TOBACCO GROWING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22981, 8 March 1938, Page 15

TOBACCO GROWING

Sir, —Can any of your readers inform me what the Government is doing to develop this important industry? Quite an appreciable proportion of the thousands ot pounds spoilt on tobacco growing during the last nine years was the result of the favourable report ot' the Government expert as to the suitability of the soils, etc.,' in this province. There is also' the Pongakawa tobacco settlement, where the unemployed have been growing leaf for some years. It almost appears as if both the private capital of the companies and the public expenditure of the above scheme are to be forgotten and written off as regrettable ventures. When the Tobacco Board was appointed wo looked forward to a policy of intelligent and continuous development of the industry throughout the country. Alter a period of masterly inactivity it has apparently handed its functions over to the permanent staff, in this rase, the Bureau of Technical Research. The result is the decision to concentrate all tobacco activities on the Motueka district. What benefit will it be to the rest of the country if research is confined to one area? Excellent leaf has been grown in this province and it appears tragic that all the good work of the past should be shelved in this arbitrarv manner. As it is impossible, under the ruling rate of wages, to employ labour on a large scale in this industry, and if sufficient leaf is to be grown to warrant aq export trade, I suggest that a careful survey by a qualified expert be made of the 20 small farm groups in this province and those farms found suitable both as to soil and climate be selected and their owners bo trained to grow small plots of tobacco. As they became more proficient their acreages would be increased. The result would he increased income for the farmer and the country would have the benefit of a larger margin of exportable leaf. The most important advantage would be the proof that the area of tobacco-growing country is not confined to any one district. H. L. Willis.