DEARER TOBACCO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15567, 26 March 1914, Page 8

DEARER TOBACCO.

PRICES TO BE RAISED. LIGHTER BRANDS MOSTLY AFFECTED. RESULT OF POOR SEASONS. Tobacconists have, been advised of a large increase in the pricej»to be charged for the more popular brands of tobacco, starting with the next shipment. The increased prices are stated to run up to as much as Is per lb, which is an astonishingly large advance. Hitherto prices have advanced by a penny or twopence, never before in such a wholesale way. The increase, of course, is for bulk tobacco in bond, and it applies only to large purchases. If purchased in small lots an extra 3d per lb is added.

The price of tobacco in tins will remain unaffected, but the quantity in the tin is to be reduced. The 2oz tin will for the future contain only l|oz, while the loz tin will hold |oz.

Mr. H. H. Partridge, of Messrs. H. E. Partridge and Co., Ltd., gave two reasons last evening for the increased prices, each of which, he said, had an equal bearing on the matter. One was the increased cost of production—due to the general advance of labour conditions in the United States, and the other was the big decrease in the production of leaf during the last two or three years. The first cause would always remain, as the recent policy of the United States Government in breaking up strong corporations had had the effect of the introduction of legislation, through the medium of the labour organisations, whereby a greatly increased rate of wages will have to be maintained. Concerning the second reason, certain grades of tobacco, especially in the darker varieties, were always produced more prolificacy than the lighter and better varieties. The seasons of late had been most unfavourable for the . cultivation of the light species, and Mr. Partridge was certain, from his knowledge of the manufacturers, that whatever increase was imposed would merely meet the loss that would otherwise be sustained. The majority of the darker grades.would remain practically unchanged in price. Many people considered that these fluctuations were originated by one or two concerns which controlled the output of certain popular brands. This was not so, as, no man being responsible for the seasons or national labour conditions, the trade a* a whole would be affected. The speaker stated that, although the increase would be a considerable one, the exact amount of it would not be known until next week. In any case, he thought, it would be a very long time before the charge was again reduced. _ i/ . *