NOT NECESSARY

Evening Star, Issue 22895, 1 March 1938, Page 8

NOT NECESSARY

WINE DUTY INCREASES NO PROTECTION FOR DOMINION PRODUCTS The general opinion that the new tariffs on South African and Australian wines as outlined in the statement issued by the Minister of Customs (Hon. W. Nash) were unnecessary and would not be any protection for New Zealand wines was given this morning by several Dunedin merchants and a hotel proprietor who imports a good deal of wine himself. Rather, they said, the duty would be a penalty on the best imported wines. “ The announcement of the new tariffs was a surprise to me,” said the hotel proprietor. “It means a knock, which we shall not be able to carry ourselves. Previously we have stood all additional charges in connection with the importation of wines, buj; this will have to be passed on to the consumer.” Definitely New Zealand wine was not of the quality and body that South African and Australian wines possessed. It was not up to standard, and was not largely used here. For the production of the best wines.it was necessary to have the vines fighting for their existence—not to hawe them grown in the rich soils of New Zealand. Increased costs involved labour, the price of bottles, labels, the wood of wnich the casks were made, and the corks. In his opinion the chief effect of the new tariffs would be to hit at the better class Australian wines. A merchant told a reporter that he did not think the hew tariffs would affect the wine business in any way. The increase was not large enough to have any effect upon the consumption. . While another merchant was inclined to agree with the viewpoint of his fel-low-merchant, he added that he was naturally against any increases in duty. However, they were facts that could not be altered. In the past the South African and Australian wines were on a competitive basis, but now the former would be vforie off to the extent of fid a gallon, while there was also a 25 per cent, exchange on South African wines as a further penalty. In recent years wine sales had increased only to a small extent in Dunedin. All reasonable types of sherry were becoming popular with the public and were displacing cocktails somewhat. After all, wine was a beneficial drink. Visitors to hospitals always presented the patients with, grapes, which were recognised as health giving. Wine was the alcoholic beverage obtained from the fermentation of the juice of the freshly gathered grapes, the fermentation of which had been carried through in the district of its origin, according to local tradition and practice. _ The_ public would still continue to drink wines, he thought, and the new duty would not detract from the. sales to any appreciable degree. Even if New Zealand wines were good and saleable, he added, 4s a gallon would be sufficient protection, but they were not up to standard, and therefore there was no necessity for the increased duty.