TOBACCO IMPORTS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 118, 12 February 1941, Page 9

TOBACCO IMPORTS

Lifting Of Restrictions Held Unnecessary

MORE DOMINION-GROWN

There was no ground for suggest ing that the restriction upon the importation of tobacco required to be lifted, said a representative of Messrs. W. D. and 11. O. Wills yesterday, in commenting on an Auckland statement that a system of rationing supplies of tobacco would have to be introduced eventually unless restrictions were lifted.

Adequate supplies of imported leaf were being received, he said, and any reduction that bad taken place in the quantity of overseas leaf imported into the country had been compensated for by the increased production of domestic leaf. The two combined were quite sufficient to cater for New Zealand’s tobacco and cigarette requirements. It was pointed out that there was a great deal more New Zealand leaf being produced than hitherto, and this Increased crop was being absorbed in the manufactured product. “It may not be fully realized,” the informant added, “that the quantity of New Zea-land-grown leaf purchased by manufacturers last year was considerably greater than in the previous year, and that this year it will be greater still.” Manufacturers should not be blamed too severely if there were occasional delays in the execution of orders. It was realized that wholesalers and retailers had their difficulties, and these were equalled by the difficulties of manufacture. The way to avoid a shortage was in fact for dealers to buy normally. There was no call to increase stocks as there was no feat of shortage.' Abnormal or panic buying would, however, make rationing necessary.