RETAIL TOBACCO PRICES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 954, 22 October 1910, Page 4

RETAIL TOBACCO PRICES.

MOVEMENT FOR UNIFORM??.

The tobacco 'tariff framed by iihe' esot ■ cutive'of t<he local Tobacconists' Association was to have been considered at a general meeting called on Thursday evening, but as so quorum attended the < proceedings lapsed. Members of the executive, it is etated, 5 feel rather aggrieved that the members of the local association should treat the matter of the tariff bo lightly. It'is held that at least seventy-live per cent of the tobacconisvs of Wellington would - derive distinot benefit from the fixing' pf stated prices for >their wares. At the' meeting a letter was wcetrod, from the Chinese Consul stating tiiat his compatriots were willing and anxious to adhere to a tariff as proposed by the association. It was the opinion of mem-', bers who attended the meeting that a stumbling block .in the matter of passing the tariff oxisted, not so much in the trade conducted by green-grocers as jn that carried on by restaurant-keep- j ers, who sold tobacco on Sundays, and grocers who sold >t"practically at. a loss. At a committee meeting of tie exe-' cutive of the New Zealand Tobacconists' Federation, held 'later, it was decided that the secretary, Mr, H. F. Alien, be instiucted to write to the Hon. J, A. Millar, asking the Minister to receive a deputation .to discuss the stafc> - tory licensing of tobacconists. Further correspondence was received from tbovarious centres in reference to this mat- ■ ter. Tho proposal to obtain a license jb approved by 75 per cent of' the to- - bacconists throughout the Dominion who i are affiliated to tho association. Tho membership of tho association as at present constituted covers most of the larger centres. Replies, in t3)ia in- ' stance, were received from Auckland, Cliristchiireh, Duredin, Napier, Wanganuj, and Tjjnaru.