TOBACCO.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19972, 5 July 1930, Page 18

TOBACCO.

PRODUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND. OPINIONS OP AN EXPERT.

Some interesting views on tobaccogrowing in New Zealand were given o a representative of The Phess yester day by Mr R. Barkeley Smith, managing director of Messrß W. D. and H. O. Wills, and the Dominion Tobacco Co., Ltd. He spoke with optimism of tne future of the.industry in New Zealand, and stated that much further research would bo conducted into the growing side of the 'business. "As regards the possibilities of manufacturing tho rijrht goods in Now Zealand lam an optimist. There aro di cultics with .which every New Zealand manufacturer is faced. "We aro manufacturing for a small population, we are a long way from the world's main centres,- and we have to look a long way ahead in providing for machinery an other requirements," said Mr _ Snitn. "In our own case wo would claim wo are in a position to keep in touc with the most modern methods apply in S to our business, and.we believe that it is possible to produce in New Zealand goods equal in quality to those produced anywhere in the world. On t e manufacturing side, in spite of very great difficulties, we are optimists, anu our optimism is justified by results. Need for Caution.

"As to tho actual growing of tobacco in New Zealand thero is more need for caution than for optimism. In Baying this I think I would probably have the support of the Department of Agriculture. The-Nelson growers have done well. They are growing under contract, and have an assured market. Even in this area much experimental, work has yet to be done. It takes _a long time beforo .the manufacturer is reasonably certain of exactly what suits .the public taste,' and it may take a good deal longer to find out exactly how to grow it .and cure. it. We have successfully blended New' Zealand leaf in pipe ' tobacco and cigarettes, and we will not be satisfied until we have gone much farther in this direction. "Turning again to tho problem of to-bacco-growing it must- be remembered that tobacco is extremely sensitive to variations of soil and climate. This is one of New Zealand's difficulties. Even in the same valley the soil varies greatly in different parts, and so do the temperatures. In recent years the seasons have varied very much. Tor all these reasons it will take time to establish the growing industry on a stable basis. Marketing Problems. "There' is also the difficulty of marketing. Tho grower is sometimes inclined to think that all tobacco is smokeable., The.public is the judge, and a very strict one. ' The, public seems to like what the grower finds it hardest to produce, i.e.,- light bodied' leaf, reasonably mild in flavour. The public have no use for the heavy tobacco which is the easiest to grow. There is a great danger that growers, hearing of remunerative prices received by others, will plunge in on the industry and be surprised at the fact that they can not sell their products. The Nelson farmers understand the position, because of their experience with hops and apples, which accustom them to the fact that the market will tako only the best. "I understand that tobacco growing, even in the United States, would not be a profitable venture unless it "was a peasait industry," said M* Smith. "The farmer and all hia family take a share in the cultivation and harvesting of the crop. If their wages were calculated against the crop, on a commercial basis, tho prices obtained, for tobacco, even in the United Statfes, would show a loss. Conditions in Kelson. ?In Nelson: many. of. the; conditions suitable for the growth of the peasant industry'exist. The whole family helps and families near each other help each other, particularly at harvest time. That, and: the fact that they are experienced farmers, is one of the biggest factors in. their success.- It'has yet to be proved 'that tobacco can be grown profitably in any other part of the country where similar conditions do Inot exist. "Regarding the export possibilities, it it too. early to form an opinion. The mere fact that 'good tobacco can be grown is not a guarantee of sales in tho world's markets. The preference on. Empire-grown tobacco, given in Great Britain, induced tho growing of very large particularly in Rhodesia. Some manufacturers in England were, at first, quite optimistic about the prospect <of selling tobacco containing a large proportion of Empire-grown leaf. They offered and advertised numerous brands and gave the consumer an advantage in price over the existing standard brands. Their optimism, no doubt, contributed to the boom which took place in Rhodesian tobacco growing. Their actual experience on the English market has been, as far as I know, that whilst fair quantities can be sold as pipe tobacco, the public will not ..consume cigarettes, in any large quantities, containing Empire-grown tobacco.

New Zealand's Good Name. "It is possible that taste may change. Possibly, if Empire-grown tobacco had been first on the field the public might have refused to change to the American loaf. The fact is that at present, although many Empire-grown tobaccos appear satisfactory, as regards colour and texture, there is something about them that the British public still dislike. "It may be that New. Zealand leaf will appeal where others failed. Tho good name of New Zealand exports in general may help it. However, it is fairly certain that after failures with other Empire-grown tobaccos, manufacturers will move Blowly, and therefore it must be a considerable time before any export trade grows to a large volume."