DEMAND FOR WINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19670, 12 December 1933, Page 3

DEMAND FOR WINE

PRICE CUTTING CONDEMNED. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 10. The arrival of wintry weather brought about an increasing demand for sweet and strong Australian and South African wines and distributors report a lively trade. The “Wine Trade Review” says, regarding Australian wines, that it is regrettable to note continued instances of price cutting, both wholesale and retaiL This displeasing feature is bound to embarrass the future prospects of trade. Recently two retail quotations came under notice, both from big trading firms, one offering well recommended sweet wine at 27d a bottle, and the other at 28d. Such quotations must seriously disturb the plans of those who are trying to stabilise the prices of such wines. Moreover the continuance of such quotations increases the public impression that Australian sweet wines can be purchased regardness of the quality element at absurdly low' figures, whereas the experienced trade knows that these wines cover a variety of qualities, comparable with those of moderate cost emanating from Portugal. It might be of advantage to Australian wine interests to make generally known the fact that there are various qualities of Australian sweet wine, for it is to be feared that the public as a whole is not aw ? are of this. The South African sweet wine market does not appear to be troubled in this respect as regards the light wine sections. Both these empire producing areas reports are most promising with the flagon trade well to the front.