SOLDIER VIGNERONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 262, 24 July 1918, Page 5

SOLDIER VIGNERONS

INDUSTRY FOR RETURNED MEN. So that returned soldiers may share in the profits to bo mndo out of the production of wine grapes, Messrs. Penfold and u>., the Australian vineyard proprietors ami wine merchants, aro prepared to lay. out ,£50,000 to settle approved returned men in tlie industry. Provided security of tenure can ba obtained ior tho ivina industry, the firm is ready to purchase 2000 acres of vinognwmg land in tho Hunter River dis■:i "1? to " uild a winery at Jlorrool, i J i\ a \ n . B< i? distri «t- Tho soldiers eet? ? Wl . ,be glven evef J' encouragei meat. They will bo mippliell with the vine cuttings to start, and will be asked tn Uepoat only 10 per cent, of the purSmW , N ° Wfflont will bo' tTl.i ' ti -n e u ycars> md afto ""'t the balance will be repayable in small instalments that will not hamper them. n explaining the scheme, Mr. P. Pentold Hyliuid, a member of the firm, said that the firm was prepared to obtain HnJ; V Mr £ Dalwoud CBllars - »' tho Hni+J ?«? net, nnd cut jt "P into Ihifhf y a , e i' os ench - Of thil t area nnd while the vinos, were coming to bear-Zll-4 Eoldle r, c , 0 » 1(1 «so the balance for poulti'j, vegetables, and grazing Tha trm would also give each° S oTd!r a ten would also be prepared," said Mr. Penfoldl Hyland "to provide them with vine cuttings and expert ndvico free, "nd allow them to pay off in very.ea y insta ments provided that in tho first hre and showed that they were in earnest. Ihe firm is also ready to erect a'winery at If. rrool on the Ynnco area' At ono time the Otoverninent sot aside X3OOO tor a winery there, but tho idea was not Cone on with. The district is tho mos suitable for ho growing of wine grapes A considerable portion of the dried fruits produced at Renmark and Jlildura at 4 present timp has to go to the distilleries and there is a great chanco for wine grapes Our expert has furnished the Irrigation Commission with a lengthy re port on the subject, and he stated that tlus nrm would be prepared to erect the winery and give the growers a considerably enhanced price on what they aro at present receiving if security of tenure were given tho wino industry. If this security were forthcoming we would aiao be willing to assist approved returned soldiers to take up blocks iu tho area. At tho prices wo are willing to pay for tho grapes a block of fifty acres should give a net return of £100 a year. \\ o will bo ready to spend at least double 116 sum the Government pm asidt, for the erection of the winery at Mirrool splendid wines for export should be produced in the Ynnco district, while the Jioclcs that could bo grown in the Hunter i.iver district would be able to take the placo of the German hocks which wero so largely sold in Great Britain before tho war In Soutli Australia the Government has established a winery for returned men, and this wna the first year ot grape-hearing. So successful lins the experiment teen, and so good do tho prospects appear that it is intended to plant a further 2000 acres this yenr."