THE GOTHENBURG LICENSING SYSTEM.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Issue 117, 27 February 1895, Page 4

THE GOTHENBURG LICENSING SYSTEM.

Hie London Times a few weeks ago pointed out that on the same day that Mr Chamberlain was advocating in London tho cause of moderate reform on the Hne3 of the Scandinavian system, tho Norwegian Legislature adopted a law introducing some important alterations with the special purpose, as it were, of meeting one of tho objections to which allusion was made in the Unionist leader's speech. Tho principle of entrusting tho liquor trade cf each district to a public company, in whom the licensing authority is exclusively vested, is confirmed and extended, but material changes are made in the distribution of profits. It is one of the favourite arguments of the opponents of tho Scandinavian system that, inasmuch as tho profits have been hitherto largely applied to purposes which would otherwise bu defrayed out of rates, there must be, and often has been, a tendency on the part of the ratepayers, through their representative bodies, to encourage tho sale of drink and generally to increase the profits of tho trade by methods clearly incompatible with the professed objects of the system. This argument will henceforth lose whatever little force it may have possessed. In future only 15 per cent </f the profits will go to the Communal Treasury, 20 per cent to tho company for distribution amongst temperance and other charitable institutions, after providing the legal rato of interest on capital, and the balance —namely, <>"> per cent —will be paid over to the State for the formation of a special fund, of which the application is to be specilied at a later date. It is generally understood that this fund will ultimately be devoted to the creation of old-ago pensions.