1893 And After

In 1893 the Local Option Bill became law and thus gave the power of regulating the drink traffic into the hands of the electors. In New Zealand page 2 there is adult suffrage, so the women who had been enfranchised during the previous session of Parliament had the right to vote for the "Continuance," "Reduction," or "No-Licence "of the hotels. The result of the poll in 1896 was that 139,580 votes were cast for "Continuance," 94,555 for "Reduction" and 98,812 for "No-Licence," showing a large majority for "Continuance." At the next poll, owing to the strenuous efforts of the Temperance Party, and the interest that had been awakened amongst the women voters, the "No-Licence" vote increased to 118,575. At the poll in 1902 the position of the parties was reversed, the "No-Licence" vote having secured 3075 of a majority. In 1905 the majority had increased to 15,984, and at the last poll, in 1908, the splendid majority of 33,331 was recorded. There is no doubt that