SERIOUS CONCERN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26842, 5 August 1948, Page 4

SERIOUS CONCERN

FAILURE TO INTRODUCE LICENSING BILL ALLIANCE SEEKS ASSURANCE P.A. WELLINGTON, Aug. 4. Serious concern at the possibility that no licensing legislation will be introduced to Parliament this f year was expressed in a motion <•> passed at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Alliance to-day. A resolution sought an immediate assurance from the Prime Minister that legislation will be introduced in time for adequate consideration during this session. Alarm at the reported increase of the acreage for wine producing purposes was expressed in another resolution. The acreage was stated to have risen from 564 acres in 1943 (160 not ih bearing) to 850 in 1947, while an Australian company had announced that it was authorised to plant a further 200 acres. The resolution referred to the Agricultural Department’s report to the Royal Commission on Licensing that “ There is very little need for any further expansion to meet the Dominion’s requirements in wines.” To offset “ the dangers associated with the increase in wine production,” the meeting urged the Government to utilise the Te Kauwhata experimental grape producing areas for the purpose of producing suitable non-alcoholic fruit and health beverages.