LIQUOR LAWS OF NORWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2080, 15 May 1907, Page 4

LIQUOR LAWS OF NORWAY.

Tho full report of the . Commision of tho Scottish Temperance Legislation Board which recently inquired into tho liquor licensing laws of Norway has now boon issuod. Tho report is signod by Messrs. John Cowan, James Seth, John Mann, jun., and Hector Munro I'orguson. It statos that within tlio past century Norway has boon transformed from ono of tho most drunken of European nations; into ono of tho most fiojbor. Apart from tho gonoral advance in education, the result is duo tp two main causes : (a) Tho,growth.of a strong temporanco sontimont which, whilo present in all sections of tho community, is most powerful in its oarnostness and intensity among tho working classes; (b) Progressive. tomporanco legislation, undor which the people are invested with powers of local control. Tho sparsely populated country districts liavo the power of an indirect local veto, whilo tho towns have tho option of (1) direct local veto of spirits, or (2) “management” by disinterested companies, known ns “iSamlags.” Tho report traces the development of tho Norwegian licensing system, and tho following account of tho constitution of the “Samlag” is given:

In tho towns of Norway tlic Town Council is tho licensing authority, and'fixes tho number of spirit-licen-: sos required to meet tho reasonable convenience of tho town, after tho town lias decided by vote that tho traffic in spirits shall bo carried oil within its bounds. These licenses are then granted to a disinterested company called a Samlag, which thus holds a monopoly of tho retail trade in spirits. The Town Council retains tho right of supervision over all the operations of this company. Tho company’s by-laws and regulations, its articles of association, and its appointments of managers and other servants, are all subject to tho approval of the Town Council, and, with the exception of the appointment of managers, to tho sanction of the King. _ Tho committee, which apportions the surplus profits, consists of an equal number of representatives of tho shareholders and of the Town Council. Tho initiative regarding the destination of tho surplus rests with the directors of the company, who make proposals to this committee, but is not carried into effect until it has been approved by tho governor of tho district after consultation with tho magistracy and the Town Council; Tho directors —three to five in number —receivo a small honorarium for their services. No difficulty has been experienced in inducing prominent and capable men to act. Tho maximum rate of interest on paid-up shareholders’ capital is 5 per cent. The amount of capital required in any given town is not large—about £IOO on an Idyorago; and although there is no provision against largo holdings, the amount held by any one shareholder is never great. A single share is usually of £ll to £22 value. Hie accounts of the company aro subjected to a doublo audit —first by a local auditor, and finally by the Government Department of Commerce, Navigation and Industry, and are open to tho inspection of tho municipal authorities. The aims and principles of tho Samlag systom may be summed up as follows: — of private profit; ensuring highest quality of liquors sold; tho reduction of tho number of licenses; tho easy enforcement, of the law; the destruction of the power of the spirit trade; the furtherance of all progressive measures of reform. In embodying these principles in their law, the Norwegians followed the example,but avoid-

ed the serious defects, of tho Swedish law. The Swedes at first applied tylie profits to the reduction of the municipal rates. The Norwegians provide for the application of the profits mainly to the non-rate-aided objects, thus: —To the State, originally 25 per cent, now raised to 65 per cont; to the municipality, in lieu of larger license duties now abolished 15 per cont; to objects of public utility, not being chargeable on any rates, but operating as counter attraction to the public house; in towns TO per cent, and in surrounding country districts 10 per cent, 20 per cent.

Since the establishment of the Samlags. about £1,400,000 have been oxpended on “ objects of public beniejfit.” During the past eight years the proportion accruing to the State lias been increased and set apart till 1910 to form the nucleus of an OldAge Pension Fund, which now amounts to £500,000. An abstract of the local option votes which have been taken in Norway since 1895 shows clearly that veto can bo carried in rural districts and in small towns, but that it is too drastic an o'ption for the larger centres of population. In tho larger towns, however, the people can bo led by judicious Samlag handling to tolerate a high standeard of restriction, though the only large town which has adopted prohibition (Stavengor) shows a decided tendency to reconsider its decision. A deep impression was created in the minds of the commission by the emphatic declarations made by Norwegians of all classes in favor of the Samlag management system.