TOBACCO PROFITEERING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2060, 27 November 1919, Page 2

TOBACCO PROFITEERING.

THE average tobacco .smoker has resignedly accepted Ihe various increases winch have been made in the price of tobacco since the outbreak of war (says the Otago Daily Times). He has not inquired very deeply whether or not such increases were justified. Had he read in the balance-sheets of some of the big British and American tobacco, concerns —the businesses have now been largely drawn together—of the colossal profits made during the war, he might not so readily haveabsorbed the reasons given why the advances -were warranted. Moreover, (he fact becomes obtrusive that very largo proportions of the profits of those tobacco concerns were obtained from the soldiers in the lighting line —I'rum soldiers actually fighting 'to safeguard these fohacco concerns, amongst other businesses. These points seem io introduce the fact that the merchants in flic Dominion are beginning to feel some uneasiness at a new trend of the tobacco trade. They sense, rather than know, Unit a movement is afoot to cut them out of the tobacco trade altogether. To argue that such an excision would ultimately be in the interests of the tobacco-smoker would be foolish. 'Merchant.-, are now closely watching the position. Whether they will combine to protect: themselves remains to he seen.