WHY PROHIBITION IS REPEALED IN ICELAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18543, 2 May 1922, Page 8

WHY PROHIBITION IS REPEALED IN ICELAND.

TO THK EDITOR.

Sir, —Early in March appeared in your columns a cable from Berlin in the following terms;—“The brewers have formed a powerful league, with almost unlimited cupilal. to combat (lie prohibition movement, which has lately made much progress. The brewers are seeking the co-operation of agriculturists and anti-prohibitionists in other countries.” Seemingly the Brewersf League lias sought, or lias found unsought, an ally in the Spanish Government, for on Friday last another of your cables, under the caption of '’Prohibition Law.” intimated that after 10 years’ experience Iceland had repealed the prohibition of the importation of wines up to 21 per cent, of alcohol. What arc the facts? In 1908, at a referendum, prohibition of the importation, manufacture, or sale of all kinds of alcoholic liquor was carried by nearly a 60 per cent, majority. This came into force .a little over seien years ago. and has been the law since. Spain, one of the largest wine exporting countries, with a population of over 20 millions, has threatened Iceland, with a population of some 92.000. that unless she buys Spanish wine a prohibition duty will H imposed in Spain on fish from Iceland, which has found its chief market in Spain. In conclusion, let, me state that Iceland has never hitherto bought wine from Spain, but, in consequence of prohibition in America. Spain has bad to find this market and others that dare not refuse. This is the plain reason of the repeal nt prohibition in Iceland. It is an example of the “mailed fist.” —I am, etc.. Prohibitionist.