LICENSING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 283, 24 November 1908, Page 2

LICENSING.

THE WELLIXOTOX PULL. by Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Ust Xight. 'l'lii' oIIK-ial i-oiint of the Wellington licensing poll whs concluded to-night. Tlii' ligurcs are—Continuance 71)7!), Reduction 5378, No-License 10,072, valid volt's 18,.">11, informal 370. No proposal was carried. Il would have required 10;|j more votes of the total of 18,511 to carry -So-License.

There are rumors of a petition heing lodged by the publicans' party to upset the Maslcrtou poll.

In Wellington on Sunday the Rev. J. Dawson stated that at least six electorates, including Wellington South and Wellington Suburbs, had been added to existing No-License areas. In the North Island there was a majority vote fov Xo-Licensc of 23,000 in 34 electorates; iu the South Island of 1)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 ma-, jority against No-License, and it was I an unfair position. Forty-five electorates were living under license by a minority vote, and that was unfair, lie suggested that "the trade" should work to have this ui.l'i'jniess removed, and then Ashburton co;:!d have License and the 45 other electorates Xo-Lieense. lie did not regret I lie 'si'.-mj.ig injustice in Ashburton. It was just one little thorn in the side oi the iiipior party to let them realise how the dwellers in other electorates felt. 'llure were only eighteen electorates in the Dominion where the litpior trallie would exist by the majority vote of the electors, seven in the North Island and eleven in the South. The result of the poll would be to close UO bars, 05 by Xo-License, and 15 by Reduction. Speaking of the position at the llutt, he said that matter was not yet ended, more would yet "be said, and he instanced the fact that one person who had been dead for two yean, had recorded her vote.