PROHIBITION IN FINLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 43

PROHIBITION IN FINLAND.

The cnly measure of first-class importance during the first session of the new Finnish Diet (says The Times correspondent, writing from. Helfiingfors) has been a very drastic measure totally prohibiting all traffic in intoxicating liquors. Only for medical and technical purposes may spirits be produced, imported, stored, and distributed

as a State monopoly. Exceptions are made for the Russian troops in Finland. The ecclesiastical use of wine is forbidden, and some non-alcoholic beverage must be substituted at the communion. One member — a male one, it may be added — could not see why churches should be the only taverns left in the country. No one is allowed to keep alcoholic drinks in his house, unless he can prove that he came into possession of them before the law comes into force. The law authorises the police and various other officials to enter any house, on rea-

sonable grounds of suspicion, and search it for spirits, wine, or beer. Carrying alcoholic matter involves the forfeiture of the vehicle, with horse and harness ; similarly a vessel the principal cargo of which consists of alcoholic drinks will be seized. ■ Penalties for other offences against the law are exceedingly heavy, varying from a fine of £4- to penal servitude for three years. There is no provision in the law for compensation for the loss of licenses and of the capital and goodwill represented by breweries and distilleries, etc., but the committee report

on the question contains, though rather reluctantly, vague hints of the possibility of future legislation on this matter. Some at least of the supporters of the law probably voted for it for merely tactical reasons, thereby satisfying the demands of their constituents, and at the same time running no risk cf its ever coming into force. For thera is hardly any member, among the more sober temperance party at least, who really believes that this enactment will receive the sanction of the Sovereign. For one thing, there are commercial treaties.

o\er which Fin'and has no control, between Russia and foreign countries which will be closely affected by the prohibition law. This fact has not been totally overlooked in the Diet, but the committee report argues that these treaties are not applicable. This, however, will be a matter to be decided by the contracting parties. The alcohol consumption in Finland is not very high ; in fact, the alcohol index for this country is lower than for any other country in Europe, but there is a greati deal of drunkenness.

"In the House of Commons, Mr Asquith, Chancellor of the Exchequer, introduced a comprehensive licensing bill, which comprises an immediate and progressive reduction of facilities for the sale of intoxicantß on the retail side. The brewery share market is paralysed, and other investments are affected. Brewers and publicans are raising £100,000 in order to conduct a great campaign against the bill." The Financial Times aaya that the nominal marking down of the values of brewery and allied stocks represents an aggregate shrinkage of £32,000. — Vide Otago Daily Txmes.

The scheme is the invention of Signor Caminada, and it has won the support of the famous engineer, Senator Columbo, President of the Polytechnic of Lornbardy. He proposes to connect Genoa with Lake Constance and to float barges over the Apennines and th« Alps. In the spaces between his locks will be inclined tubular canals. There are two parallel tubes: the water descends them both, but crosses each line alternately, so that while the vessel descends with the sinking water in a section of one line, another vessel is rising with the rising water in a lower section of the other. The tubular canals will be constructed of masonry closed with iron gates. As the water will be in constant motion, the canal will not be easily frozen. The sketch is designed mainly to shew the connection of locks and pipes. ' _Pr<Jm Illustrated London Xews

Our photograph shows the latest attempt on the part of the English Woman's Suffrage to compel the Cabinet to introduce the Woman's Franchise into their programme for this year. A number of Suffragettes assembled outside the house of the Prime Minister during the Cabinet meeting. Two succeeded in entering the house, while others chained themselves outside to the railings to prevent their being removed by the police until they hed had an opportunity of expressing their views to the spectators. Note the brcken chain being carried by the lady in the photograph. —Photo, by Halftones. Ltd.

Louiß Adolphus Beresford, who died in the Benevolent Institution a few days ago, was for many years a well-known figure in North Dunedin, where he carried on business as a tailor and dealer in secondhand clothes. He reached the age of 100 years on February 17. —T. Borrow, photo.