STATE LIQUOR IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 195, 7 May 1918, Page 5

STATE LIQUOR IN BRITAIN

REPORT OF TRADE FINANCE 1 COMMITTEES j A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT j mi „ , London, May 5. T. , f-nglish, Welsh, Scottish, and Insli Liquor Trade finance Committees, whi.o avoiding questions of j>olicv, propose definite terms for the Slaio pur- ' chase of the trade. Tlio gross total iu- i jolved is oyer four hundred millions, but substantially loss than Jivo hundred millions. . The committees do not contemplate that the purchase will ba car- : nod out until alter the war, but the ! State could take control of- the trade earlier by giving • of ultimatepurchase, alter which tha State would be iree to reorganise and consolidate tha trade at will. j Tlw English committee considers tha | inclusion of l'j]ij,libh wholesale dealers as unnecessary, as they deal so largely in i foreign wines and spirits. The committees agrco to the inclusion of :lio export trade, but exclude tho majority of tho : hotels, clubs, railway refreshment rooms, ' theatre bar.?, steamer bars, and dining cars, and aUo allied trades. Tho conimitttees recommswl the pitr<, , chase of tho following interests-.— ' ; 1. Breweries and distilleries, including 1 the premises. -. Free house-;. X The interests of "oil-license" and : "olf-license" holders. ' ' The English, committee recommends the issue of special Government stock for payment. Tho trade should bo ; bought out on . the basis of tho profit | it was capable of earning before the war, capitalised on a pre-war basis, but tho amount should bo writton down to tho standard of capital \aluos at tha ( time the purchase is completed. Tho ,; committee reeommends that ibuoweries ■ should bo acquired on a fifteon yeare* | purchase, based on the net profits for tho four ye.irs 3910 to 1913. Scotland's ; recommendation'is that breweries 6liould ; be taken over oil an eight years' purchase, based on tho profits from 3911 to 1 1913. Ireland's reeommondation for the j purchaso of the breweries is a thirteen i years' purchase, based on tho profits for { tho Jive years immediately before thok ; war. Tho Irish committeo . i that in default of State purchase, Irish .! licenses should bo rc:iuccd by at loast : half, with compensation. I Tho English committee reports that i •tho estates cost .2350,000,000, the Scottish ; estates aro estimated at .CGI,000,000; the Irish aro not estimated.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo ; Assn. •;