STATUS OF WINE INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16471, 14 March 1919, Page 8

STATUS OF WINE INDUSTRY.

— » . ATTITUDE IN NEW SOUTH

WALES. Although careful to indicate that he was not expressing any considered decision of 'lie Government, the New Sonth "Wales Minister for Lands, Mr Ashford, told n deputation from the New South "Wales Alliance that he was not disposed to limit or prohibit tne viticultural industry in the State. The deputation was introduced by the president of the Alliance, the Rev. It. li. S. Hammond, who urged that tho wino industry should be discouraged. Special exception was taken to the proposal- to repatriate returned soldiers bypsettling them on areas set spurt for' vineyards. There were many other departments of agriculture, it was stated, in which the returned soldiers could he engaged. During tho course of a lengthy reply the Minister said he took the view that thw wine industry tlonld be separated from the ordinary liquor question. Although 'the-effort he was making, said Air Ashford, to settie soldiers on vineyard .country' was the first organised effort of the kind, it was not an innovation.; Many past Governments had qneouraged the establishment of viticulture . Personally, he thought thero was a better chance to settle soldiers in that way than in ?nv other. Ha" would favour Parliament giving vignerons security of tenure, providing such a measure was surrorcded with certain lestrictioiiM.