TOBACCO INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22524, 15 September 1936, Page 11

TOBACCO INDUSTRY

LONG-RANGE PLAN IN HAND DEVELOPING EXPORT TRADE [BY TELEGRAPH —PKESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday A statement that the formulation of a long-range plan for the tobacco growing industry in New Zealand was now in haud was made to-day by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. t , A sub-committe of the Tobacco Board was set up recently to. undertake, this work, said Mr. Sullivan, and its report would be considered at the next meeting of the board. At a previous meeting it was decided to- recommend to the Government that a minimum price be fixed for all leaf purchased by manufacturers during the season ending March 31, 1937. The Minister added that the Government had informed the board, in reply, that it considered any scheme of minimum price fixation of leaf should be regarded as only part of a plan for the development of the industry, and had requested the board to submit a complete long-range plan to the Government for consideration. The Minister further said that, in regard to the question of the applicability of the levy of id per lb. to leaf exported from New Zealand, the board had decided that, although the levy was still payable in respect of all leaf, whether for local manufacture or for export, further consideration would be given to the question when the account sales for leaf exported this season came to hand. With respect to the question of the Government continuing the present guarantee on the export of leaf, so as to cover leaf exported during the 193637 season, the board had resolved that every effort should be made to maintain continuity, of supplies to the London market, for the purpose of developing the export trade in tobacco leaf.