EMPIRE TOBACCO

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1938, Page 12

EMPIRE TOBACCO

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE

THIRD, OF REQUIREMENTS

It is difllc.ult to realise that New Zealand grows a-greater proportion of its tobacco requirements than is the case in Australia. According to the 31st report of the Imperial Economic Committee on Tobacco, the Dominion grows about a third of its total requirements, while Australia provides barely a fifth of the leaf used by its manufacturers. Neither country assumes a very important place in the world production of the crop. The total area it- estimated at 5,804,000 acres, excluding China. The latter country had an area estimated at 1,345,000 acres in 1936-37. The total Empire area under crop in that year wd about 1,571,000 acres, of which Australia contributed less than 10,000 acres (the actual figures were not quoted); and New Zealand about 1500 ..cres. A YOUNG INDUSTRY. The commercial production of tobacco has only been undertaken in New Zealand ' during recent years. Prior to tli-a 1928-29 season the total area under this crop was less, than 1000 acres, while the production did not amount to 1,000,0001b a year. The maximum production was reached in the 1932-33 season, when 1,785,0001b of leaf were cured; subsequently the output declinac1 The bulk of the tobacco has until recently been air-cured, but in the last few years the output of fluecured tobacco has been increasing. The New Zealand grower at present supplies the domestic manufacturer with, about one-third of the . leaf required for an increasing output of manufactured tobacco products. Some 2,000.0001b of leaf, practically all from the United States, are imported annually. The output of the manufacturing industry increased more than threefold between 1928 and 1934. During the same period there was .a corresponding reduction from 3,6000,001b to 1,000,0001b in the New. Zealand ■ smokers' consumption of imported manufactures. The New Zealand-grower has, therefore, before him the greater part of his home market. Nevertheless, the development of an export trade is contemplated, and-in 1935 and 1936 trial shipments of flue-cured leaf vere sent to the United Kingdom. In New Zealand a Tobacco-growing Industry Act was passed in 1935, and a Tobacco Board established under it in 1936. The board consists of representatives of growers and of manufacturers, with a Government nominee as chairman. .No tobacco can De grown in New Zealand for- sale ,or manufacture except under a licence issued annually by the • board; • The board has wide powers to regulate the growing and disposal of domestic leaf and is also entitled to make recommendations to the Government concerning the importation of '.raw -or manufactured tobacco. -