TOBACCO CULTURE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 252, 28 November 1872, Page 5

TOBACCO CULTURE.

The following important facts with reference to the auooesa and remunerativeness of the culture of tobacco in Auckland were given by Mr Gillies in speaking on the motion that the House should resolve itself into a committee to consider what assistance should be granted to encourage local industries :—": — " Mr Gillies wished to call attention to the fact that one very important industry, which by a little assistance had been established in the Province of Aucklaud, had not been considered by the Local Industries Committee an industry which he thought there was sufficient evidence to show would become a very valuable industry in many parts of the Colony, especially the northern parts — he meant the growth and manufacture of tobacco. It had already been successfully established ; but he wished to bring before the notice of the House and of the Government that when they were considering tie queEtion of encouraging local industries, this one ought not to be lost sight of. The Provincial Government, by the expenditure of a very small sum— he did not suppose of more than LIOO or Llso— had enabled it to be demonstrated that tobacco could be grown and manufactured at a very considerable profit, and in a way which w«uld be very advantageous to small settlers, who could grow and prepare' it' shem§elves for market. He would shortly state t&efatetsl The Pr6vinoial Government,' at the sjpall cost oj Ll<iO or LI SO, had enabled a gentleman named Mr E. W; G=>>tch to grow between ,one and two acres of tobacco at Fapakura, some twenty miles from Aucklaud, during the past year. The result had been, notwithstanding the drawback of an unfavorable season and various other things, that he had produced by his own labor and that of his fanrly, about 5600 cigars — the quality of which many hon. members had had an opportunity of testing — and about Bcwt. of cured tobacco besides. Mr Ootch had given him an account of tbe cost of production and the value of the produce. The cost of production was from L 23 to L 25 an acre of cured leaf. The produce of an acre was from lOcwt. to 13 cwt. Taking it at 10 cwt., and reckoning the value of the cured leaf at Is a pound, it gave 1.5(3 an acre as the value of the tobacco, which cost from L23toL 25 an acre to produce. It was very important for small settlers, who very often could not make corn and flax pay, to know that they were able in many places to produce an article which would pay them to cultivate. The successful result of the experiment had induced many more settlers in the neighb >rhood where Mr Gotch resided to engage in tobacco cultivation, and they had planted about eight acres of tobacco during the present season. He thought the matter v was worth the attention of the Government arid of tho Industrial Commftte'e."' "'' ' v