TOBACCO GROWING.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1927, Page 1

TOBACCO GROWING.

NELSON CROP SOLD

AA ELLINGTON, J une 11

An important deal announced by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon O. -J. Hawken, to-night is the purchase from the growers of practically the whole Nelson tobacco crop by the firm of AY.D. and H. O. Wills. The deal is the result of negotiations which have been going on for some time, and which were finalised when Mr Brmlie. manager of the firm, visited Nelson a few days ago. Tobacco-growing began in Nelson this year for export under a Government guarantee of 2s 3d per lb. gross for yellow lemon-coloured leaf and Is -Id per lb. for darker leaf, up to a total of £3lO-0. which represented a crop of something over twenty tons.

All the tobacco had to bo grown under Government supervision, and a ■special officer of the Horticulture Department was appointed to supervise the production. The actual crop was a little over ten tons, and this, after discussion with the Department of Horticulture, the growers have sold to Messrs AY. D. and H. O. AVillis for between £IBOO and .£I9OO at the guarantee price. Special samples of leaf are to be selected and sent borne and. if the price realised on the London market is greater than .the guarantee price, the firm has undertaken to make up the difference to the grower. The tobacco is now being graded and packed in Nelson, and sump'es chosen Shipment to AYellinglon is to he made as soon as a Customs eerlilieafe is issued.

It is understood that in the earlier stages there was some, difficulty over leaf which had been grown late and Was sun-dried, having gone a little mouldy, but the firm ultimately decided to include this in their purchase. This deal thus marks the beginning of the production of high-grade tobacco for the local market, as well as affording an opportunity to growers to test the London market for their leaf.