THE GOTHENBURG SYSTEM.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 39, 22 December 1894, Page 16

THE GOTHENBURG SYSTEM.

Dear Linda, — I read with interest your remarks re the Gothenburg system of regulating the liquor traffic. While agreeing with you that some such system would be an immense improvement upon the one at present in force in New Zealand, I think it would be a great pity to introduce it here, and waste time and money over what has, otherwhere, proved unsatisfactory. Norway being the home of the Gothenburg system it should surely succeed there if anywhere. But what are the facts ? A Home paper conveys the information that the system above-mentioned has worked so badly that a bill has recently been passed by both Norwegian Houses of Parliament giving the people the direct veto by “a bare majority of the registered voters, the voter's to include every man and woman over twenty-one years of age.” Carlyle tells us that “ experience

teaches fools,” but I suppose -wise men and women may profit by the experience of their neighbours. I am aware that a report is in circulation to the effect that the Clutha district now consumes more alcohol than formerly. That may be true, but I should like to know upon whose authority such a "statement is made. Until the proofs are produced I beg leave to doubt it, having too high an opinion of the morality of that neighbourhood to believe that it abounds, to such an extent, in law-breakers. But I suppose no sane person really expected Prohibition to succeed when tried in one small district surrounded on all sides by a non-prohibifcive community. The testimony from the Prohibition States of America as to the decrease of drinking, and consequently crime, pauperism and insanity, is simply overwhelming, and “ The latest American census reports show that the only States in the Union where crime is not increasing in greater proportion than the population are those where Prohibition laws are in force.” ISTo one would deplore more than I any “ attempt to enforce Prohibition.” At the same time I think we can hardly apply the italicised word to a reform brought about by the will of a large majority of the electors, and directly expressed at the ballot-box. Shamrock.