THE OLD STORY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 7, 8 July 1931, Page 11

THE OLD STORY

BAR TO EMPIRE TRADE

LOCAL PRODUCERS' CLAIM

(United Press Association—By Electric Tele*

graph—Copyright.) (Keccivcd Bth July, 2 p.m.)

OTTAWA, 7th July

Canadian grape producers would veeeive every consideration at the hands of the Government, tho Premier, Mr. E. B, Bennett, told a deputation of grape-growers from the Niagara, district on Tuesday. The policy of th 9 Administration, he said, was. to look after the interests of Canadian . agri» culture, and that policy would bo car- ' ried out. At the. same time, tha Premier said, the vineries should improve tho standard of their production, which would put Canadian wine on a higher basis, and he suggested that steps in this direction should ba taken. ' While the meeting was in camera, it is understood that Mr. Bennett also made mention that the Australian grape was of the same sugar content as tho European. There was overproduction in tho grape industry, which the Government recognised. An. improvement in the quality of the production in vineries would bring tha Canadian industry on a better competitive basis. The delegation was protesting against the report that Australian wines were to come into Canada at a lower rate of duty under the new trado agreement. One suggestion placed before tho meeting was that tho Government might establish standards for wine and limit tho amount of wine to be produced from a ton of grapes to 250 gallons with a proposal for a lesser quantity of wine production to produce a higher standard. Mr. Bennett and the Minister of Trade and Commerce, Mr. Stevens, agreed. Another proposal was that the Government might remove the' excise tax on. fruit spirits to be used only in tha manufacture of wine. A bounty to grape-growers and an embargo on. grapes coming into Canada until November was also suggested by tli* delegation. , ■ ;■