TOBACCO YIELD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 64, 16 March 1944, Page 3

TOBACCO YIELD

1943 RECORD HARVEST

DOMESTIC PRODUCTION TREND

The average prices received by growers for the 1943 tobacco harvest were l/lOi a pound for flue-cured, and 1/72 a pound for air-dried leaf. This is revealed in the seventh annual report of the Tobacco Board, which states that the prices were fixed by a Price Order issued by the Price "Tribunal and were uniform with prices received in the four years preceding.

A record yield for the 1943 I tobacco crop is reported, the total amount of leaf harvested being 3,155,1531b. It is stated that a steady increase in the production of domestic leaf has been the constant aim of the board since its inception. This programme of expansion, which is in line with the Government's policy as laid down by the' Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. Sullivan, had been retarded by the war. Two of the greatest difficulties, namely, the provision of adequate labour and the supply of materials, were overcome during the .year to make possible a satisfactory harvest. The minimum percentage of domestic leaf which all manufacturers are required to use over their total manufacture, was increased in August, 1942, to 274 per cent. The minimum in January, 1941, was fixed at 20 per cent. The increase was made in order to 1 encourage the production and utilisation of domestic leaf to the fullest possible extent. The report also states that a levy of l-6th pence per pound was struck on all leaf of the 1943 harvest sold by licensed growers for manufacture into tobacco and cigarettes. The assistance and co-operation of the New Zealand Tobacco Growers' Federation has been sought and readily obtained in all matters relative to the industry, adds the report. At the federation's suggestion, the board agreed to arrange the necessary finance for the purchase of bulk supplies of coal for tobacco-curing. This was done with a view to assisting growers by an assurance of sufficient supplies for their needs and by keeping the supply of coal as low as possible.