NEW ZEALAND WINE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 50, 21 August 1911, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND WINE

GROWERS' PROTEST. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Saturday, A meeting of the winegrowers of North Auckland was held here this morning to protest against the remarks made by a deputation to the Minister .of Justice alleging that the wine produced in North Auckland was doctored and that the business was one of the most pernicious things in connection with the sale of liquor in New Zealand. Mr. John Villa presided, and said that, like most other Austrian manufacturers of winp, he was induced .to start some twelve years ago by professor Kirk, a Government officer of high standing. He invested all his savings in a vineyard. Now, when he and others began to see the fruits of their labors, they were harassed and accused of things, which were obviously untrue, and because a section of political agitators found fault with some Austrians they tried to cast the stigma over every viticuiturist in the north. Another speaker agreed that the sale of had wine should be stopped, but objected to the proposal that wine should only be sold in the districts where it was manufactured, because there was no chance of disposing of the wine unless by hawking. It was resolved to call a general meeting of winegrowers with a view to forming an association, and to draft a Bill for presentation to Parliament embodying facilities for the betterment of the industry, also to ask the Government Analyst" to analyse all the wine in the cella-rs in the northern district.