NO LIQUOR ON STEAMERS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17031, 3 May 1923, Page 9

NO LIQUOR ON STEAMERS

EFFECT OF AMERICAN BAN. By 'telegraph—Pre«* Association—Copyrign, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, Alav 2. The decision of the United States that no liquor shall be jicrmitted witliin the three-mile limit is regarded in British shipping circles as fraught yvth grave consequences, among which is suggested the greater use of Canadian ports bv big trans-Atlantic liners. Hie opinion at Southampton is that the only course open to foreign vessels is to dump their liquor stocks ontsidv the three-mile limit, but it is puinte.i | out that this measure would be most inconvenient. The decision will inevitably disturb the whole ocean passenger service between Europe and the United .States. ft is expected that the Majestic wih leave Southampton on Thursday with her usual supply of liquor. It is stated that the Alajestic requires foi the round voyage 80.04 X) bottles of ale and stout, a thousand quarts and fifteen thousand pints of champagne, ten thousand pints of other wines, four thousand bottles of whisky ami other spirits. and three thousand bottles of liqueurs. Liverpool strongly resents the American decision, and favours calling, on the outward and inward voyages, at a convenient Canadian port, and to there discharge and re-load the usual liquor supply. Other suggestions in shipping quarters are to transfer the liquor outside the limit to liners returning, or to run westward with only sufficient toi the outward journey, returning dry. But difficulties would arise regarding a transfer in bad weather, while there is an objection on the ground of lost time and expense in calling at a Can adian port. Meantime Government circles await an official intimation of the decision. A Washington message. published yesterday, stated that the United States Supreme Court had upheld the Daugherty ruling, under the Prohibi tion Amendment, that foreign ships cannot bring liquor within the threemile limit, even as sea stores, thus up setting the Federal Court injunctions. Simultaneously, the Court upheld the Daugherty ruling that there was nothing in the Prohibition Amendment preventing American ships from carrying liquor in foreign waters. The Supreme Cwirfc decision was made on appeals from the Lower Court decisions, in the first instance, by Mr H. M. Dougherty. Attorney General, an-: in the second instance bv American shipping companies. The Court's nil - ing is based on the decision that t}vProhibition Amendment is onlv applicable to physical territory under United States sovereignty. The control of foreign and American shipping is thus placed on an equal footing. neither l>eiiig allowed to bring liquor within the three-mile limit, but both arc able to carry it outside.