BAN LIFTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23340, 8 May 1939, Page 10

BAN LIFTED

ENGLISH CIGARETTES SEVERAL BRANDS ONLY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS MADE Several well-known brands of English cigarettes are now to be admitted into the Dominion, arrangements having been made by the distributors with overseas suppliers to obtain stocks without drawing for the time bang on sterling funds in England. The period for which funds arc to remain in the Dominion is not disclosed. Merchants point out that the arrangement, which has been sanctioned by the Government, is strictly limited in extent, many other brands oil popular English and other overseas cigatettes being still affected by the ban on imports. Pipe and cigarette tobaccos remain on the list of prohibited imports for the corning half year.

Other Parties Negotiating

It is also stated that distributors of other /brands of cigarettes are still negotiating with English suppliers in the endeavour to make financial arrangements that will open the gateway into .New Zealand for their stocks. Already the public is affected in its purchases by the prohibition? or cutting down of importations of cigarettes and tobacco in the current half year.. Some American and South African cigarettes and tobaccos cannot now be obtained in many retail shops. Merchants have been rationing stocks to retailers ol: English cigarettes and tobaccos, but shortages are said to have been caused among some retailers through overpurchasing by the public. Rivalry in Trade Many smokers, with a prohibition on English supplies looming, have sought to lay in stocks cif their favoured brands, and although some retailers have discouraged large individual purchases, others have not thought it expedient to do so. It is expected that the arrangements made for the admission of several brands of English cigarettes irill be followed by similar contractu, the opinion being expressed that trade rivalry may be an important factor id the particular circumstances.

TOBACCO PRICES BATES FOR THE SEASON DECISION OF THE BOARD SUBSEQUENT ADJUSTMENT Average overall prices to be paid to tobacco growers, for the 1939 crop are Is 10-Jd u pound for flue-cured leaf and Is 7sd for air-dried, according, to an announcement made on Saturday by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, who is chairman of the Tobacco Board. The manufacturers! were being asked to open their buying on this basis as from May 8, the Minister added. Later the position would be reviewed and they would receive a payment to compensate them for the difference between the prices as determined and those they were able to pay on ji commercial basis. The latter were stated to be Is 8d and Is od a pound, respectively.