“DRY” DAYS END IN UNITED STATES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19667, 8 December 1933, Page 9

“DRY” DAYS END IN UNITED STATES

PROPOSED STRICTER CONTROL IMMENSE DEMAND IN MANY STATES Uu. ,ej Press Association— fly Electric Telegraph— Copyrlgb t NEW YORK. December 6. | The repeal of the Eighteenth Amend- ; ment continued to hold a prominent : place in the day's news. One important development was a report that the President was seriously considering a Federal Government monopolisation of the gallonage and taxation on liquor, with a refund to consumer States, in order to obviate the danger of such high taxation by the States which attempt to rescue their failing budgets by overburdening this new source of revenue, as it would again give encouragement to bootlegging. The restoration of mailing rights for liquor is also being sought. The availability to-day of beer of higher alcoholic content than 3.2 was somehow not received with such enthusiasm as had been expected, since the price was much higher, and smaller glasses were served. The ratification of repeal by Maine, the 37th State, almost went without notice to-day, so quietly and routinely did the convention go about business. Various cities reported that retail liquor stores were stormed by purchasers anlxous for supplies, which all day flowed from the storehouses. In New York the police were called out to keep order among buyers. Steamship companies featuring short Antilles cruises have been compelled to cancel many sailings on account of the diminution of passengers, who now need not go on the high seas to obtain the desired liquors.

Rush of Liquor Supplies. The rum row vessels, principally from Canadian ports, are reported to be returning to their bases. Liquor importers, whose previously allotted quotas were suspended temporarily on Wednesday, were granted a blanket permit to import approximately 5,000,000 gallons of foreign spirits and wines during December and January. The permit granted gives all Importers an even opportunity to get their shipments on the high seas. The quotas are based on the average 1914, and four months’ supply is fixed as the minimum to be Imported in December and January.