The Patea County Press With which is incorporated The Patea Mail. MONDAY, JAN. 27, 1908. PROHIBITION IN FINLAND.

Patea Mail, Volume XXIX, 27 January 1908, Page 2

The Patea County Press With which is incorporated The Patea Mail.

MONDAY, JAN. 27, 1908. PROHIBITION IN FINLAND.

" I!e Just am! Fear Aot.”

The only measure of first-class importance during the first session of the new Finnish Diet (says tho Times correspondent, writing from Helsingfors) has been a very drastic measure totally prohibiting all traffic in intoxicating liquors. Only for medical and technical purposes may spirits be produced, imported, stored, and distributed as a State monopoly. Exceptions aro made for the Russian troops in Finland. The ecclesiastical use of wine is forbidden, and some non-alcoholic beverage must be substituted at the communion. One member—a male one, it may be added— could not see why churches should be the only taverns left-in the country. No ono is allowed to keep alcoholic drinks in his house, unless he can prove that he came into possession of them before the law camo into force. The law authorises the police and various other officials to enter any house, on reasonable grounds of suspicion, and search it for spirits, wine, or beer. Carrying alcoholic matter involves the forfeiture of the vehicle, with horse and harness, similarly a vessel the principal cargo of which consists of alcoholic drinks will he seized. Penalties for other offences against the law are exceedingly heavy, varying from a fine of t'4 to penal servitude for throe years. There is no provision in the law for compensation for the loss of licenses and of the capital and goodwill represented by breweries and distilleries, etc , but the committee report on the question contains, though rather reluctantly, vague iiints of tho possibility of future legislation on tire matter. borne at least of tho supporters of tho law probably voted for 1 it for raereh' tactical reasons, thereOy satisfying tho demands of their constituents, and at the same time running ro risk or its ever coming into force. For there is hardly any member, among tho more sober temperance party at least, who iouiiy believes that this enactment will receive the sanction of tho Sovereign. For one thing, there are commercial treaties, over which Finland has no control, between Russia a- d foreign countries which will be closely affected by the prohibition law. This fact fins not been totally oveilooked in the Diet, but the committed report argues that these treades are not applicable. This, however, will be a matter to bo decided by tho contract ing parties. The alcohol consumption in Finland is not very high,- in fact, tho alcohol index for this country is lower than for any other country in Europe, but there is a groat deal of drunkenness.