"One bottle of beer, please..."

the last holiday period.

"Customers first pay for their pur[?] the Customs building where clerks als[?] import and export duties, electric light and income tax payments. Then they yards to the liquor store where they the rain or sunshine until they can p[?] their receipt and collect their liquor, "Perhaps one day a proper liquor house with available brands on disp be built, or perhaps the local firms, which the liquor is ordered, will be to distribute it themselves and so ea[?] agency fees."

Photo: R. F.

Although several attempts have been made to reform liquor control in Western Samoa, they have always been defeated, and the Territory retains its system whereby liquor is issued on a permit "for medical reasons."

The above photo shows part of the crush at the bond store just before Christmas when it took up to hours to get a bottle of beer.

An Apia resident writes: "The crush was so great that the Xmas spirit evaporated and fights broke out on several occasions. The system of liquor dis tribution has long been a target of criticism by the public and M.L.A.s alike but never have its shortcomings been so obvious as over