LICENSING POLL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1919, Page 5

LICENSING POLL.

THE LATEST RETURNS. PROHIBITION MAJORITY, 12,401. Wellington, List Niglit. Latest official returns of the licensing poll give the totals: — Prohibition 238,568 Continuance ..... 220,16" Majority for Prohibition .. 12,401 Informal, 897. The totals, however, do not include the soldiers' votes taken in the United Kingdom. Several small Dominion returns and amended returns have been received since the figures were issued. THE SOLDIERS' VOTES. THE FIRST BATCH. „ HEAVY VOTE FOR CONTINUANCE. Wellington, Last Night. The Minister in charge of the electoral department announced to-night that he had received the following returns of votes cast by the New Zealand soldiers in the United Kingdom:—

Brockenlmrst Hospital .... 80 2S Walton Hospital (including Brighton Convalescent Officers' Hospital) 045 179 Oatlands Hospital 400 93 Kid worth Hospital 47 11 Hornchurch Depot 418 151 N.Z. Headquarters 10(jS 342 High Commissioner's 279 67 Brockton Depot 1480 335 Southampton Depot 17 5 Totals 4464 1211 Informal votes, 18.

(Regarding the question of tlie number of soldiers* votes to be recorded at the poll, a return prepared for Sir .Tames Allen shows that there are 34,341 New Zealand soldiers yet to return. Of that number 12,109 are at sea, 15,520 in France and the United Kingdom, 2492 m Egypt, and about 220 in Samoa.) WAIMARINO. Tailiape, Last Night. The Waimarino complete return is: Continuance 2823, Prohibition 1952. GISBORNE. Giaborne, Last Night. The final result of the Gisborne poll is: Continuance 3000, Prohibition 3701. BAY OP PLENTY. Opotiki, Last Night. The Bay of Plenty latest returns show: Continuance 3255, Prohibition 21)96. HAWKE'S BAY. Hastings, Last Night. Hawke"s Bay final figures are: Continuance 3924, Prohibition 3839. Informal 55. TAURANGA. Tauranga, Last Night. Tauranga: Continuance 3062, Prohibition 3598. One small return to come Informal 47. 1 BULLER. Westport, Last Night. Buller final figures are: Continuance 2399, Prohibition 1897. THAMES. Thames, Last Night. The Thames final result is: Continuance 2262, Prohibition 2589. Informal 47. PROHIBITIONISTS CONFIDENT. THE COMPENSATION FEATURE. Wellington, Last Night. Rev. Gray and Rev. Dawson, on behalf of the Alliance, stated they confidently expected the majority would have been larger. They refused to accept the suggestion that the trade had already won the contest. The majority for Prohibition was being steadily increased by every corrected return. They declined to believe the young manhood of the Dominion who risked their lives for the Empire were more interested in the continuance of the liquor trade than the welfare of the country. Whatever may be the final result of the poll, one thing has been settled for ever, and that is the question of compensation. The question, "Why pay £4,600,000?" will be asked, and with persistence, by the Prohibition party. We are still of opinion that we have a distinct fighting chance of winning this poll. Wellington, April 11. Mr. Hunt, president of the Efficiency League, said he was disappointed that the majority for Prohibition was not larger, but he felt confident that the soldiers would be found voting in the same proportion as the civilians. The greatest obstacle the Prohibitionists had faqed had been the compensation issue, which was the trade's chief card and which had been played well. Compensation, however, was a doubleedged weapon, which, if Prohibition was not carried at this poll, would probably act as a boomerang next time. Owing to a heavy storm in the south of Westland the deputy returning officer was unable to get through to Okura on Wednesday, the mountain track being blocked by trees and slips. He made a further attempt on Thursday afternoon and expected to get through during the night. The voting at Okuru takes place to-day.

Christfhtircli, Last Night. Mr. J. J. Royda, rhairman of the Canterbury Efficiency Board, said: "The result of yesterday's poll is not as decisive as we. could have wished. The result is, of course, uncertain, and the present situation is not one that makes comment of any great value." THE TRADE RETICENT. Wellington, Last Night. In view of the fact that 50,000 votes , have yet to be included in the total count no authoritative or comparative statement could be obtained from the official representatives of those who had been ££k S Campftißn iu * con-