WINES AND SPIRITS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25799, 21 March 1945, Page 6

WINES AND SPIRITS

INDUSTRIES FOR DOMINION REHABILITATION PROPOSALS <P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 20. A request that the Royal Commission on Licensing should in its findings and recommendations recognise the claims and safeguard the interests of ex-servicemen to the fullest extent compatible with the general public Interest was made by the Director of Rehabilitation, Mr F. Baker, giving evidence before the commission to-day.

Mr Baker said that a number of fervicemen who were formerly in the icensed trade would find it extremely difficult to re-establish themselves in the industry on their discharge if they were required to pay exorbitant .prices for the purchase of licences. Assuming that private ownership was to be continued, it was asked that the commission should recommend that some provision no less favourable to discharged servicemen than the provisions of the Transport Licences Emergency Regulations should be included in any legislation brought down. Diversified Agriculture

In the opinion of the Rehabilitation Board it would be necessary ultimately to make provision for the settlement on the land of not fewer than 5000 to 6000 returned men, said Mr Baker, discussing the possibilities in the wine and brandy industries. A preliminary survey, which had recently been undertaken, disclosed that only approximately 2000 economic sheep or dairy •farms could be obtained by the subdivision of existing farms more or less fully improved, assuming that the owners would be desirous of retaining sufficient land for their own economic needs. The board was therefore forced to the conclusion that if it were to make adequate provision for the settlement of returned men who were landminded, there were only two alternatives, as follows: — * 1. The development of unimproved land for ultimate settlement as sheep or dairy farms. The scope here was not unlimited, as the greater portion of the suitable farming land in the Dominion was already in production, though admittedly in varying stages. 2. The education of returned servicemen farm applicants away from the staple products of meat, wool, and butterfat into more diversified types of farming or agriculture, which would yield a/satisfactory standard of living from a much smaller area.

Restriction of \yine Imports In view of the acute shortage of materials, notably fertiliser, fencing wire, piping and building requisites, Mr Baker .said. “No immediate start could be made with large-scale land development at present, and the board was therefore concentrating on the investigation of the second alternative form of settlement. If expert opinion established to the satisfaction of the commission that New Zealand could grow grapes of a suitable quality in sufficient quantity to cope with the whole of the local wine demand, it was submitted that in order to protect the local grower and manufacturer imports should bo restricted to wines required for blending purposes, and also that a system of licensing growers and manufacturers should be adopted to avoid wasteful competition and possible financial disaster for those involved. A system of licensing would also enable ex-servicemen to be considered for the preference to which the board considered they were entitled.” , , . . The establishment of central wineries Mr Baker said, would open up a field for the rehabilitation of ex-service-men, who would, of course, have to be provided with the requisite technical training. The board would be prepared to assist financially m providing this training. Establishment of Distilleries

It was urged that the commission should give consideration to recommending a change in policy to permit the distillation of brandy in New Zealand in addition to the present, fortifying spirits for wines,' Mr Baker continued. The manufacture of brandy in New Zealand would open up an entirely new field of employment and it was submitted that this should be reserved as far as possible for exservicemen. The board would be prepared to assist ex-servicemen financially to obtain the necessary specialised training and would consider granting financial assistance to groups of returned men after they have been trained. x ~ . .. K “ The board is interested in the establishment of distilleries in New Zealand for the production of whisky, gm, and industrial alcohol, and suggests that this should receive the consideration of the commission,” said Mr Baker. “ From a preliminary survey it appears that if such proposals were brought Into operation there would be considerable opportunity for the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen."