NEW ZEALAND WINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13846, 4 September 1908, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND WINE.

FREEDOM OF SALE URGED. . PETITION TO "PARLIAMENT. There are many districts in Auckland Province peculiarly suited to the growing of grapes, and very many. vine a rowers believe that large amis, generally called poor gum ,- land, will grow excellent wine grapes; but • the feeling is that the New Zealand GoTem- • ment does nob wish . .to - encourage vine- ' growing for wine-making purposes, and an . endeavour is being made to obtain.some definite pronouncement on the matter from J Parliament. Over 150 Austi-ians have 'signed their names to a request to be allowed to take up land, in Auckland for grape- ■• growing purposes, and express their readiness to at once commence planting out the vines. These men have all had experience .: in their native country in vine-growing, and •it may be depended that '.in the hands of Austrian® gum land will be made profitable. ••■ g A petition is now in circula.tioH through-, out Auckland, one section of "which will be signed by persons now engaged in the vinegrowing industry, and the. other ; by people generally interested. The petition sets out that the Government of New Zealand ha: spent large sums of money in importing disease-resisting grape stocks to supply to vinegrowers, and ■■'that the Government, at large expense, has established experimental farms arid employed experts ; to teach grape cultivation. The petitioners add that they are anxious to foster the industry, but under the existing law it is practically impossible obtain a license for the sale, by retailers, of New Zealand wine only, while in every other British colony in which grapes" are largely grown licenses are issued for the retailing of wine. The petitioners desire .that;. facilities should be given for the sale by retailers throughout the Dominion of pure New Zealand wine. : ■■.' ; ' The -petition also says r "Your petitioners believe that such facilities , could best be granted by issuing to any fit person, of good character, a license to sell pure wine made from New Zealand grapes only, and that an effort should be made to secure the purity of all wine manufactured in New Zealand and sold Under those licenses, and ask that legislation be enacted providing that any fit person, of good character, may be entitled to be licensed.'.to sell pure New Zealand wine."