LICENSING POLL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1919, Page 5

LICENSING POLL.

THE LATEST FIGURES. CONTINUANCE MAJORITY 1537. By' Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last NightWith minor alterations in district votes, tha totals in the licensing referendum are now:— Continuance ....; 231,342 State Control ........... s 30,754 Prohibition 200,559 Majority for Continuance .. 1537 The Samoan soldiers' vote was: Continuance, 34; State control, 18; Prohibition, 16, THE ABSENT VOTES. AN INTERESTING - COMPARISON.

A large number of absent voters' ballot papers and seamen's votes have yet to be counted. The number is a matter of speculation, and possibly it will not be as high as is anticipated. Much speculation is indulged in as to the way in which these votes will go, and some of those who have opportunities of judging predict that the absent voters will give a majority in favor of prohibition, and the seamen in favor of continuance. Official figures for tlie last two licensing polls for the absent voters and seamen's votes arc as follow: Total Continu- ProVotes ance. hibition. 1914 13,274 7144 0130 1919 ..... 12,375 5653 6722 An analysis, as far as it is possible, of some of the absent voters' and seamen's votes at the referendum of April last shows that the prohibition vote preponderated fairly strongly in the case of absent voters, while the Seamen gave Big majorities for continuance. Some of the figures 'are as follow, for both classes of voters:—

IF PROHIBITION COMES." PROVISIONS' OF THE ACT. LIQUOR FOR MEDICAL CASES. National prohibition if finally determined upon will come into force'on June 30 next. The procedure to be followed in giving effect to it is prescribed by the terms of the Licensing Amendment Act, 1918. i

On the coming irfto force of a determination in favor of prohibition all licenses of any description then existing in New Zealand are to lapse, and no publican's license, wine license, accommodation house, pocket, wholesale, or conditional license, charter of any club, Winemaker's license, railway refreshment room, or any other description of license can be either granted or renewed, while licensing committees ipso facto cease to exist.

The Governor-in-Council may make regulations as to the importation, manufacture, or a sale of liquor for medicinal scientific, sacramental, or industrial purposes. Offences against these provisions or attempts at such offences, 'or aiding and abetting them, are punishable by fines up to £IOO for a first offence and imprisonment up to three months in the case of a second or subsequent offence, whether of the same or of a different kind. Where the defendant is a body corporate the penalty is to be a fine not exceeding £2OO for a first offence and not exceeding £IOOO for a seounu u»- an; subsequent offence.

No compensation is to be payable for any_ ldss to property, trade, or business arising out of national prohibition, but authority is given to export stocks of liquor on the coming into force of the new system, and to receive refund of Customs duties. All district licensing ■•oils become abolished.

PROHIBITION QUERIES. THREE PER CENT BBAK, BREWING AND STOCKING. In view of the possibility of pro* hibition being carried, quite a number of pointed questions are being put as to its precise effects.

The thing prohibited is "intoxicating liquor," and the question has Aeen raised whether certain light .beers come within this description. The Licensing Act is somewhat vague on the point- It says: liquor," or "liquor 1 ' meansmny spirits, wine, ale, beer, porter, cider, sherry, or other fermented, distilled, or spirituous liquor of an intoxicating nature. This does not give much enlightenment, but the beer duty regulations are precise on the point, One regulation says: "Any fermented beverage containing hops, or any extract thereof, and containing more than 3 per cent, of proof spirit shall be deemed to be beer." To this a note is added: This means that any person brewing hop beer containing more than 3 per cant, of proof spirit shall be deemed to have brewed beer without a license." From this it appears that what is known in the United States and Canada as "three per cent.," but nothing stronger, would be permissable in New Zealand if pro-1 hibition is carried.

Then there is the question whether, under prohibition, a man can brew for himself in his own home. On this point the law says: "At all times while no license exists in New Zealand by virtue of the determination in favor of national prohibition without compensation it shall be unlawful for nnv person to have in his possession for the purposes of sale, or to import into New Zealand, or to manufacture or sell, intoxicating liquor of any description." This seems fairly clear. It is unlawful to "manufacture." Therefore the home-made brew, if over three per cent, would be outside the law. Perhaps, however, a lawyer, for a substantial fee, might give another interpretation. Then there is tho point whether a Stock can be laid aside in anticipation of a thirst. This is hardly open to doubt. If prohibition is carried it will be unlawful for any person to hold liquor "for the purposes of sale," but the mere possession of the article is not an offence. But tho door will be shut on June 30 if prohibition is carried. After that date it will be illegal to manufacture, to sell, or to import. There may be private stocks, but they cannot be replenished.—Auckland Star,' ,

Oon. Pro. Masterton 82 Ashburton 87 Napier 142 Auckland 01 Grey Lynn 142 Cliristchurch N. ... 160 Hastings 127 Whangarpi 1)4 Thames 40 Auckland West ... 597 117 Hokitika 27