LICENSING ELECTIONS. (Auckland Star, February 15.)

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 242, 18 February 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

LICENSING ELECTIONS. (Auckland Star, February 15.)

The first licensing election ever conducted in this district the issue of which is prohibition, takes place at Ponsonby on Thursday, and will be watched with attentive interest by the entire colony. Just before last election the temperance party in Ponsonby took a plebiscite of the resident ratepayers on the question of prohibition, the question put to the electors being merely the abstract one — Are you in favour of Prohibition ? The results of that plebiscite were never published; indeed, we are given to understand the papers were never counted. At any rate, this extreme policy was not made, one of the planks of the party at the election. For the coming election, however, the temperance people have decided on heroic measures. Somo months ago they caused a number of papers to be distributed amongst the resident ratepayers of the district, on which the following is printed :— " Women's Christian Temperance Union. — Are you prepared to vote for a Committee pledged to close the Publichouses in Ponsonby District? Please write Yes or No. (Answer) ." These voting papers have since been collected,and the result of the plebiscite up to Monday week last is as follows :—: — For Prohibition 256 Against 146 Neutral ... 51 Since then a number of additional papers have been collected, but we are informed that they do not decrease the proportionate majority in favour of prohibition. It was the encouragement given by tho result of the plebiscite that induced the temperance party to think of carrying a committee pledged to this drastic change. In a circular giving the names of the prohibition candidates the following occurs :— " It is believed by a large number of the ratepayers that Ponsonby is ready to do without drink shops, holding them as an institution prejudicial to the welfare of the district, and the gentlemen named herein, and nominated for election as members of the new Committee, are the embodiment of this belief, prepared, if elected, to refuse all licenses For the sale of intoxicants in Ponsonby." • In conversation with a Star reporter a leading member of the New Zealand Alliance said : •* Tho Alliance has nothing to do as a body with the Ponsonby election. But individually, as temperance workers, we are in favour of prohibition, which is, of course, the ultimate object of all temperance men. I think we will win this election ; but if we lose it we will be quite satisfied that we are educating tho public " as to our views.