TOBACCO INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22250, 26 October 1935, Page 15

TOBACCO INDUSTRY

CONTROL PLAN CRITICISED APPOINTMENTS TO BOARD MR. SAVAGE'S OBJECTIONS [BY TE I. KGB A I'll —SPKCIAfj BKI'OBTKB] WELLINGTON. Friday "The object of this bill is to keep the industry stable and to ensure that there is not an over-supply of leaf in one year and a shortage in the next," said the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. C. E. Macinillan, when moving the second reading ol the Tobacco Growing Industry Hill in the House of Representatives to-dav.

The Minister said tho tobacco-growers were becoming very anxious about the industry, which was being faced with certain difficulties. Conferences between the growers and the manufacturers had been held and the bill had their approval. The growers were to be guaranteed (3d a pound for leaf that was exported. Labour Members: Guaranteed by whom ? Tin Minister: Tho Government. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, said every member of the board to be established under the bill was to he appointed by the Government. If that were not a tragedy it would be a joke. Position of Growers The Labour Party was not opposed to the tobacco-growers and tho board, but wanted the growers to have a definite say in the control of their industry instead of being controlled by a huge monopoly, continued Mr. Savage. He had been informed that New Zealand was able to produce a leaf equal to anything in the world. If the Minister wanted to help tho tobacco-grower he should import less leaf and take more of the locally-grown article. Mr. Savage asked the Minister to allow the growers to appoint their own representatives on the board. Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Government — Motueka) said anyone who had studied the industry would welcome the bill as a step forward. The growers were not concerned with the excise duty, but wanted the difference between the excise duty and the customs increased to give them a measure of preference. When the bi!i was in Committee he intended to move an amendment which would make for the more effective working of tho board. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour —Napier) said the bill limited tobacco production and in other fields the opposite tactics had been adopted. The fact that New Zealand had no tobacco export trade did not alter the position at all. "Nothing Sinister in Bill" Mr. H. Atmore (Independent—Nelson) said the board would not be satisfactory until the growers had the right to elect their own representatives. The election of the manufacturers' representatives would bo difficult. The Minister, in reply, expressed the opinion that the setting up of tho board would bring about a closer cooperation between the manufacturer and the grower. The Leader of the Opposition was quite wrong when he said that the bill was a scheme to fool the growers and give greater power to the manufacturers. Mr. Savage: What 1 said was that it would give the power to W. D. and H. 0. Wills. The Minister: That is wrong. 1 would like to know whether you can produce proof for your statement. The bill has been framed with no other desire than to place the tobacco industry on a better footing. There is nothing of a sinister nature in it.