WHISKY FOR MAKING MUNITIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2776, 20 May 1916, Page 3

WHISKY FOR MAKING MUNITIONS

SIR JOHN DEWAR ON 10s. A : BOTI'LE PROSPECT. Tho announcement made that it_ isproposed to increase the accommodation at the disposal of the Ministry of Munitions by the taking over of the premises and plant og tho large whisky distilleries which make pot-still whisky, the premises in these cases being nilsuited to the production of munitions.of war. Sir Thomas Dewar, managing director of John Dewar and Sons, Ltd., distillers, of Perth, and London, in an interview with a Press representative recently, observed: . "It is not impassible in. the near future, 5n certain circumstances, that the retail price of whisky - will be increased to 10s. per bottle. It' has increased considerably during tho past twelve months,land the public who are consumers should be grateful that the rise has not been greater. They should also bo thankful to the Government for the Act of Parliament requiring that 110 whisky should he released from bond until it is three years old. This was the best temperance measure ever introduced. .■ "The distillers are delighted that tho relationships between tho Government, the public, and themselves, aro so much better understood to-day than they have been in the past. Distillers have been looked upon sometimes as 'my friends tho enemy,' and it has probably been a surprise to.'iind them in the position today* of-rendering a great assistance tSTffie riatio'n.'rThefe was even a desir£lii,:,sbmS .durations '18,'-months ago to---close - distilleries"down 'altogether; bttVnovrthel scene,has -changedr and it has been 'discovered,' shall I-'say, that liigli explosives",, for . w'liich there is now a , urcat : demand,; cannot be produced without -their,'-help ■ ... -••••>• — • "In Scotland;there ;are;spm;e; 1,20 distilleries .but only, something-like a dozen coiiie under-tlio category of patent stills, xylose will possibly be taken over for war work of some kind, but nothing definite has yet been announced on this point. .They are near great centres of population, and have large productive powers in the way of machinery and plant. Tho smaller distilleries aro scattered throughout Scotland in more remote districts. The pot-still distilleries can produce for the public requirements as before."