NEW ZEALAND TOBACCO

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1930, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TOBACCO

I A BRIGHT FUTURE

j AUCKLAND, May 13. , A bright future for the tobaccogrowing'industry in-New Zealand is Held out by; Mr F. Adamson, a director, of the-United Kingdom Tobacco Company, Limited, who arrived at Auckland by the UUmaroa, Mr Adamson’s headquarters’ are in London, but he makes periodica] visits, to. Aus-. trali a and New Zealand.

• “On my last visit to the Dominion f: Inspected several tobacco , fields,” said Mr Adamson. “My impression was that when growers have an Opportunity of , studying the various grades required by manufacturers, they will be able to produce tobacco which, ■ blended with imported tobac-. co, will meet all requirements. Thereare prospects of the future establishment of an export trade in New Zealand tobacco. Some time ago my company purchased ,23,0001 b, and used if for blending with Virginian tofor cigarettes. The experiment was quite satisfactory for the purposes of oigarette manufacture. New Zealand tobacco was slightly better than that grown in Australia.”

Mr Adamson said New Zealand pipe tobacco was good, but it also required blending. The standard tobacco, ro far as the public taste was concerned, was that grown in the Eastern States of America. It would remain in favour until there was a change in the public palate, and it would take many years of blending ■lefore this occurred. The tobacco business generally was still prosper-; ous. There had been recenjtly falls in prices of tobacco shares on the Australian market, but this Was due oily to the general depression. IF anything, the demand for tobacco was increasing and the industry could not lose ground. "We have certainly -been affected bv the increased tariff in Australia,” said Mr Adamson, “Indeed under present conditions, we are making no profit at all on the Australian market. However, my firm has already decided to open a factory in Australia, "and one will be constructed in Melbourne in the near future. There has recently been an amalgamation between my firm, and Godfrey Phillips, - Limited. The combine controls six popular brands of cigarettes, and the Australian factory will be under the management of Godfrey Phillips, Australia, Limited, Mr Adamson will remain in Auckland until next week, and will then leuve on a business tour of the Dominion:. He expects te .be in New Zealand for about six weeks.