WINE TRADE FOR U.S.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18255, 25 November 1933, Page 9

WINE TRADE FOR U.S.

, GOVERNMENT LOANS / . • MONEY FOR GRAPE BUYERS NEW YORK, October 10. Views, official and otherwise, upon the great problem of what is to be done on December 6 are being freely contributed by: The Federal authorities, “Speakeasy” proprietors, and Mr. John D. Rockefeller, jun. 6, when the Eighteenth Amendment (the prohibition law) will be repealed, will go down in history as America’s second Independence Dav. The Liquor Commission, which Mr! Rockefeller—after abandoning the “dry” principles of a lifetime — privately financed, published a report to-day. The commission was set up to inquire into the whole situation. In to-day’s report it suggests that spirits and beer should be sold at separate bars.

“Three-point-two” beer and wine of 12 per cent, alcoholic content ought, according to the report, to be easily obtainable both with and without meals. AVhisky, gin, and other spirits should be less readily obtainable. Mr. Rockfeller makes suggestions, but does not specify what regulations he would like to see adopted.

Meanwhile the Federal authorities intend to lend millions of dollars, through the agency of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, to well-known firms with which to buy grapes and make American wine. At first the Government was uncertain how to justify these advances, but now it ha 3 been decided that grapes can be “agricultural commodities." Several large loans have indeed been already approved. Two other bodies are closely interested in the forthcoming regulations. The first is that of the “speakeasy” owners. Most of them will undoubtedly be forced to close down. Proprietors of many better-class establishments, however, say that they intend to continue as clubs.