NEW ZEALAND WINES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1006, 22 December 1910, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND WINES.

Sir,—Some .'time ago.. the ..Government Viticulturist is reported to have said that the grape-growing industry, in New. Zealand is at a standstill owing to the threat of prohibition. Whether he said this or not, it mustbo obvious that, such is the case, and in this conncction I should •?liko, through your'■columns; tb';sUgj;cst a possible remedy. My suggestion is that light Now Zealand wines, containing a specified maximum of alcohol, should bo excepted:froni■ the operation-of. the prohibition .voto. None but the extreme prohibitionists,, those fanatically inclined, would object to tho sale of light wines', and the advantages accruing .from the permission of such sale would! amongst others, be the creation of a, valuable industry and the encouragement of the tourist traffic. Although it is possiblo to attach an over-rated importance to the latter consideration, still it must be remembered that the show-places of the Dominion constitute a very valuable asset, and it cannot be disputed that New Zealand's attractions for tourists would be seriously diminished if the sale of all alcoholic linnors, including light wines,were to bo banned. It may be, too', that by encouraging the drinking of these wines the prevalent taste for spirits would decrease. At any-rate, if they were exempted from the prohibitory clauso of the Act there is some reason to think that, the illegal'sale of inferior spirits in prohibition districts would, be far loss common than it is at present. It may be objected that were this suggestion carried into effect there would bo a considerable amount of brandy illicitly distilled in tho vineyards; but the answer to this objection is that repressive legislation of every kind has its disadvantages, and that the objection applies with equal force to the present plan of prohibition, to long as it is. lawful, to grow grapes, barley, and any other of tho numerous plants from which alcohol can be manufactured. I venture to hope that some such suggestion as is sketched above would commend itself to the great body of moderate voters who, whilst they deplore the prevalence of hard-drinking ia many parts of the country, look askauce 1 at tho rigours of absolute prohibition.— ' I am, etc., G. 0. K. SAINSBURY. Gisborne, December 15, 1910.