THE TOBACCO OUTLOOK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18459, 24 July 1923, Page 9

THE TOBACCO OUTLOOK.

" CIGAR KING " PROPHECY; SHORTAGE OF BEST BRANDS. That a shortage of the best cigars is probable next year is the prediction made by : Mr. A. L. Sylvester, the American tobacco magnate, who is now in London; Mr. Sylvester, who has earned for himself the title of the Cigar King, knows more about the Cuban cigar market than anybody else, for, besides . being vicepresident of the American : Tobacco ; Company, he is chairman of; three concerns that control the supply of Havana leaf— the Henry. Clay and Bock Company, ; the Havana Cigar , and Tobacco Factories, Ltd., and the Havana Commercial Company. ' , . ' • " Lack of rain has : seriously, interfered with this year's crop of fine leaf," ,he i stated in an interview, "land- it is rather more than likely that as a result- the market in high-grade cigars will be restricted in 1924. v , :s . •. " I do not wish to be an alarmi.it, however," he added, " as it is ]>ossi'ble that conditions may yet improve to a limited extent.- I cannot say definitely whether a shortage of leaf would' involve increased prices, but since the law of supply and demand is inexorable, that is a contingency with which we must reckon. In any case, the cheaper brands will not be affected," ' '...; .' j:Englishmen, according to Mr. Sylvester, are "great smokers, but Americans consume more cigars in proportion ,to. population. V ■ ' ..-•t'.: " Still," he says, " the smoking of good Havanas has increased notably in Great Britain during the past two years." ■ The " Cigar King," who goes to London twice a year,' holds the opinion ' that business . and social conditions in Great Britain are now improving. " I have noticed a spirit of optimism during my present visit," he said, "and it seems to me that there is plenty of justification for this."-