The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-10-15
Tile l;ldlAUT On OF DhUAKEN-
Mss IN NORWAY.

1t is difficult to say sometime
1srsh on tue driak question. or t.
throw any Jew liz ht upun the subject:
ana yet as long AS this acknowled ,ed
curse lies heavy on orr land droo
ging down large portions of the
working Glasses to the lowest depths
OF SIN, misery and despair, it cannot
ana ought not to be said that the last
word has been spoken.
Only few years ago drinking hab.
It's prevailed to considerable extent
amongst the populations inhabiting
the Scandinavian kingdoms of Nor.
way and Sweden; now, both these
countries, especially the former, have
In q large measure freed themselves,
with the happiest results, from the
clutches OF the Drink Fieud.
Ii it has been found practicable in
Norway and Sweden to effect this
reform, why should it be impossible
IN Great Britain ? The methods
adopted to bring about this happy
change In the habits Of Swedish and
Norwegian people should at all
events be carefully studied by
thoughtful Englishmen.
When lately i'll Norway, l was
struck by two things-the rocky,
barren, uDproductive nature of the
soil, and the comfortable appear
ance of the peasantry. The industry
and thrift practised by both sexes
Were apparent to the eye; one saw no
oilers; all were at work, the men in
the fields, the women at the doors of
their houses knitting, sewing and
mending garments. One met no
men or women in rags-no drunk
ards, no brawlers, no beggars, and
saw no taverns On making inqui-
ries, 1 was informed that a great
change had lately come over the con
dition of Norway. Since the legisla-
ton of 1866 and 1871 public houses
have been practically abolished in
the rural districts, and greatly dimin-
ished and regulated in the towns.
For instance, in Bergen, with popu-
lation of 10000, there are only four
teen licensed houses, all under the
strictest regulation. Soon after my
arrival I took a drive round the
neighboring heights, and was in
formed that the wonderfully engin-
eered road, the institutions / saw, and
the beautiful public gardens through
which / passed were all either main
tanned or aided by the society which
enjoyed the monopoly Of selling
ardent spirits in these fourteen pub
lic-houses. My curiosity was aroused
to know more about this wonderful
society, aud, on making inquiries, !
was recommended to read a small
pamphlet written by Mr.. Thomas Nj
Wilson, C.E., in which he gives q
most interesting account of the his
tory and progress of local option il
Norway, together with a statement
regarding the establishment and
working of the society for retailing
ardent spirits in Bergen.
As the pamphlet does not appea,
to be on sale in Great Britain, anc
contains matter which should be Of
general interest, [ propose to give {
few short extracts from the work
referring for fuller information tt
the pamphlet itself, which can be pur
chased for Is. at the tourist offices IL
Bergen, Christiana, Stavanger, ant
Throndhjem.
Mr.. Wilson, in the preface to hi
work, says that he was opposed t.
the Norwegian system when first in
troduced, but acknowledges tina
nearly twenty years experience o
its working has enabled him to realiz
how mistaken were his origina
views, they having been based upol
q fear of evils supposed to be at
tached to the system, which subse
quent experience has proved to hav
been entirely imaginary. He add
that he now realizes fully his earle
mistake, and is perfectly satisfied
that the societies for retailing arden
spirits in Norway have effected
maximum of good to the communit
at large, with minimum of incor
venience to the legitimate consume
of alcoholic drinks. He states, wha
is we'll known, that to the town {
Gothenburg, in Sweden, is due til
honor Of having first attempted
restrain the sale of Intoxicating lie
uors, and that since that time tn
plan adopted by the municipal coul
Gil of that city, and subsequent
initiated by other urban authoritie
has generally been known by tn
name of the Gothenberg system. l
that city the municipal council is til
licensing authority, and fixes til
number of licenses which it deem
necessary for the public convenience
Instead of issuing them to individ1
ais, the council grants monopoly
q society of shareholders formed Il
the purpose of acquiring license
and which undertakes to conduct tt
trade in the public interest. I'll
shareholders are precluded by the
contract from enjoying larger ben
tit than 5 per cent. on the capital 1!
vested. All further profit made
the business must be handed over
the municipal council, to be expende
by it in the reduction of the publ
burdens. The monopoly is granite
for limited number OF years, ar
the council retains control over Il
operations of the society, fixes ii
.l.,. oe l,oro opd ShoDs in whi(