TOBACCO LICENCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22580, 19 November 1936, Page 15

TOBACCO LICENCES

Sir, —With reference to the statement of the secretary to the Tobacco Board that no tobacco may lie grown except in accordance with a licence in force under the Tobacco-growing Industry Act, 1935. and that no licences will be granted in respect of applications for same after November .10, 1936. this may be a wise decision as far as the board is concerned, but what about the consumers who, on account of the high prices of tobacco, have been fleeced ever since the Great War? The attempt to prevent people from growing their own tobacco by requiring them to obtain a licence to do so should be strenuously opposed by consumers, who should form themselves into a Tobacco Consumers' Protection League with the following objects:— (1) To secure the abolition of such licences; (2) the reduction by 75 per cent of the iniquitous tobacco tax, which is paid by the consumers, being included in tho prices of tobacco; (3) to prevent the manufacture of tobacco millionaires. Before the war tobacco could bo bought in the Channel Islands for Is per lb.,' there being no customs duty on it. This may enlighten the public as to the huge profits in the tobacco industry, notwithstanding increased costs. F.E.