TOBACCO DUTIES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 32, 6 August 1930, Page 14

TOBACCO DUTIES

GROWERS PROTEST

A largely-signed petition to the House of Representatives. By tobacco producers in the Nelson province, enters an emphatic protest against the reduction of duty on raw tobacco leaf imported into New Zealand and also the proposed increase in excise duty on locally-manufactured tobacco.

The petitioners state that if the proposals are put into operation they will be compelled to cease operations, as they cannot compete against the imported article. "As this industry has been the means of the present progress and expansion of the Nelson province generally," they state, "we feel that every protection should be given to it and not encouragement to the importation of any raw tobacco leaf. The industry to-day means additional wealth to a considerable extent which is derived from small holdings, and is in accordance with the present idea and policy of inducing men to return to the land. The elimination of this industry will create marked local unemployment, which is most undesirable at the present time, and will mean further a sub-stantia-1 loss annually in wages." The petitioners state that they earnestly trust tho reduction in importation duty: will bo vigorously opposed when the Customs Amendment Bill is brought before the House, and also that the proposed excise duty on locallymanufactured, pipe-smoking tobacco will be abolished as well as the proposed increase in excise duty on other locallymanufactured tobacco, and the duty on all imported manufactured tobacco increased, thus affording further protection to the local industry. In view of the fact that preparation for the coming season's crop should be attended to immediately and no contracts have as yet been furnished, they request that the question receive immediate attention.