SALE OF HOME-MADE WINES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 135, 11 June 1869, Page 2

SALE OF HOME-MADE WINES.

To the Editor or the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir— The enquiry made by more than one of your correspondents some months since, has failed to elicit any reply, although the information then sought is by no means unimportant to the community. The simple question then asked and now repeated, is. — A re shopkeepers and others allowed to selJ, without any license, cherry and other fruit wines made from home grown produce? To suppose that any tax is legally demandable for such a purpose would be an absurdity, were not laws made here, often hastily and thoughtlessly passed. In England, freedom to sell all wines known as " home mnde," is obtainable by a nominal license fee of ten shillings, are we in a worse position? Ff so, let the truth be known at once; as the matter remains, a wrong and injustice is done to all, who having wine to sell, are debarred by the ignorance, or something worse, of those in power, of disposing of it. One shopkeeper in Nelson who could sell the article in question freely, enquired of a magistrate and others who should know, but remains now utterly ignorant if he may sell or not, and rather than find himself heavily fined, he allows his customers to go unseived. la these days when many of us are holding on by a thread, and not making ends meet, what words are strong enough to characterise the policy which frames laws in such a way as to tantalise, harass, and vex those who are so unfortunate as to live under them. Hoping that an end may soon be put to a state of ihings so disgraceful, and that being free, we may know it. or being taxed, we may appeal against such an iniquity. I am, &c, June 10th, ISG9. Trader.