The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-10-29
.Intepadfio ppSlib;6ohl

VTHE prohibition movement which, SINCE the
Is beginning Of the war, has been gaining mo-
rnentum in all the Scandinavian countries, has be-
come in Norway leading issue in the present
political campaign. Gnudar Knudsen, the prime
minister, stated in recent speech that country
wide prohibition would be achievement Of the
near future. But except among socialist and radi-
cal circles WHICH have strongly espoused the pro-
hibition cause it is thought that the economic and
international complications resulting from such a
reform will make il mpracticabe--or at least in
advisable.
The wine-producing European countries do not
look favorably upon the curtailment of their liquor
exports to Norway, and it is felt here that in the
case of prohibition reforms, they will undertake
reprisals which will seriously injure the CONNER
cial and financial standing of the country. In
1902 when the legislature passed bill restricting
the import of French wines, Norwegian bonds
were refused rating on the Paris exchange, and
the bill was repealed The French declaration,
made at this time, to the effect that France would
assume the liberty of making such an answer to
any Norwegian legislation detrimental to Frances
wine trade, is still in force. France, Spain and
Portugal, according to tariff declaration of 1910,
will double the duty articles imported from
countries which throw difficulties in the way Of
the wine trader. The Norwegian exports to these
countries are several million dollars in excess of
the imports, and any interference with these ex-
ports would work serious commercial injury to
Norway. Norway, at present, enjoys the most
favored nation" clause in her commercial treaties
with France. II France feels that her wine ex-
ports to Norway being restricted, she may
according to the tariff declaration already mention
ed, take any steps the circumstances dictate"
including the raising Of harbor dues for Norwegian
ships in French harbors, which will make it diff
hCult for Norway to compete with other nations
France at present takes half of all the wood pulp
and cellulose produced in Norway and Portugal
and Spain each take thirty per cent of Norway's
split cod. ~ - 8
Those opposed to prohibition use these argu-
ments to show that small country like Norway
which is in so many ways dependent on other
countries, cannot, without in Turing profitable trade
and distributing her financial standing, adopt as
strict degree Of pr ,hibition, as has been urged
All parties, howeNer, are agreed that there should
be rigid control Of the sale Of alcoholic beverages
and that their consumption should be replaced by
light wines and beer.
1t is also argued that Norway's long coast-lnc
and thousands Unprotected fjords would make it
impossible to prevent wholesale smuggling. 1t is
also common in Norway to make wine-some of
it containing .high per cent of alcohol-out of
Rlue7berries, curEants and apples, which can be
sold by grocers without special license. Critics
OF the prohibition program state that it would be
difficult to devise and enforce a law to prevent
people from distilling berry wines and stronger
alcoholic drinks III their own kitchens for home
use,