Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/472423
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 4 MARCH 2015 5 News 'No' leads by a point in Labour-leaning south Hunting lobby stronger in localities where local elections are due JAMES DEBONO THE 'no to spring hunting' cam- paign is leading by a wide margin in the northern districts and by a sin- gle point in the south. On the other hand the 'yes' lobby is leading by a wide margin in central Malta and Gozo. The survey also shows that while the no enjoys a seven-point lead na- tionally, it only enjoys a two-point lead in those localities where local elections will be held concurrently with the referendum on April 11. Turnout is expected to be higher in localities where local elections are being held, as both major par- ties will be mobilising their voters in these localities. Localities where elections are due include pro-hunting strongholds such as Siggiewi, Zebbug, Mgarr, Dingli and Nadur. But elections are also due in localities such as Swieqi, St Julians and Attard, where the No is expected to predominate. The stronger showing by the yes camp in localities where local elec- tions are due gives it an advantage over the no camp which enjoys higher support in localities where no local elections will be held. To ensure an adequate sample for the survey, held last week, Maltese districts were grouped in three: the southern five electoral districts, the three central districts and the northern four districts. Although the sample from Gozo is only indicative, this district is being analysed alone as the scale of the yes vote on the sister island could have a bearing on the result if neither side prevails with a wide margin in Malta. The survey shows the hunting lobby enjoying a strong 10-point lead in the sixth, seventh and eight districts, which include Siggiewi, Luqa, Dingli, Qormi, Zebbug and Mgarr, where local elections are al- so due, and localities such as Rabat, Birkirkara, Iklin and Lija where no elections are due. Within these three central dis- tricts support for the Yes camp is lowest in the eighth district, which includes Birkirkara, but is consider- ably higher in the sixth and seventh districts. Not surprisingly, the survey shows the No to Spring hunting campaign is strongest in the northern PN- leaning 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th dis- tricts, where it enjoys a massive 23 point lead over the Yes camp. Support for the No camp is strong- est in affluent middle class locali- ties like Attard, Swieqi, Sliema, St Julians and Balzan, where an over- whelming majority is opposed to spring hunting. Localities such as Mosta are split. Overall in these districts, while an absolute majority of voters (52%) will vote against spring hunting, only 28% will vote to retain spring hunting. Surprisingly, despite the pro-hunt- ing stance of Labour leader Joseph Muscat, the no campaign is also enjoying a small but significant one- point lead in the Labour-leaning 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th districts. Support for the yes camp is higher in younger localities such as Mar- saskala and Fgura. The survey shows that the high- est number of voters who intend to abstain from the referendum vote (13%) is found in the 6th, 7th and 8th districts, while the highest per- centage of don't knows (33%) live in Gozo. Methodology The survey was held between Mon- day 23 and Thursday, 26 February. A total of 887 respondents were contacted by telephone. The survey was stopped when a quota of 600 re- spondents was reached. The survey has a margin of error of +/-4 points. CALL FOR APPLICATION Post of Junior Legal Officer in the Agriculture and Rural Payments Agency The Director Corporate Services, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, invites applications for the post of Junior Legal Officer in the Agriculture and Rural Payments Agency. Applicants must be able to communicate in Maltese and English, and should be in possession of the warrant to practice the profession of Advocate in Malta or persons having the academic qualifications to obtain such a warrant. Eligible applicants will be assessed by a Selection Board to determine their suitability for the post. Interested candidates can find a job description on the Government's website, in the Employment's Opportunities section. Applications, together with a Curriculum Vitae showing qualifications and experience, will be received by the Director of Corporate Services at the Ministry for Sustainable Development and Climate Change, 6, Triq Ħal Qormi, Santa Venera SVR1301 by not later than noon (Central European Time) of Friday, 6th March, 2015. Applications can also be submitted through the Online Government Recruitment Portal on http://recruitment.gov.mt by the said closing time and date of this call for applications. MINISTRY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE