CULT OF THE VINE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 215, 7 September 1912, Page 9

CULT OF THE VINE.

A LANGUISHING INDUSTRY. . PETITION TO BE .PRESENTED TO GOVERNMENT. With a view to establishing tihe grape growing and wine-making industry of -the DoHrinion cm a better basis than t.haton which it is at present ■eita-blii.lisd, t'ae I X-eav Zealand Viticulture.! Association, which has ius headquarters in Awklamt ■has decided to approach iive Government and _s?t forth the handicaps vvjth which th« indiif'try is at present burdened. The protest will take the form of a petition. whi:ih will be .presented to the Prime M'hu.= tp.r (the Hon. W. F. llaeaoy) during hie next visit to- 't'bfe oit.v. Tbr jmtitioin β-titws that the industry ha's suffered gris\'ous di*xiourjg-em«nt by reason of the Licensing Act of 10.10. anil r.c.kis> t.ha.t t.sie sta.tut/ft be -iTne.ndcd so far a.s to exempt absolutely \"iew Zeahunl win* from the provisions of this Act. Tim petition (ibaii goes oti to pta-te tha.t. by reason of t'hp -'.rars-h and depressing act.ion of the Act, and th«> drastic, nrtrnwhmont and '.x»i*»?qu«K withdrawal n( Ciavprmmnt support and the encouragement that had been promised, a great, industry had been practically riling. It had be*m proved that a wholesoaie wine containing from bet wren IS to 20 per cent., of aJ:nihol could , bp mamif-i<rt)ired from the pure juiicie of the. grape, with only the addition of pure >rra.pe • sugar. and. it v.3& a.«k«l that it. be made an indictable oflV.nep to add dcleterinn* onipounds in any <.h,ap<» or farm. Furthermore, .it »■» ilftsirH.b!-." that luencne lv obtainable by all persans eiljtpljfftft in the sale of wine, am<l that 'all' preraisee \vh:pTeiin tire wine was mannf-jetiia-ed a.mi fold should hp at a 1! times fre? nf a,> ifCßs to public inspectors a.nd -a.n-aly.-vts. Co-atin'Uimr. th* petition ..'-Mtpe* tih&t tih'P win.p-prn<!tirin£ .industry of t'!'* D-t----ni'imion should be !*or ,1. tiiip; pr6tfct<vl a-net. the importn-tCnn of ->vin>e from South Af-rira at a lev* duty than .1/ per | gallon acid, apair-st wines beinir invlnde.d in a rs.-.ir.rociry treaty" in a:rry coujsfcry. and that equal facilities asid licenses for tTip sitpply of wine to tbi> public be sjijktioi~ed by law. -i.* is the e.ise in Aimtralia ami "Cher countries. Th'a.petition eanckntM by poi-nbinp out t)ha.t. if properly toftnvd, t'lt! ii:.di'»try will rp. : iilf, in ttiK nf ! lj««,tif>!i of la-r.SO a,r«is of tike poorest land of th* Dominion. ;'ml bfisf.«cb i es th.« Oavnnvmpnl, liefore it is to" Inte. "tn .<iv<» t!ii# fasl. cls>c.iyinjr industry by-.initi.a-tiip'- su:>li legs ]cj.lan as will rj».borß .ccwi:{i<l*n' , .amamt th<TL-e who. aft'pr lons yea-rs of wailing, h.i\-p almost In'st. confidence in l!>e .{usti.-e of (j-orp.rnmeni:.'"' ■ ■ ■ .