TOBACCO COMBINE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8056, 26 February 1906, Page 2

TOBACCO COMBINE.

I Miauoi'it.vh:, February -I. 'llie iJoyal Commission on the toIj.'hvo industry, in n majority report, '""I s has heou u Mlih K .ofl: in local factories iiwinjj to the existence of a cunibiiic, vvlii.-K :il.so caused u d.--civaso 111 locally groivii leaf, reduced wages, mid l.vl lo tlic t iii|>]t>yniout of w union. Tin- oft'ecl on growers was disastrous, because they hoi-o placed at the mercy of one buyer, who fully used his opportunities. The report reeouilneiids thai the industry should bo made a Government monopoly, uml estimates that ,C 1,100,0110 would be obtuiiied in duties. I|, further reoom. mends that the matter bo submitted to a referendum of the electors. Senator (trev, in a minority report says the evidence hoard by the Commission, rather than justifying a StnUmonupuly, was entirely against it. Ha i c nios that a combine has a monopoly ; still loss is it injurious to trade. He < onsider* the Inures of his uolle&gnes iniegardto estimated profits entirely fallacious.