932 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 
and the native demand has yet to be exploited, besides which 
California meets Australia in the East just as it does in Britain, 
and in California economy of production, combined with quality, 
is studied to perfection. 
THE DRAWBACKS UNDER WHICH THE WINE INDUSTRY LABOURS. 
The existing Excise, Distillery, and Vine Diseases Acts may 
be regarded as dead weights upon the wine industry of N.S. 
Wales. The wine maker is allowed to sell wines in quantities 
exceeding 2 2 gallons, and, under restrictions covered by a license, 
is permitted to use a still not exceeding 50 gallons in capacity, 
the alcohol produced being available for fortifying purposes only. 
The antiquated Distillery Act prohibits the use of an economical- 
sized still at the vineyard, and prevents the establishment of 
central distilleries on a moderate scale, whilst at the present time 
there is not a distillery in the colony. The Vine Diseases Act 
gives power to the State to destroy a vineyard infected with 
phylloxera without providing a scale of compensation, although 
the Minister has hitherto exercised an option, and awarded sums 
quite inadequate. The past has shown that phylloxera may reveal 
itself in the most unexpected spots ; and, as the infected vineyard 
is destroyed for the benefit of the industry as a whole, the sim- 
plest justice is for the Treasury to find funds for a fair compensa- 
tion. There might be a technical objection taken to the burden 
being equitably distributed over the population of the colony, in 
that under the present theoretical scheme of raising revenue nine- 
tenths of the people, by reason of exemptions, escape what is 
called taxation. The Excise Act bears with some injustice on 
wine makers, in that for every office or agency they open off their 
vineyard an annual license fee of £20 is imposed. If it were not 
for this, agencies would be found in every town of standing for 
taking orders and supplying quantities of over 2 gallons; but as 
it now is, what with the indifference of the publican, the too 
frequent hostility of the brewer, who controls the publican, and 
the excessive license fee for agencies and order offices, the wine- 
growers of N. 8. Wales are decidedly handicapped. The produc- 
tion of colonial-made brandy is also to be desired. It is estimated 
7,149 gallons of wine alcohol—not brandy—were distilled in the 
colony, and wholly used for fortifying wines ; but owing to there 
being no proper distilleries in the colony, the cellars of many wine- 
makers are crowded with wines which should be put through the 
still. Although a vineyard is permitted a still up to 50 gallons 
capacity, this is of no avail, seeing that the alcohol cannot be 
sold. These inferior and decaying wines do but deteriorate cask- 
stock, and keep the wine doctor fully supplied with material for 
his injurious trade. The sale of a wine only slightly inferior 
