BOON TO WINES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 87, 13 April 1927, Page 7

BOON TO WINES.

TRADE SATISFIED. (Received 10..°,0 a.m.) LOXDOX, April I-J. The Australian wine traders gencr.nl' are hv no means dissatisfied with thV Budget. Tliey anticipated an increase oi duties, and were agreeably surpri.-cd tu find it less than they expected. Another ground of satisfaction is the reduction in the dividing line regarding the alcoholic strength to '27 per cent". Lliis not only gives the Empire sweet wines considerable advantage over port, bu . it is expected to have the result of putting wines of the Tarragona and Lisbon types, out. of the market, as the duty on them will be 1/4 per bottle, compared with 5d hitherto.

These wines have recently been great competitors of Australian.

It is expected that a slight increase in the price of Australian wines i> inevitable, but nothing lias yet been decided. Endeavours are being made for the principal importers to act in concert.

The importers are all anxious not to increase the price more than is absolutclv essential, but nothing can be settled until they know the exact terms under which Australia's export bounty will be renewed in September. Mr. MacDougall, in an interview, said this was the most sati.-faotory tarili". and rounded off the granting of preference for wines initiated in 102:5 by Mr. Bruce's energetic propaganda. * The Budget provision would relieve the pressure from foreign competition, whi h formerly Australian wines were forced ti. bear.