NEW ZEALAND TOBACCO

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 5, 7 January 1930, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND TOBACCO

RECEPTION IN LONDON

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, 15th November.

Forty-two bales of New Zealand tobacco arrived by the Tainui a fortnight ago. Each bale contains about 3401b. Unfortunately; a certain amount of damage has been caused by dampness to twentyseven of the bales. The produce was unaccompanied by a certificate af origin, so that the Customs authorities had to go into the matter before the tobacco could come under the preferential treatment clause. This, however, has now beeu decided, and the duty to be paid on it will be 6s a Ib, as compared with 8s for tobacco of foreign origin. Only one bale is first grade, so that it appears as though the best of the crop ha» been retained for manufacture and consumption in the Dominion itself. Samples of the tobacco now in bond will be distributed .among firms likely to be interested, and the High Commissioner's Department will doubtless receive report* from these firms in due course.

When the last experimental consignment arrived from New Zealand some difficulty was found in selling it. The same difficulties apply this time, largely on account of the small quantity. It has to be remembered that manufacturers have their brands and their mixtures, which have all been well tried, and which they turn out in vast quantities. If they used the New Zealand produce, a small unimportant new element would be introduced into their mixtures which they could not vouch for. In the case of a large consignment which was sure to be repeated regularly the arrangements could be made to give the tobacco a. definite price in certain mixtures, which would in time receive the approval of the public.

Available figures show that the area occupied by tobacco in New Zealand in 1023-24 was 28 acres. In 1927-28.it was 690 acres. The report on the experimental consignment a year or two ago was a good one, and it is evident that this has encouraged further planting. Strict standardisation and regular supplies will, of course, be necessary before the industry will be satisfactory to the buyers and to the producers as well.