Private Business. - Portuguese Treaty Bill, 1930—Second Stage. – Seanad Éireann (1928 Seanad) – Wednesday, 17 Dec 1930

Private Business. - Portuguese Treaty Bill, 1930—Second Stage.

Mr. MacKean

This is a Bill that anyone interested in the wine trade that has Portugal as its origin will be glad to see introduced. The wines of Portugal, as any connoisseur in wines knows, have a specially distinctive character of their own. Some of the faked and fraudulent wine manufacturers take advantage of this and try to pass off their products as having some connection with Portugal. The passing off of such, in many cases worthless articles as the wines of Portugal is detrimental to these wines. There are faked and medicated wines now on the market and the trade in them is growing. Those wines depend entirely for their trade on the glowing advertisements and exaggerated statements made about them. For instance, one firm makes the statement about its wines that they have been recommended by 20,000 doctors. These wine firms, for their own purpose, imitate the labels and general get-up of the port wine, and by their cheapness they induce the poorer classes to purchase them. The wines of Portugal are not cheap and they cannot be sold to leave a certain margin of profit except at high prices. These cheap wines to which I refer are manufactured practically in some back yards or places of that kind. On analysis it is proved that they have neither medicinal nor stimulating effects, though they are bought by the poorer people with the idea that they are wines of a stimulating character.

The Minister for Finance made a promise two and a half years ago, in the course of the Budget debate, that he would have this matter looked into. He also made the statement that there might be a case for prohibiting their sale on the grounds that he personally believed that they were frauds and should be prohibited in the interests of public health. Though two and a half years have since passed, nothing has been done. There was a Bill passed in 1887 dealing with the infringement of names in this matter of wine, but these sellers of cheap wine ignored that, and the law is practically a dead letter at present. I am sorry the Minister for Finance is not here, because it is he who made the promise that something would be done in the matter.

Mr. Bagwell

I would like to raise two points in connection with this Bill. It seems this is the proper time to do it. Unfortunately I could not very well hear the speech of Senator MacKean, and I may possibly be referring to some of the points he has raised. If so I beg to be excused. It seems to me that if I read the Bill correctly its object is to prevent certain kinds of wine which are made in Australia, and which are advertised as being of the character of port, from being sold. I believe that is a false description, but it is presumably a legal description to give. That seems rather arbitrary. I hope the Minister will give an explanation on that matter. That is the main thing I have in mind. On this Bill, the Portuguese Treaty Bill, I would like to ask what quid pro quo do we get? If it is proposed to make this Treaty with Portugal, presumably it is because it is mutually beneficial. I would like to know in what way it is beneficial to the Free State, and whether the interior constitution of the inhabitants of the Free State is being looked after, or certain commercial advantages? Perhaps the Minister would enlighten us on those two matters.

Minister for External Affairs (Mr. McGilligan)

The point made by Senator Bagwell is the exact point adverted to in the Bill. It is intended that for the future wines shall not be sold in this country bearing the description of port unless they come from the region named, such as the region of Douro in Portugal. That is deliberate, and that is the intention of the Bill. The effect will be to prevent the sale in this country of Australian wines under the description of port or madeira. That will not be allowed in future. I do not know whether the Senator ties up his remarks on that point with the general question he asked as to the benefit this country is getting under the Treaty. Of course that is not before the House. This is only a subsidiary matter. The Treaty is a commercial treaty, and it has nothing to do with constitutional or political or other matters. It is purely a trade treaty, and it is established on the most-favoured-nation basis as between the two countries.

Generally speaking, amongst the nations on the Continent there is a feeling growing that a geographical description, such as exists in this case, should be limited precisely to the products of that geographical area. We are keen on establishing that principle ourselves because we want to have definitely recognised certain products that used to be and are known by certain names particular to this country. We are anxious to have these products defined definitely by those names in future. Some of these names have lapsed into ordinary trade descriptions. We are fully in accord with the French, who are particularly keen on this matter with regard to wines. The Portuguese are similarly interested, and we are anxious that these names should apply to the special products of the country concerned. In our own case the word "Balbriggan" is applied to certain types of goods, and so also is the word "Limerick" applied to certain types of foodstuffs. On this point we are very ready to agree with the Portuguese. We think the movement is spreading, and we think that ultimately we will have these names associated with particular products of our country. The point that the Senator has made is the one which we aim at. It is our intention to prohibit the sale of Australian wines that are sold here as Madeira or Port, or even sold with the explanatory term, "character of" and "type of." They will have to be labelled as Australian wines.

Mr. Guinness

I did not intend to speak, but, arising out of the remarks made by the Minister, I would like to know from him what will be the effect of the Bill on wines of the character of Port, so-called, that are made here and in England. As the Minister is probably aware, there is wine made in Dublin, Belfast and England. It is of a very inferior quality. It is not much drunk in Dublin, where it is known by the name "Cheerio." In Belfast it is called "Red Biddy." The consumption in Dublin is, comparatively speaking, very small, but there is a large consumption in Belfast, and the wine is doing a great deal of harm there. I have reason to believe that the Northern Government have done a great deal to suppress the sale of the wine, but so far they have not been very successful. I am quite unprepared on this subject; if I had had notice I would have placed myself in possession of figures and other information. I would like to know if this Bill will stop the manufacture of this particular stuff— call it beverage if you like, but that is the wrong word for it. It is a highly alcoholic drink, and the duty is so small that it is quite out of proportion to the duty charged on other spirits, wines and malt products. If it were possible to stop the manufacture of that wine I think it would be very beneficial for the body politic.

Mr. McGilligan

This Bill has no direct application to what the Senator spoke of. If there is an attempt made to sell wines which are imported from countries other than Portugal, and which are described as Port or Madeira, or the character of or type of Port or Madeira, it would be illegal. As regards this wine described as "Red Biddy," it would be quite saleable. The term "Cheerio" might be quite a false description of the after-effects of he consumption of the wine so-called.

Bill read a Second Time; Committee Stage to be taken to-morrow.

Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Dec 1930