WAR AND WINE

Evening Star, Issue 22451, 23 September 1936, Page 9

WAR AND WINE

EFFECT OF SPANISH DISTURBANCES NOT FELT IN DOMINION YET It was stated in a Wellington newspaper recently that, as a result of the civil war in Spain, there was a probability that sherry wine would be difficult to obtain this summer. It was stated that the insurgents were in possession of Cadiz, which was the port from which all sherry wine was shipped abroad, while the Government forces held Jerez, the centre of the wine-grow-ing district and the town from which sherry took its name. Even if one side had possession of both Cadiz and Jerez, it was doubtful whether the export of wine would be continued while the country remained divided by civil strife, bub with the situation as it was the trade was at a standstill. UNCERTAIN POSITION. A Wellington wine merchant had received a letter from a firm of London wine shippers with agencies in Jerez, stating that it was a matter of luck whether any shipments on hand would be made until the trouble subsided. The letter then went on to say that, should the Government triumph, it was felt that the position would become even worse, as there would be a terrible reign of reprisals, and it would take a long time for the country to settle down. Even should the insurgents succeed, the country was bound to be in a very unsettled state with periodical revolutions until they obtained sufficient power to quell the risings. Wine took some time to reach New Zealand from Spain, and, like humans, became “ tired ” with travelling, and had to be given two or three months in which to recover from the effects of the journey. This meant that there was always a certain stock on hand, and the cessation of shipments might not be felt for several months. Normally, new shipments were constantly being laid down to keep up with the consumption, and any interruption meant a subsequent gap. NO EFFECT YET. Several Dunedin wine importers were questioned on the matter this morning, and the unanimous reply was that the local market was as yet unaffected, but if the war lasted for any considerable time the supplies would naturally become depleted. Mr A. A. Baape quoted a recent issue of ‘ The Wine and Spirit Trade Review,’ which said there was, early last mouth, no danger at all that the civil war would put a stop to shipments of sherry from Spain to Great Britain. “ British sherry shippers were quite prepared for the troubles, and, as statistics of sherry imports showed, had laid in a good store, both in the'bonded vaults beside the Pool of London and in Liverpool and Glasgow,’’ said the journal. “In June, 1935, 233,828 gallons of sherry were shipped from Cadiz to Britain, and in June this year there were 332,798 gallons—an increase of almost 100,000 gallons, due only to fear of imminent Spanish disturbances. So, too, in the first six months of this year the import was 1,830,588, as against 1,507,390 gallons last year. Cadiz, the only port for Jerez, has been virtually closed since July 17.” “ Sherry is very little in demand in. this country,” said one importer. There had been a vogue for it at Home, where sherry parties were popular, but in this country the demand was extremely small. “ The so-called sherry sold in New Zealand is, in many cases, execrable, and is mostly South African, which has not even sherry characteristics.”

Though as yet tho wine market had not been affected, the prices of Sicily and Jordan almonds and ground almonds had increased considerably owing to the supply having been affected. In July Sicily almonds were sold at about £IOO a ton. but the price to-day had risen to about £lO2 a ton.

Questioned on the effect of the Palestine disturbances on the fig and date shipments, the merchant reported that these were unchanged, as the dates were shipped from Basra, and the figs and sultanas were of Syrian origin.