The Lyttelton Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1895. WINE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10593, 28 February 1895, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1895. WINE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS.

New Zealand colonists are a temperate race, and we do not know that there is any pressing necessity for weaningthem from the stronger liquids by persuading them to -drink cheap and wholesome wines; As a matter of fact, the growth of temperance in this country has caused a greater decrease in the consumption of wine than of other descriptions of intoxicants. In 1883 the consumption of beer, spirits and wine per head of European population was 9'434, I'oßß and 0'315 gallons respectively. In ten years these amounts declined to 7*716 gallons of beer, 0*697 of spirits and o*l7o of wine per head. These results do not quite support the common contention that an increase of wine-drinking would promote temperance. They rather show that temperate habits can be very well cultivated on cold water, tea, cocoa and other non-intoxicating drinks. Perhaps the safest deduction from them is that scarcity of money is the best promoter of temperance yet discovered in the colony. The people of the United Kingdom consume "'four times more beer per head than do those of New Zealand, and about double the quantity of spirits, so that this colony is essentially a sober one. As we have said, it is open to question whether we shall become more sober by drinking more wine. Most people will agree, however, that if we are to become wine-bibbers we should encourage the locally-made article, instead of offering facilities to Adelaide vignerons to supply us with their product. Grapes are extensively grown in the northern part of this colony, and there are large manufactories of New Zealand wine at Auckland and Wanganui, in addition to one in our own city. New Zealand wines are not such miserable stuff as has been alleged. They took high honours at Melbourne and London, and they have been highly praised by connoisseurs in this country; but nevertheless their consumption does not increase and the industry droops. Perhaps the chief reason for this is the high price charged for wine. It could be produced at a price as low as that of beer, but it is usually sold at about the price of inferior spirits. The .Adelaide wines, which cost 2a to 3s 6d per gallon, plus 5s duty, are frequently retailed in New Zealand at from 24s to 36s per gallon. Palpably, the abolition of the duty will not of itself do much to place these wines within the reach of the people. The profits of the middleman and retailer must be reduced, and the only way that this can be . done, under existing conditions, is by competition, or by direct importation on some co-operative plan. There is some prospect that New Zealand wine will soon be produced in sufficient quantities to cause a lowering of price. Prom Napier papers we glean particulars of two grape,!.- growing

has'Started bjr planting 1300 vines on an acre o£ ground, and Mr ELS. Tiffen has no less an area than twenty-two acres under vines. The last-named gentleman has erected wine-making plant sufficiently extensive to deal with all his own grapes and those o£ other growers. This plant is said to be capable of treating the produce of 150 acres. There is nothing like it in New Zealand, and but one or two in Australia are as large. From vines Mr Tiffen expects this year to get 3000 gallons of wine, but when all his vineyard is in bearing the produce should be from 12,000 to 14,000 gallons. “When hia plant is employed to its full capacity, we may find New Zealand wine being placed on the market at such a price as will bring it within the reach of the people as a common beverage. Clearly an industry upon which so much capital and skill are being expended ought nob to he placed at a disadvantage under any commercial arrangement with other colonies.