THE TROUBLE IN FRANCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 18, 20 July 1907, Page 13

THE TROUBLE IN FRANCE.

The troubles of the wine-growers In the South xof France havo reached a serious stage, and the Government are threatened with a most difficult situation- The wino-growers are reduced to poverty in the midst of plenty, and something like passive resistance to the tax-collector is being organised. Sideissues complicate the problem, but the primary fact is that the wine districts are suffering from glut. It is a tragic paradox that, having successfully fought tho phylloxera, the growers should now be overwhelmed by tho abundance of their harvests. A market can hardly be found for wine at less than cost price. Great demonstrations havo been held at Narbonne, and at Beziers the Town Hall waa besieged and the Mayor and Municipal Council were forced to resign. Every day liew districts come into the movement. It is necessary to understand that even a glut as great as the present one would not havo caused such a disastrous drop in prices if tho practice of sucrage — or treating tho wine with sugar had not been employed to increase the output and lessen tho cost of production. We may also mention the growing consumption of beer in France and tho competition of Algerian wines. Tho growers have sent an ultimatum to the Government in which they demand that something should be done before 10th June to secure them fair prices. Meanwhile the Cabinet havo drawn up a Bill to prevent tho improper uso of sugar.