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Temperance and Prohibition in New Zealand

Statistical Facts Disclosed by Polls

Statistical Facts Disclosed by Polls

A Local Option poll had been taken in 1896, and the Dominion percentage for No-License was 37.82. The next poll was taken in 1899.

The 1899 Poll. At this poll the Dominion percentage for No-License was 42.23. The general results were as follow: No of voters 279,782. Reduction 109,449. Continuance 143,962. No-License 120,542.

The poll revealed a marked increase in the No-License sentiment, the gain being more than five times that of the Continuance party. In the early days of the movement the liquor party had not taken alarm at the trend of events, and did not organize and spend money to the same extent as in later years.

The three-fifths handicap prevented certain electorates from securing a gain to which they had a democratic right. These, with their percentages for No-License, were: Ohinemuri 55.55, Bruce 55.10, Kaiapoi 54.83, Mataura 52.52, Mastertcn 51.57, Waiapu 51.00.

The provincial percentage was highest in Hawke Bay (47.44), and lowest in Nelson with Marlborough (32.00). Continuance was carried in all electorates in Nelson and Marlborough.

page 80

The Poll of 1902. Again, after a three years' interval, there is a marked advance in No-License sentiment. The following are the general results of the 1902 poll: No. of voters 309,952 For Reduction 132,240 For Continuance 158,449 For No-License 151,524

The Dominion percentage for No-License was 48.88 as against 42.23 for 1899.

The following table shows the general advance between 1899 and 1902: By 1902 there were—

New voters enrolled 30,177
New voters for Continuance 4,487
New voters for Reduction 22,791
New voters for No-License 30,987

It will be seen that the increase in the number of No-License voters was about seven times as great as that in the Continuance vote.

Clutha maintained its former place.

The new gains for No-License were:

Percentage of votes.
Ashburton 62.05
Mataura 60.91

Newtown, Chalmers, and Bruce carried No-License, but in each case the poll was declared void.

But for the three-fifths restriction, the following electorates would have secured No-License. The figures indicate the voting. Percentage: Invercargill 59.82, Awarua 59.46, Kaiapoi 58.91, Selwyn 58.55, Oamaru 56.93, Waikouaiti 56.28, Waitaki 55.58, Wallace 55.29, Taieri 54.96, Caversham 54.43, Timaru 54.30, Courtenay 54.07, Grey Lynn 52.95, Marsden 52.86, Waiapu 52.63, Avon 52.45, Napier
D. Goldie,Many years leader of Auckland Band of Hope Union and notable figure in the early years of Auckland's settlemnt

D. Goldie,
Many years leader of Auckland Band of Hope Union and notable figure in the early years of Auckland's settlemnt

Robert French,Heroic Temperance pioneer and early President of Auckland Prohibition League

Robert French,
Heroic Temperance pioneer and early President of Auckland Prohibition League

W. J. McDermott,Many years Secretary Auckland Band of Hope Union, and prohibition worker

W. J. McDermott,
Many years Secretary Auckland Band of Hope Union, and prohibition worker

Canon J. Haselden,For fifty years notable temperance and prohibition worker

Canon J. Haselden,
For fifty years notable temperance and prohibition worker

Dr. H. D. Bedford, M.A., LL.D.,Professor of Economics and notable prohibition orator

Dr. H. D. Bedford, M.A., LL.D.,
Professor of Economics and notable prohibition orator

Rev. Samuel Lawry,Notable member I.O.G.T.; forceful champion prohibition cause

Rev. Samuel Lawry,
Notable member I.O.G.T.; forceful champion prohibition cause

page 81 52.05, Pahiatua 51.96, Lyttelton 51.93, Hutt, 51.59, Tuapeka 51.32, Franklin 51.08.

In every electorate in Nelson and Marlborough Continuance was carried. Reduction was carried in nine electorates, viz., Awarua, Invercargill, Dunedin, Caversham, Waikouaiti, Selwyn, Kaiapoi, Napier and Grey Lynn.

Had the above twenty-four electorates been able to secure their democratic right to No-License, the results for good would have been wide-spread. The electorates indicated would have enjoyed the benefit of the partial restriction of the liquor traffic, and neighbouring electorates, marking this benefit, would have had good reason, in 1905, to follow the example of reform.

The highest provincial percentage for No-License was that of Otago and Southland (54.74); and the lowest, Nelson with Marlborough (36.56).

The Poll of 1905. This year marked a substantial increase in the number of Continuance voters. The Trade had scented the danger to the traffic and had begun to organize in earnest.

The following are the general results of this poll: No. of voters 387,618 For Reduction 151,057 For Continuance 182,884 For No-License 198,768

The following table shows the general advance between 1902 and 1905:

By 1905 there were—

New voters enrolled 77,659
New voters for Continuance 34,435
New voters for Reduction 18,817
New voters for No-License 47,244

Whereas in 1902 new voters for Continuance were in number about two-fifteenths of the new page 82 voters for No-License, in 1905 the proportion was about three-quarters.

The new gains for No-License were:

Grey Lynn 63.35
Oamaru 63.09
Invercargill 61.67

But for the three-fifths restriction, the following electorates would have secured No-License. The figures indicate the voting percentage: Waikouaiti 59.95, Bruce 59.87, Waiapu 59.58, Mataura 59.38, Masterton 58.51, Oroua 57.92, Awarua 57.65, Pahiatua 57.24, Patea 57.11, Taieri 57.10, Newtown 56.83, Hawera 56.69, Wallace, 56.62, Waipawa 55.62, Manawatu 55.62, Hutt 55.49, Chalmers 55.43, Marsden 55.10, Waikato 54.47, Eden 54.37, Manukau 54.21, Timaru 53.50, Waitaki 53.09, Bay of Plenty 52.80, Kaiapoi 52.58, Rangitikei 52.55, Otaki 52.21, Taranaki 52.02, Hawke Bay 51.65, Franklin 51.45, Thames 51.45, Courtenay 51.17, Wairarapa 51.16.

This long list of electorates each securing a majority vote, is an indication of the extent to which the desire to secure No-License had grown by 1905.

In every electorate in Nelson and Marlborough Continuance was carried.

The highest provincial percentage was that for Otago and Southland (54.42), and the lowest that for Nelson and Marlborough (43.61).