BOOTLEGGING IN AMERICA.

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 30 April 1934, Page 4

BOOTLEGGING IN AMERICA.

To-day the cables once again provide evidence that the United States has not overcome all its liquor troubles through the repeal of prohibition. America still provides a fruitful field for .the bootlegger, who is now using his vast organisation 'to 1 undercut 1 the price of liquor to the consumer. When repeal first became certain, the Government of the United States looked forward to a great revival ef revenue through the import tariffs and internal duties on liquor sales, but these hopes have been to .some extent disappointed by the continued activity of illicit distilleries, which refused to accept the lifting of prohibition as the singal for them to go out of business. The illicit organisations are still finding it possible to tempt the consumer with bootleg spirits which, because they bear no. tax, aire more attractively priced than' the legal brands, and in consequence Government revenue is suffering. President Roosevelt is finding it expedient to 'extend the period of unlimited! importation' of foreign! liquor. This is another blow to Federal revenue, through local industry. It was the original intention of itho Government to place a quota on imports in order to give .protection! to the American liquor industry, but the operations of the bootlegger have caused a change of plans in that direction. The Australian wine industry and 1 the British distilleries thus have reason to be grateful to the successors of Al. Capone who, by replacing Illicit American distilleries as fast as they are seized, are delaying the “planned” importation scheme propounded by the. United' States Government.