TOBACCO POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 91, 19 April 1939, Page 5

TOBACCO POSITION

A RETAILER'S COMPLAINT

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, April 18,

The effect of the prohibition of the importation of certain classes of tobacco is now being felt by many smokers. Many retailers are without supplies of some brands of American cigarettes and South African tobaccos and are unable to obtain more from distributors.

It is possible in most instances to obtain popular brands of American cigarettes, although this may necessitate a smoker calling on several retailers to obtain the desired result; the major inconvenience appears to be suffered by pipe smokers who are unable to obtain particular blends made up by individual retailers and which contain South African tobacco.

"Many of my pipe tobacco blends, and those of many other retailers, comprise up to 75 per. cent, of South African tobacco, the remainder being Hew Zealand," said one city tobacconist "As I am unable to obtain supplies of South African tobacco, I am losing regular customers.

"They may not be able to obtain their former mixtures, but apparently they are still able to get mixtures elsewhere that have a proportion of South African tobacco. The result is that my business is being sadly disorganised because I have specialised in meeting the needs and tastes of pipe smokers."