Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 1893. The Gothenburg System.

Manawatu Herald, 12 January 1893, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 1893. The Gothenburg System.

The majority of the people do regret the unfortunate system"" now in vogue of selling intoxicating liquor, so much so that it has driven a very large section to boldly advocate total prohibition of its sale. This has always appeared to Us as asking from the public more than is at all likely to be granted, and tho of the prohibitionists in seeking to secure their end in one fell swoop, is likely to cause them continual disappointment. If total prohibition is a desirable point to attain, which k open to very much argument, any step to decrease the present evil would have appeared to others to have been of advantage to these good people to have supported, but experience has shown us that they refuse to move slowly and in order, and insist on moving by " leaps and bounds " or not at all. It is the opposition of these excellent meaning people that stand in the way of a real effort being made to improve the present system of issuing licenses for the sale of liquor. The Swedish custom of dealing with the liquor question, known as the Gothenburg system, has been in force in that country many years and with apparent success. Shortly it may be described as the principle by which liquors are sold by an uninterested ; person, one whom* therefore has no object in encouraging drunkenness, as whether a man spends his money { or not, the seller profiteth not. The ' public body ' runs ' the various J hotels, having managers, at a fixed I salary in charge, and the best and purest drinks are only retailed. The profits go towards the local body's public works and a very great ! reduction in the rates has followed ! its introduction. i In this colony we have two strong J parties, those who hold that if the public close licensed premises the holder should be compensated, and those who entirely disagree with any compensation being given. There is a great deal to be said on both sides but as we are viewing the possible introduction of the Gothenburg system we shall only argue from that side, which is totally different to what might be said if a district declared against the establishment of any licensed premise?!. To ensure an apportunity for a fair trial of this Swedish custom it would be necessary for Parliament to pass an Act empowering any district to make the trial. Supposing this was done and that our Borough Council determined to exercise their powers, the three existing hotels would be closed, leaving it a matter to be determined which one, if a.iy, should be retained for the use of the Borough. It should be competent then for the deposed owners of licensed premises to seek a fair recompense for loss sustained, and a court should be constituted, as provided under the Public Works Acts, to assess the value if the Council and the owners could not agree. We should say that the loss should mean the difference of letting value as between licensed and private buildings. By these means the owners, would be saved from loss without unfair expense to the public body, and there should not be the slightest trouble in obtaining money to make these payments. The one hou^e • run ' by the Borough would provide ample accommodation for travellers and afford that convenience j to those who do not as yet see the advisability of totally abstaining from spirituous liquors. The advantages to all can well be imagined, and worked by one who has no interest in forcing liquor upon men, i and who could repress all drunkenness by refusing liquor to those who should not have any more, a very j great alteration in the position of

the peoplo might be made. We aru 1 patient sufferers from a great many peculiar fads so that it does not sfiam out cf the way to ask that this one ba given a trial. We think it is evideut a step neare.r to sobrie'y would be gained at 110 one's loss, but possibly at the gain of many, and after all, if found unsuitable but very little expense would have been incurred. Tn England the matter was fully debated in the House of Commons in 1876, but the reasons there urged against it cannot bo said to hold good in this Colony. Anyway the question is worth serious thought, and it seems to us a simpler and more likelier way of effecting an improvement ill the trade than that of advocating total prohibition.