TOBACCO SHORTAGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21963, 6 March 1946, Page 6

TOBACCO SHORTAGE

LABOUR DIFFICULTIES PLENTIFUL LEAF SUPPLY "There is little hope of an increased supply of tobacco or cigarettes until the acute shortage of female labour in the tobacco factories has been relieved.’ said Mr A. L. Knowsley, secretary of the Wellington Provincial Tobacconists and Hairdressers’ Association. The present shortage, he said, was purely the result of labour difficulties, as there was a plentiful supply of leal' tobacco a.t present in the Dominion. A shipment of Canadian cigarettes and tobacco had been expected at the end of last month, added Mr. Knowsley, but because of waterfront disputes in Canada, this shipment had been delayed, and was not expected to be available to retailers in New Zealand before the beginning of April. •The labour situation in regard to the tobacco industry in New Zealand is worse now than it was at any stage of the war,” said a leading representative of the industry. Certain tobacco manufacturers, lie said, were endeavouring .to relieve the labour shortage by exceedingly attractive offer? of employment, even on a part-time basis, but so far the response had not been good.