STATUS OF WIFE INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 16993, 15 March 1919, Page 6

STATUS OF WIFE INDUSTRY

ATTITUDE IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Although careful to indicate that ho was not. expressing any considered decision of the Government, tho New South Wales Minister of Land's (Mr Ash-ford) told a deputation from the New South Wales Allianca'that ho was not disposed to limit oi' prohibit tho viticultural industry in the State. Tho deputation were introduced by the president of the alliance (th Rev. H. B. S. Hammond), who urged that the wine industry should be discouraged. Special exception 'was taken to the proposal to repatriate returned soldiers by settling them on ureas set. apart for vineyards. There were many other departments of agriculture, it was stated, in which the returned soldiers could be engaged. During tho course of a lengthy reply tho Minister said he took the view that the wine industry should bo separated from the ordinary liquor question. Although tho effort he was making, said Mr Ashford, to settle soldiers an vineyard country was tho iirst organised effort of tho kind, it was not an innovation. Many past Governments had encouraged the establishment of viticulture. Personally, he thought there was a better chance to settle soldiers hi that way than in any other. He would favor Parliament giving vismerons socurty of tenure, providing such, a measure was surrounded with certain restrictions.