TOBACCO CULTURE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 18 March 1913, Page 6

TOBACCO CULTURE.

A X!0U" FUTUIIK VOV, .-NEW ZEALAND. The marvellous profits of the Sumatra, tobacco syndicates, have diiv-rtivl attention of other countries to the possibilities of growing tobacco u.ndor similar conditions. California,- Florida. Colorado and Oregon are oxperimonting extensively and inteiligently while Mexico, Central Auu-rica, the Transvaal and Capo Colony are giving iiioro attention to tho same industry. On the island -of Sumatra tobacco cul.tur? has l)een reduced to a .st'i;'i!C3, being controlled mainly by Dutch syndicates. Tho largest is tho famous Delhi Company, which produces 1)0,000 bales of 200 Hi cncli yearly, almost one fourth of th? entire Sinn atria n crop. The average dividends paid to its shareholders have been over 75 per cent annually since 1830, and in 1893 it paid a dividend ■of 100 per cent. In the course of the lit.-fc 24 ;.■!-«;> years the company delivered to the American market a total of 4!.)-M!>l hales representing a value of over £10,600,000, upon which a clear profit was made a.nd pa : <l to -hr.'-Hiofdors of nearly £3,000.(100. This is merely one instance of the rapid .strides th? tobacco culture has Keen -making, and of the huge profits which can he obtained hv the application of intelligence. brains a I'd '■■nergv. In the of facts is New Zealand, to, remain indifferent while other countries are untiring in their efforts to extend and devolon this most profitable of all industries? iS'onio .eneoTirasement"'musfc he given to the grower; he must lie .?hb to <ret, advice and assistance on all matter/ 5 - concerning this industry, ai'd a proper organisation is required. And such ot£iar.isation can onlv be initiated hv the Government. Other industries, like horticulture, have at, all tlin'es had the suvmnrt of the Government. Why -shluM the tobacco culture, which may become of greater importance to the country, not share in that support.