TOBACCO INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 231, 30 September 1929, Page 4

TOBACCO INDUSTRY.

GOVERNMENT CAUTIOUS. CONTRACT GROWING ADVISED. Extreme care is being observed by the Government with regard to tobacco growing, according to a statement made by the Minister of Agriculture (L.on. Or. W. Forbes) in the House of Representa--1 In B 'discussion of the Estimates Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Auckland Suburbs) asked whether it was the policy of the Government to encourage tobacco growing m New Zealand. „ In reply the Minister said the Government had been extremely careful in regard to that matter. While the Department of Agriculture assisted in the direction of giving information bearing on tobacco growing, it did not take upon itself the responsibility of directions as to planting. The reason was the market was a very restricted one in New Zealand, and was confined to two firms. The Minister had to be careful in making recommendations because if the Department advocated that people go into tobacco .growing, it took upon itself some responsibility. Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston) said lie was sorry to hear the remarks of the Minister. A great deal more should be done in regard to the tobacco industry. "Here we have a very important industry, one which is making forward strides in New Zealand, and is to some extent becoming a competitor to the American market." He would like to see a fair sum of money spent in instructing people in the cultivation of the tobacco leaf. Reports were to the effect that large sums of money were obtained from small areas of land through tobacco growing. If the industry could be made profitable, the Government should spend more than the small sum provided on the Estimates. Mr. E. F. Healy (Wairau) spoke of tobacco growing operations in the Nelson Province. Forty acres had been planted in Marlborough, and great hopes had been entertained of the crop, but leaf was left on the hands of the growers. That was very unfortunate for those people who had thought to obtain a market in New Zealand^ "I suppose the Minister is aware that the tobacco growing industry in New Zealand has almost reached the saturation stage by this time," said Mr. W. E. Barnard (Vapier). He wondered if the instructors of the Department, who gave information to growers, were aware of the fact. If that information were not given it should be. Quite possibly the growing of .tobacco might be overdone in this country. Mr. G. C. C. Black (Motueka) said the position in the Nelson district was that the majority of the farmers were under contract to the two tobacco companies in New Zealand, and so long as they produced a good leaf they had a market. Other tobacco growers had seed provided them by the Department, but after that they had heard no more of the Department, while the farmers under contract had received regular instruction. He urged that a statement should be made setting out definitely the position of those particular growers. There might be some misunderstanding. He did not agree, however, that tobacco production in New Zealand had reached saturation point. A probable market was Australia. In reply the Minister said he did not think the tobacco industry in New Zealand had reached saturation point. Whether the demand in the future would increase -VYOuld depend upon the method of manufacturing. He thought it advisable for people growing tobacco in New Zealand to do so under contract. Regarding the growers mentioned by Mr. Healy, he would go into the matter to see what could be done.