t.—l7

4

Tobacco-growing Districts in New Zealand. The official statistics show that there has been a gradual increase in the acreage of tobacco cultivated annually since the National Tobacco Co. contracted with the growers of the Motueka-Nelson district in 1920 for the supply of leaf. The value of the industry to the tobacco-growers is shown in the following table : —

Judged by the usual tests applied to the determination of tobacco-growing areas —the importance of soil and rainfall, the absence of winds, the results obtained by the two manufacturing companies, and expert opinion before the Committee —the indications are that up till the present the following districts have been proved suitable and successful leaf-growing districts : Dovedale, Ngatimoti, Woodstock, Pokororo, Riwaka, Motueka, Thorpe, Brightwater, Upper Moutere, Lower Moutere, and the Waimea.

The leaf operations of the W. D. and H. 0. Wills (N.Z.) Co. in these districts for the same seasons were, according to statistics handed in -to the Committee by the growers' representatives, as follows :—

Summary: Flue-cured Tobacco.

Another statement tendered in evidence by the growers indicates the number of employees engaged last season in the planting, cultivation, harvesting, and curing of the flue-cured leaf, other than members of the farmer's family, and also indicates the outlay to the growers in the cost of flue-barns, bulking-sheds, and other necessary appointments.

Value of Kilns, Number of Employees, and Wages paid, Tobacco Season 1930.

Nelson. Auckland. jj Elsewhere. Year. 1 Acreage. | Production, j Value. Growers. Production.j Value. J I action Value. | I " | | lb. £ i lb. j £ lb. £ 1925-26.. | 100 450 360,000 36,000 .. . . I 1926-27.. 140 300 240,000 24,000 .. .. .. .. 1927-28.. 314 720 556,234, 56,792 1928-29.. i 539 1,450 1,062,392 107,586 53 I 78 45,200 3,540* 80 60,000 3,000 1929-30.. j 491 1,315 1,045,632 105,828 5 companies 1272 215,600 21,460* 3,264,258 I 330,206 260,800 25,000 60,000 3,000 * Not as yet marketed.

Season. Acreage. f Yield. Average Price. Value. I j 7 " lb. s. d. £ 1928 .. .. .. .. ! 833 384 640.000 1 11 61,340 1929 .. .. .. .. j 848 387 i 561,000 1 9 49,100 1930 .. .. .. . . i . 850 400 j 620,000 1 11 59,400 I

Season 1928. Season 1929. 1 Season 1930. District. 1 1 Acre- Leaf y , Acre- Leaf v , ] Acre- Leaf v , age. produced. ago. produced. value. , ag0 p I0 duccd. Value. H). £ s. d. lb. £ s. d. lb. £ s. d. Riwaka .. 55 62,834 6,730 11 5 144 123,739 12,970 3 1 128 122,498 13,149 3 0 Motueka .. 10 3,735 288 8 7 22J 10,886 1,072 0 5 11 4,948 516 16 5 Dovedale, Thorpe, 28 19,854 2,228 17 9 91 77,346 8,504 4 0 89 69,886 7,108 1 6 Pokororo, &o. VVaimea, Tadmore, 51£ 29,349 2,550 4 8 29 11,372 960 10 3 4 3,162 285 8 9 &c. Upper and Lower 50J 28,533 3,082 5 10 79 28,764 2,912 6 6 58J 43,634 4,583 0 11 Moutere — 194J 144,305 14,880 8 3 365f 252,107 26,419 4 3 290J 244,128 25,642 11 1

District. Value of Kilns. Number of Employees. Wages paid. , i I ! £ £ Kiwaka .. .. .. .. .. 8,090 333 4,012 Motueka . . .. . . . . . . 850 44 454 Pokororo . . .. . . . . ... 1,378 100 329 Dovedale and Thorpe .. .. . . j 2,335 298 ] 118 Waimea .. .. .. .. . . 600 29 105 Moutere .. .. .. .. .. 2,926 168 670 | 16,185 972 6,688