New Zealand Tobacco Industry

Northern Advocate, 29 July 1938, Page 2

New Zealand Tobacco Industry

Making a plea for the greater protection of the tobacco growing industry. Mr K. J. Holyoake (National. Motueka) in the House of Representatives on Wednesday said that no industry in lire* Dominion offered more scope for expansion in small areas than tobacco growing. Five or six acres of land would provide a farmer with a good standard of living provided he was afforded protection in the intial stages of production.

Founded in 1915 the industry was well established in 1926, and in 193233 the tobacco plantations produced 2.500.000 lbs. of leaf. An adverse tariff brought about a setback, the following year, In 1935 the Tobacco Industry Act was passed, the legislation being administered all or the present Government had taken office. There was still need for protection, however. Addressing himself to Mr Nash. Mr Holyoake asked for an answer, “yes, or no.” if there was anything in the Ottawa agreement that- prevented the -Government from providing the tobacco growers with extra tariff protection? Mr Nash: Have you stopped beating your wife? Answer yos, or no. Mr Holyoake; I am not going to be caught by something that all the school children, know. In conclusion, Mr Holyoake said that he agreed that tobacco could be produced in New Zealand better than in any other part of the Empire, and practically equal to any other part of the world. With the encouragement the Government could give to the industry so that New Zealand tobacco could be sold at Id or 2d loss per tin or packet than the imported article, there would be no trouble in inducing the great majority of smokers to use nothing but the Dominion product. The industry needed not only sympathy, but sympathetic action from the Government.