WINE TRADE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 116, 13 April 1927, Page 9

WINE TRADE

BUDGET PROVISIONS. AUSTRALIANS SATISFIED. EFFORT TO IMPROVE MARKETING. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received April 13, 9.55 a.m. LONDON, April 12. Australian wine traders generally are by no means dissatisfied with the Budget. They anticipated an increase in the duties, and they were agreeably surprised to find it less than they expected. • Another ground for satisfaction is the reduction in the dividing line of the alcoholic strength to 24 per cent. This not only gives Empire sweet wines a considerable advantage over port, but is 9xpected to have the result or putting wines of the Tarragona and Lisbon types out of the market, as the duty on them will he , 16d per bottle, compared with 5d hitherto. These have recently been great competitors of the Australian product. It is expected that a slight increase in the price of Australian wines is inevitable, but nothing has yet been decided. Endeavours- are being made for the principal importers to act in concert. The importers are all anxious not to increase the price more than is absolutely essential. Nothing can be settled until they know the exact terms under which Australia’s export bounty will he renewed in September. Mi - MacDougall, interviewed, said: “This is a most satisfactory tariff. It rounds off the granting of preference to wines initiated in 1923. Mr Bruce’s energetic propaganda, which was most marked in the case of wine, has resulted in a Budget provision that relieves the pressure of foreign competition, which formerly our wines were forced to bear. Traders consider it is most important now to consolidate the position by improving the marketing arrangements with a view to ensuring a continuity of supplies. Desultory marketing would be foolish,, and would he ignoring the advantage which Mr Churchill has given us.”—A. and N.Z. cable. •