THE LICENSING POLL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1919, Page 5

THE LICENSING POLL.

NO-LICENSE ELECTORATES. A good don! of interest always attaches to the voting on the licensing issue in dry districts (says the Auckland Herald). On this occasion the no-license areas were called upon to make a rather curious decision. For the first time there was no local option, and it was not possible for the result of the poll to restore licenses locally. The carrying of Continuance would have left the twelve no-liceliise districts dry, while the carrying of Prohibition would have brought the Dominion to the same condition. Such a choice of alternatives appears not to have disturbed the normal voting in the dry areas. Ohinemuri changed a Prohibition majority into one for Continuance, and Wellington Suburbs did the opposite. Apart from these electorates, the no-license districts spoke with the same voice as in 1914, when they gave a majority for National Prohibition of 4094. The majority on this occasion was 5854. The voting by electorates in the two polls was:—

1914. 1919. Con. Pro. Con Pro. Eden ' 3477 G028 3806 6322 Grey Lynn 3495 5051 3085 4775 Ohinemurl 2562 3045 2249 1982 Masterton ...... 3331 2895 2738 2085 Wellington South . 3788 3024 3791 3636 Wellington Suburbs 3213 3152 3225 3360 Asliburton . 3449 2683 2997 2487 Oamaru 3166 3203 1983 2598 Bruce 2663 2712 2034 2369 Clutha 2359 2599 1734 2394 Mataura 2504 2927 2217 2728 Invercarglll 3656 3898 3209 4155 3 7,723 41,817 33,668 39,492 The following table shows the majority recorded in each district in 1914 and 1919:— 1914. 1919. Grey Lynn ....... 15GU 1090 P. Ohinemurl •»•••. 483 7 267 C. Eden 25;i i ' 2615 P. Clutlia 24ii . 660 P. Ashburtan - 7G(. C. 510 C. Mataura ......... 363 V. 511 P. Oamaru 37 P. 610 P. Invercarglll 242 P. 946 P. Masterton ...... 436 C. 53 C. Wellington South • 164 C. 155 C. Wellington Suburbs 01 C. 141 P. Bruce 49 P. 335 P.