PROSPEROUS FINLAND [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
have read your representative's graphic article on Finland with much interest. Amidst the turmoil of nations it is pleasant to contemplate a small community with but few natural advantages, and at one time the victim of grievous oppression, working out its own salvation with such intelligent patriotism.
It is rather surprising that your representative should have overlooked one important social achievement by this remarkable people. Finland has solved the troublesome Drink question, or, at least, taken a long step towards its solution. Finland has for some years past banned the manufacture, importation, and sale of intoxicating drink and has quite recently and by a decisive majority renewed the ban. It is only fair to assume that this cessation of an unhelpful custom is a factor contributory to Finland's material and social prosperity. Travellers agree that although evasion exists, facilitated by a long and indented coast-line, a paradise for smugglers, observance is the fairly general rule ; that Finland is practically " dry " and likely to remain so by its own deliberate choice.
The reason for this phenomenon is to be found in long years of well directed educational effort, courageously carried on even in the bad old times of Russian dominance. It has for many years been my privilege to be in occasional and possibly helpful correspondence with the temperance leaders in Finland, and I can testify to the quiet, yet effective manner in which by lessons in schools and in other ways these leaders have fostered that public opinion apart from which law has no moral validity and but small prospect of enforcement. Indeed the ban upon liquor in Finland is less an experiment than an evolution, with little or no chance of retrogression. The zealous and sagacious reformers of Finland are reaping the reward of their wise activity and setting a suggestive example to friends of sobriety in other lands.—I am, Sir, &c., 15 Wynne Road, London, S.W. 9. FRANK ADKINS.
[Our correspondent " J." writes :— " In the Spectator of September 17th I dealt with Prohibition in Finland in the course of a survey of the Drink legislation in Northern Europe. Inter alia I then wrote : Public opinion is still in favour of Prohibition, and one of the leading bankers told me that it has undoubtedly contributed to the prosperity of the working-classes, and that their deposits in the banks have increased accordingly.
" If space had permitted I would have dealt with the drink question in Finland at greater length. Three facts must be noted. (1) The general state of well-being is unquestionably partly due to Prohibition. (2) There is much smuggling and evasion of the law in the towns. (8) Many Finns are dissatisfied with existing conditions, although I do not think Prohibition will be rescinded for many years. At present the Temperance Party has a large majority.
" As regards your correspondent's concluding paragraph, I think that when Great Britain decides to reform her drink laws—as reform them she undoubtedly will before long— she will look to Sweden rather than Finland for an example. Prohibition does not seem to me practical politics in Great Britain, but a system based on Swedish experience does. If we were to follow the Swedish example, as I hope we shall, we should get rid of private ownership, abolish the gin-shop, secure the liberty of the individual, and avoid the draw- backs of Prohibition, such as smuggling and contempt for the law."—En. Spectator.]
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