Australian Wine.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1922, Page 1

Australian Wine.

PLAGIARISM CHARGED AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA. SYDNEY, June ,30. It is stated by travellers in the wine trade that the greater part of the Australian trade with New Zealand lias been lost since the reciprocity treaty entered into by the Dominion with South Africa came into force. The unfortunate thing is. however, that the similarity of initials frequently causes to arise confusion in regard to the country of origin. “S.A.” stands equally for South Africa or South Australia, the State which produces most wine -in tlm Commonwealth. As the Smith Australian product, is admittedly of sujierior quality it can easily he seen how much damage can he' done to the prestige of the wines of this State by deliberate or unintentional substitution of the South African production. It is stated that many of the South African wine travellers deliberately represented their wares as South Australian, their (inns having copied the nomenclature and labels of Hie Australian State as closely as possible. As South Australia produces more wine than till the other States combined, and lias built up a reputation fur quality by years of painstaking effort, the blow is a serious one alike to her trade and prestige. South Africa, it may bo remembered, annexed Australian wattles some years ago, and even sought to use the wattle blossom as a national emblem.