SUPPLIES OF TOBACCO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16796, 12 March 1918, Page 6

SUPPLIES OF TOBACCO.

SHORTAGE BEING EXPERIENCED. Tobacconists are finding it difficult to obtain all the supplies of standard lines they need. Local importers state that shipping troubles and the large quantities of tobacco in various forms consumed by the men of the allied armies arc responsible for the present shortage rather than any marked deficiency in production. Till recently the substantial stocks held, helped by those which had been received fairly regularly, kepi the market fully supplied, but the shipments arriving lately have not been so regular or so large and orders have had to be cut down. The fact that cash business is being turned aside indicates that the shortage is national, not local. It is estimated that fully 60 per cent, of the standard lines sold in New Zealand are ol Australian manufacture, and not only arc theie affected, but standard English and American tobaccos, in tins and cartons are also in short supply. Shipments of tobaccos from Australia are unsatisfactory as far as the loca market is concerned. Eocal, manufacturers state that the bulk of these goods are landed from Australia at Wellington, anc aro transhipped to the north-coming coastal steamers when opportunity offers but the experience is that these vessel; are frequently fully laden with foodstuffs when they reach Wellington, and consign mcntß of tobaccos are sometimes left at the Southern port for weeks at a time. It hat •also been found difficult to gel space or the mail boats from America, while the small space devoted to cargo on many oi the steamers which bring _ invalided sol diers from England also militates ngainsl regular shipments being obtained from that source. Present indications are thai the shortage is likely to continue. Matches, usually so cheap and plentiful, are now dear and scarce, and promise to be sc&rcsr. Speaking of the increasing popularity oi the cigarette ias against other forms ol smoking, Mr. H. E. Partridge* stated or Saturdav that the consumption of cigarette! in th 6 'United States 30 years ago wa* about 10,000.000 annually, whereas foi the season 1916-17 the consumption had increased to just under 26,000,000,000, anc it was anticipated that the season 1917-K would show a further enormous increase. The'increase in the consumption of tobacco in other forms had been only normal. Prior to the commencement of the war the tobacco growing and manufacturing industry of France was State controlled, and produced nearly the whole of the tobacco consumed in the country. Towards the end of 1914 the tobacco crop was entirely ruined as the result of the German invasion, and the country now looked to America for its supplies.