FREE WINE FOR PENSIONERS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27735, 12 August 1955, Page 11

FREE WINE FOR PENSIONERS

French Move To Help Wine Trade

(Rec. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 11. The French Government has decided to take action to relieve the crisis of over-production in the French wine industry, says the Paris correspondent of “The Times.” The first step will be to distil straight away the large amount of wine now occupying cellar space; the second step will be to set aside 3,000,000 hectolitres for distillation in the coming year; and the third step to issue weekly to such people as pensioners and others living on fixed income a free litre of wine in the same way that they now get free sugar. At the same time a study is to be made of the possibility of increasing the wine ration of serving soldiers, which is now half a litre daily. “These remedies are not without their humorous side,” says the correspondent. “For, earlier in the year, the Mendes-France Government made an issue of milk as part of the army ration scale obligatory, and also organised a free issue of milk in schools. “The poor and elderly are now to be made a present of wine, and solddiers are to be lapped about, as it were, with pools of both milk and wine. “Longer-term plans for reducing the acreage of vines and their age are also to be pursued. In order to induce growers to act quickly, the bonus for uprooting vines will be reduced by 10 per cent, on January 1, 1956, and there will be further 10 per cent, cuts on January 1, 1957, and January 1. 1959. Later the uprooting of vines will become obligatory—a far-reaching decision which, judging from the present temper of southern winegrowers, would seem very difficult.”

British M.P.’s Visit China.—Five British Labour members of Parliament were among a delegation of 18 which left by air today on a goodwill visit to Communist China. The group, which will spend three weeks in China, also includes miners, trade union officials and social workers.— London, August 10.