RESEARCH WORK IN TOBACCO

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22003, 29 January 1937, Page 12

RESEARCH WORK IN TOBACCO

FOUNDING OF STATION SUGGESTED

GOVERNMENT TO SAFEGUARD

INDUSTRY

[From Our Own Reporter.]

NELSON, January 28,

The establishment of a tobacco research station, preferably at Nelson, was suggested by representatives of the Nelson Tobacco Company to the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) at Nelson this evening. The Minister assured those in the industry of the Government's desire to promote research and also of its intention to protect the development of the industry as much as possible. The Minister was asked to help in view of the aim of making New Zealand self-supporting in tobacco, and the deputation claimed that there was no ieason why, if the growing,side of the industry could be developed, the Dominion should not be able to manufacture enough tobacco for itself. It was with that in view that growers were mooting a research station. It was stated that more leaf was being grown in the Dominion this season and thai there was scope for the development of the industry along lines which would make it one of the most important in the Dominion, but the establishment of an experimental station was urgently needed already for the industry. Mr H. Atmore, member of Parliament for Nelson, supported the request. Assurance to Growers Mr Sullivan expressed his own recognition of the importance of the tobacco industry, the development of which was a credit to the people of New Zealand and of Nelson particularly. He had heard of those in the industry fearing some developments which might imperil its development—that there were fears of outside interests possibly securing a hold of production and that there would be such large importations of outside leaf that local leaf would be swamped—but he thought that growers could take it from him that the Government would not let anything happen which would imperil the industry and would take whatever steps possible to protect it rather than allow it to be endangered or lost. He was wholeheartedly with the deputation in recognising the need for contin,ual research, but it had not yet been quite decided how that research should be carried out. He 'felt for this and all other important industries that research associations were necessary along the lines of those in Great Britain, with representation of the industry, the Government, and scientific organisations. Board's Plan for Industry

The New Zealand Tobacco Board's plan for the industry had been submitted to him, Mr Sullivan said, but he was anxious to get further information. The board's plan included the investigation of tfye research side of the industry. The Minister assured the deputation again that the interests of growers and manufacturers would be protected from outside competition.

Referring to the export side of the industry, Mr Sullivan said he was sorry about the pessimistic view taken by the spokesman for the deputation (Dr. S. A. Gibbs). He thought that the prospects were satisfactory, with encouraging reports coming in from overseas. He had been thinking that it was worth following up the possibilities for the industry in the outside market as well as developing the local side. The chairman of the Tobacco Board (Mr L. J. Schmitt) told the deputation that the final plans for the industry would be ready for submission to theMinister very shortly.