TOBACCO LEVY WAIVED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 14 April 1939, Page 4

TOBACCO LEVY WAIVED

ON TWO SEASONS CROPS TO ASSIST INDUSTRY The Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, stated that at a meeting of the Tobacco Board held in Wellington it was decided to waive the levy on raw tobacco leaf exported last year and that it had also bee decided not to impose a levy on any leaf of the 1938-39 season. This action had been taken by the Board with a view to assisting the industry. In explanation of the levy, the Minister said that the Tobacco Growing Industry Act and Regulations passed under the Act authox-ised a levy on all leaf grown in New Zealand, the funds so derived being utilised for the purpose of encouraging and developing the industry of tobacco growing and of meeting the administrative expenses of the Board. Last year, this levy was at the rate of Jd per lb., leaf exported being exempt, however, in accordance with the Board’s decision. No levy has at any time, as a matter of fact, been imposed on leaf exported, as the Board has been desirous of assisting export growers as much as possible. The Board Las now gone further and, with a view to assisting the industry generally, has decided that all leaf of the 1939 crop now being harvested shall be free of any levy. The Minister hoped that the growers would appreciate the action of the Board in this connection.