The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1880.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 550, 24 August 1880, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1880.

. . : I . . >; — The- polonial Industries Commissioners,! peaking of tobacco culture, report that the most important agriculturalindustry which has been brought under the notice of the Commission-/is undoubtedly the cultivation of tobacco for manufacturing purposes, The evidence establishes the fact that any quantity of tobacco, equal in quality to the finest American, can be grown in New Zealand, and there is no reason why the whole of the tobacco consumed in the Colony should not ultimately be produced and manufactured in it. This industry would afford profitable employment to cottage formers, and also to women and children, and would utilize large blocks of land which are at present waste or yielding -but little. Having satisfied themselves on these points, however, the Commission are met by the representations of the revenue officers, who show that if the tobacco industry were to bo allowed to flourish, one of the most important sources of revenue (the only sou/ce which can be absolutely depended on) would be dried up. The operation of " The Tobacco Act, 1879/ is undoubtedly to destroy the tobacco industry. It has actually had this result, But this appears to have been the object of the Act, and the tendency of the policy recommended by the Customs Department, and adopted by the Government. That policy having been decided upon, it is useless ior the Commission to make any recommendation on the subject of tobacco, \K compromise in such a case would clearly be vicious. If the -Customs revenue is held to be of . paramount importance—as it unquestionably is at. present—then the growth,of tobacco ought to be prohibited, as it practically is by the Act of last year. If the local industry is held to be of paramount importance—as we trust it will be some day—then no restriction should be placed upon its pursuit, at all events until its early difficulties are overcome. The Commission are assured that aftor five or six years' cultivation tobacco could be produced in New Zealand equal in quality to any that it is now imported; and that, the industry once established, tlio same amount of revenue that, is now raised by the Customs duty on imported tobacco could be raised by means of stamps on the locally-produced tobacco. As to the question of manufacturing' tobacco from the imported leaf, the Commission regard that as of far less importance than the other. It seems likely, nevertheless, to assume considerable proportions, and to be advantageous to the country by affording a new outlet for labor, and to some extent favorably affecting the exchanges. The Commission are of opinion, however, that-the bonus offered to this industry by the Act of 1879 is sufficient to encourage capitalists to embark m it, and they do not recommend any further concession to be made to it, unless the whole question of facilitating the local production of tobacco is to be. dealt with apart from the revenue question,