Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-11-25
NORWAY.


The prohibition movement which,
since the beginning of the war, has
been gaining momentum in all the
Scandinavian countries, has become
in Norway leading issue in the pres
ent political campaign. Gunnar knud-
sen, the prime minister. stated in a re-
cent speech that countrywide prohi-
bition would be an achievement of the
near future. But except among So
cialist and radical circles which have
strongly espoused the prohibition
cause, II is thought that the economic
and international complications re-
sulting from such reform will make
1t impracticable-or at least inadvis-
able. The wine-producing European
countries do not look favorably upon
the curtailment of their liquor ex-
ports to Norway, and 1t is felt that In
the case of prohibition reforms, they
seriously injure the commercial and
financial standing of the country. In
1909, when the storthing passed bill
restricting the import of French
wines, Norwegian bonds were refused
a rating on the Paris exchange, and
the bill was repealed at secret SEES
sion. The French declaration, made
at this time, to the effect that France
would assume the liberty of making
such an answer to any Norwegian leg
islation detrimental to Frances wine
trade, is still in force. France. Spain
and Portugal, according to q tariff
declaration of 1910. will double the
duty on articles imported from coun.
tries which throw. difficulties in the
way Of the wine trader. The Norwe-
gian exports to these countries are sew
eral million dollars in excess of the
imports. and any interference with
these exports would work a serious
commercial injury to Norway. Nor
way, at present, enjoys the most
favored nation" clause In her COM
mercial treaties with France. II
France feels that the wine exports to
Norway are being restricted. she
may, according to the tariff DECLARE
ton already mentioned, take any
steps the circumstances dictate" in
GLIDING the raising of harbor dues
for Norwegian ships In French har-
bors, which will make It difficult for
Norway to compete with other ma
lions. France at present takes half
of all the wood pulp and cellulose
produced in Norway and Portugal and
Spain each take 80 per cent of Nor
ways split cod. Those opposed to
prohibition use these arguments to
show that a small country like Nor
way. which is in so many ways de-
pendent on other countries. cannot.
without injuring printable trade and
disturbing her fins ncial standing.
adopt as strict a dekree of prohibit
ton, as has been urged. All parties,
however, are agreed that there should
be a rigid control Of the sale of elco-
holic beverages and that ths.r con.
sumption should be replaced by light
wines and beer.
Il is ninety years this fall since the
first steamers began to ply Norwegian
waters. The government bought two
steamers which we're to carry the
mails between Fredriksvarn and Fred
rikshavn. The amount paid was $780,
900. II was really King Karl Johan
who closed the deal without consult.
ing the storthing. The steamers were
called Constitution and Prince Carl.
II was feared that they would be an
expensive luxury, and proposition
was made to sell them again. But
this was defeated, and 1t did not take
long to prove that the steamers were
able to pay their way.
A Christiania merchant ordered
some silk goods from Germany, de-
handing the color of Russian green
But the answer came back that the
manufacturer had no Russian green.
but Won Hindenburg color could be
had in place of It.
The amount of Smaalenene raised
almost 100000 bushels of rye last sum-
mer. Akershus came as number two,
producing about 10000 bushels.
Those parts of the country produced
about 10000 bushels OF wheat. Barley
is raised in all parts of the country
as far north as the middle of Fin
marken. This grain often ripens to
perfection far above the polar circle
in Norway.
About 100000 logs were RATED on
the Glommen and its $50 tributaries
last summer.
The directors Of the Bank of Nor
way have sent a warning to all its
branches to be very careful In loaning
money. especially on ships. It is real
lied that speculation Ia carried to dan
gerous extremes at the present time.
and II the war should suddenly close
some Norwegians would find them.
selves in very bad hole.
The city OF Drammen had an lee
breaking steamer which was built
twenty-five years ago at cost of
about $4,000 Now It has Just been
sold to Dane f,a} ''no000.