TOBACCO INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 22443, 14 September 1936, Page 7

TOBACCO INDUSTRY

LOKG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PUR ' [Per United Press Association.] ■ CHRISTCHURCH, September 14. ‘ The statement that the • formulation of a long-range plan for the tobacco growing industry in New Zealand wasnow in hand was made this morning by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan. A sub-committee of the Tobacco Board was set up to undertake this work recently, he’ said, and its report would be considered at the next meeting of the board. 1 At a previous meeting of the board it was decided to recommend td the Government that a minimum price be fixed for all leaf’ purchased by manufacturers during the season ending March 31, 1937. The Government had informed the board in reply that it considered that any scheme of minimum price fixation of leaf should, be regarded 'as only part of a plan for development of the industry,, and had requested the board to submit 'a complete long-range plan to the Government for consideration. The Minister said that, in regard so the question of the applicability ci tha levy of per lb to leaf exported from New Zealand, the board decided that, although the levy was still payable in respect of all leaf, whether for. local manufacture or for export, further consideration would be given to th* question when the account sales tor leaf exported this' season came to hand. . With respect to the question of the Government continuing the present guarantee on the export of leaf, so as to cover the leaf exported during the 1936-37 season, the board resolved that every effort should be made to maintain continuity of supplies to the London market for tfce purpose of developing an export trade in leaf.