WIN FOR “WETS” IN AMERICA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19665, 6 December 1933, Page 7

WIN FOR “WETS” IN AMERICA

READY FOR RETURN OF LIQUOR CONFUSED RUSH INTO NEW ORDER OF THINGS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 5, 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 4. Even as South Caroline met to-day and registered the State’s rejection of the repeal amendment, all arrangements were completed in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Utah for ratification to-morrow: the last with appropriate ceremonies, being expected at the given signal for the flow of legal liquor. The “drys” in the final move, brought legal action in the District Columbia Court to halt the repeal proclamation, but It is not expected they will succeed. Only sixteen of forty-eight States have completed arrangements for the dispensing of alcoholic beverages. Others are in the throes of framing suitable regulations, or simply taking no action at all. For the time being, at least, here liquor will be legal. Instantly Utah’s ratification is flashed, the warehouses will immediately disgorge a variety of liquors, which will be rushed In specially licensed lorries, to retail places, where It can be dispensed. That confusion will undoubtedly reign; and that liquor will not easily be available immediately, even where it Is legal, can be seen in the fact that in New York, w'hose Liquor Commission

has been making heroic efforts to meet the demand, only 3000 licenses, or approximately one-fiftieth of the applications have been granted thus far. However, wine trains from California, and whisky ships from Europe are converging on Port New York and other large cities, and the exit of prohibition is expected to be gaily celebrated, even if supplies are available with difficulty. QUOTA OF LIQUOR SUPPLIES. USED AS BARGAINING WEAPON. Onlted Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 5, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 5. The Government is considering the Washington proposal to increase the minimum liquor quota at present allotted to Britain, in return for increases in pork and bacon, but there are difficulties to be overcome, in view of the meat and dairy quotas already laid clown with Australia, New Zealand and Denmark, which constitute the main impediment to London’s prompt acceptance of the Washington offer.