll lor live years. “And every live years would be often enough,’’ concluded this quoter of facts and propounder of figures,

Should Dominion prohibition be carried, licensing polls, instead of being taken at uncertain intervals,

will be taken on the occasion of each general election. Section 23 ot the Act of 1910 ren Is as follows : —’“At the first general election of members of Parliament which is held after the expiration of three years from the day of the coming into force of the determination of the electors in favour of national and "silvery general election thereafter so loUg-as that determination remains in force, a licensing poll shall be taken, and at that poll there shall be sub mitted to the electors of each ■ licensing district the question whether licenses shall be restored in New Zealand."