15 



Bubmitted to the GovernmeBt of the day at its request, I pointecl 

 out then the urgent need of establishing Schools of Viticulture, 

 not only because of their actual necessity as a means of education, 

 but in order that wine-growers generally could, in the event of 

 phylloxera breaking out again, obtain supplies of resistant stocks. 

 That this course was absolutely necessary has now been proved, 

 and had it been adopted when recommended, growers and intending 

 planters would have less reason for great alarm, but could go on 

 increasmg their plantations and restoring infected vineyards with- 

 out loss of time. A large stock of these vines, which are the; 

 only effectual means of resisting the disease, should be available, 

 for, depend upon it, we shall have to resort to them to insure 

 stability and progress. 



, Wineries. — The consideration of the establishment of wineries 

 is an important matter, and there is reason to believe much good 

 would result from them if established with sufficient capital where 

 necessary; but sufficient capital must be secured if failure is to 

 be avoided. To endeavour to form a winery with limited funds 

 would be merely leading all concerned into difficulty. 



Cheap Money. — In connexion with this matter there is a 

 closely relating subject, and that is cheap money. If by the 

 establishment of a properly constituted G-overnment Board of 

 Viticulture the confidence of capitalists was increased, knowing 

 the industry was under efficient supervision and subject to periodic 

 inspection, a great fillip would be given to the industry .and per- 

 manent benefit result, as cheap money would mean the expansion 

 of viticulture on all sides, and the removal of doubts as to its 

 stability. 



Distillation. — Attention should also be given to the better 

 regulation of the Distillation Act, so that small growers, who 

 have no distillery and who do not reqiiire one, might arrange with 

 larger growers who have a still to put through their faulty wines, 

 the spirit from which could be stored in the distiller's bond, and 

 when required to fortify sweet wines could be placed in under the 

 supervision of the travelling excise officers. ■> 



Export Trade. — One. of the most important functions of the' 

 Board would be to devise the best means of expanding the export 

 trade in wine,, and in this connexion it would be incumbent on 

 them to point out the necessity of a uniform size of cask only 

 being shipped. The admission duty free of a similar number of 

 casks to those exported should also be advocated, and there are 

 many other ways in which the mutual interests of all concerned 

 could be largely advantaged. The matters mentioned and many 

 others could be considered and could be dealt with by a properly- 

 constituted Board, and are advanced merely as some of the reasons 

 why the Government should immediately take in hand the creation 

 of such a Board. 



