REVISION OF DUTY SOUGHT

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28057, 27 August 1956, Page 13

REVISION OF DUTY SOUGHT

TOBACCO BOARD’S RECOMMENDATION (From Our Own Reporter) NELSON. August 26. There was no other primary industry he knew of which so well deserved adequate reward as the tobacco growing industry, and he would be disappointed if the Government did not give sympathetic consideration to the proposals made in this connexion by the Tobacco Board. These comments were made by the chairman of the New Zealand Tobacco Board (Mr R. B. Tennent) when addressing the annual meeting of the New Zealand Tobacco Growers’ Federation at Motueka. Mr Tennent was referring to a resolution passed by the board advocating a revision in customs duties and tariffs, and a proposal that provision be made for an incentive payment to growers of 6d per lb above the cost of production. Referring to the entry of a new manufacturing company into the New Zealand scene. Mr Tennent said that the concession regarding the minimum usage of local leaf made to this company had been made by the Minister of Industries and Commerce after a split vote by the board. He believed that the entry of the new company was a good step in the industry’s history. The new company had undertaken to pay at least the figure per lb assessed by the Department of Agriculture as the cost of production.