TOBACCO INDUSTRY

Feilding Star, Volume 8, Issue 2496, 8 March 1930, Page 7

TOBACCO INDUSTRY

GOVERNMENT WILL HELP OFFICIAL STATEMENT CPer Press Association). Auckland, March G. A statement that the Government was prepared to help tobacco growers in a friendly' manner was made by Mr. J. A. Campbell, Director of Horticulture, in discussing tlie recent merger of Dominion tobacco producing companies. He said that the attitude of the Government was one of friendly assistance, only the Department did not go out of its way to encourage the growing of tobacco as against any' other produce. If a farmer decided to grow tobacco ami approached tlie Department for assistance it would do all it could to advise him as to tlie best manner of growing the plant and making a success of the undertaking. The Department employed an expert in tobacco culture and other horticultural officers, whos e services were given free to all growers of tobacco, and who made regular inspections of plantations. The Department did t not guarantee tlie industry in any way, or promise any definite returns to growers. No responsibility was taken to see that a grower obtained a market for his tobacco. Mr. Campbell suiiported ihe idea of co-operation among growers and existing companies for th e purpose of securing a satisfactory export market.