SHORTAGE OF TOBACCO.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10902, 20 October 1911, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF TOBACCO.

D\NGER OF A SHARP INCREASE IN PRICES. It rests largely with the Imperial Tobacco Company whether smokers will be compelled to pay more for their tobacco in the future. The American crop this year is deficient, the area planted being over 300,000 acres, or about 30 per cent, less than last year, and the average condition is also lower. "The reason for the decreased tobaccogrowing area/' said the manager of the Ardath Tobacco Company to an Express representative, ( 'is that the planters can get a bigger price for cotton, ana consequently they use the land for grow - ing that plant in preference to tobacco. It is very many years since such a stata of affairs prevailed in the tobacco industry as that at present." A large West End trader saul that n prices increased many small manufacturers would be faced with ruin. "The Imperial Tobacco Company, he said "divides the world with 'the \merican Trust. They control more than 70 cent, of the British trade. Last veaa\ when the "price of tobacco leat went up 100 per cent., the small manufacturers were cither losing money or making none. This.year the price lias increased 30 per cent, over last year s fi'nire, and if there is another advance many of the 'small men' will become bankrupt."