THE “BIG SMOKE”

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 186, 4 May 1937, Page 6

THE “BIG SMOKE”

Four Tons of Tobacco Burnt Weekly

CUSTOMS DUTY REFUNDED

More tobacco met a natural end —in smoke —on the Petone Borough Council rubbish dump yesterday morning than the average man smokes in a lifetime. There were four tons destroyed iu the presence of a representative of IV. D. and 11. O. Wills, two Customs Department officials, several lorry drivers who conveyed the “makings’’ for the “big smoke,” and a representative of “The Dominion." The other spectator, a council employee iu charge of the dump, was quite disinterested —his whole working week consists of poking about with his tools of trade among the smouldering rubbish dump. There is a sound financial reason behind what may superficially appear to the average man a colossal waste of the means of liftime peace and contentment for a score of smokers. When rhe tobacco is imported in bulk duty must be paid on the lot. In the process of the making of cigarettes and the packing of pipe tobaccos a percentage is unused. This consists of “shorts.” refuse and stalks. Each Monday morning four tons of this rejected tobacco is so destroyed under Customs supervision. The company secures a monthly refund on this amounting to £2OOO. Yesterday morning the main blaze was of 700 pounds of “shorts,” which were spread on the ground in a square some 30 feet by 50 feet. Casing saturated with petrol was placed on the shorts, which were then ignited and the smoke wafted seaward. It is a pleasant job on a fine, sunny day like yesterday, but not so good in unfavourable weather when even tobacco will not fire readily. There are always several tins of kerosene taken along to hasten the destruction. Of the four tons burned yesterday the “shorts” were quite suitable for smoking; hence the strict supervision of the Customs authorities.