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Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1921, Page 2

Avitovos of the prohibition question, American steamship owners told the House Judiciary Committee of Congress recently that if they were not allowed to sell strong liquor on their ships on the high seas—in other words that if they were not allowed to forget that a Prohibition Law existed in the country—many of them would find, and were findng now, that the business would be monopolized by the British and other liners where liquor is sold. Among those wlfo put this plea were the President of the International Mercantile Marine, and the President of the New York and Cuba Mail Steamship Line. The former declared that the law as it was to-day would mean the death of the American flag in the passenger ship trade of the world. He said there could be no hope of developing the American merchant marine if the Government was to place handicaps not demanded by other countries. They both advocated an amendment to the ' Prohibition Enforcement Act which would enablo them to sell liquors outside the three mile limit. The latter told the committee that two vessels of his fleet now being reconditioned would probably be sold abroad. “If the present law is continued,” lie added. “it will force nearly every passenger ship owner to transfer his vessels to foreign registry.” One of the speakers said: “It is a. serious business problem from tlio viewpoint of building and operating passenger steamers. Unless ome definite assurance is given I do not see how anybody can deliberately build American ships. If we are prohibited from serving liquor, hope of obtaining business iti competition with foreign vessels would be impossible.” It is not likely, ns things look to-dav, comments an exchange, that the amendment will ho passed.