STANDARDS FOR TOBACCO

Southland Times, Issue 23989, 2 December 1939, Page 6

STANDARDS FOR TOBACCO

Grades To Be Left To Manufacturer MINIMUM QUALITIES ANNOUNCED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 1. Decisions made by the Tobacco Board at a meeting in Wellington a few days ago were announced this evening by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). He said a meeting of representatives of all tobacco manufacturing companies in New Zealand had been'convened for the day before the meeting of the full board to discuss the adoption of standard grades of leaf. Certain conclusions were arrived at by the manufacturers and these were adopted by the board. They will. apply to all tobacco leaf grown in future seasons. These conclusions were: (1) That the determination of grades should be left to each individual manufacturer. (2) That each manufacturer should exhibit the range of samples of acceptable leaf together with descriptions and prices of each grade in a place where such exhibit will be available to growers. (3) That the minimum qualities of leaf and lugs acceptable by manufacturers should be fixed, the minimum to be as follows: Light-bodied leaf, small ripe sand leaves with fair yellow colour lacking slightly in body and- texture, may show slight damage and blemish, size not less than l?in by sin; heavybodied leaf, dark in colour (about light mahogany), may show slight blemish, size about 14in by 5 Jin; the leaf in all cases to be free from signs of mould. STERILIZING PLANT Last season, the Minister said, the board had voted a sum of money towards the cost of providing a sterilizing plant in the tobacco-growing area. It had done this recognizing the value of soil sterilization. Suitable plant was purchased and it had recently been reported that the general result seemed to be very favourable, there being some decrease in the incidence of mosaic disease, less trouble with weeds, a great increase in the number of plants and general improvement in their health. The board had decided to provide additional plant this season. One matter which had caused growers concern in the past was that all manufacturers had not adopted a policy of purchasing leaf in the district where it was grown, the Minister said. It was pleasing to be able to inform the industry that the major manufacturer concerned was making arrangements for leaf to be purchased in the district where it was grown during the coming season, but it would be optional for growers in certain districts still to send their leaf to the customary port if they wished. WAIVING OF LEVY Another matter of considerable interest and importance to growers was the decision of the board to waive the levy of |d a pound on-all leaf of the 1939-1940 crop. For leaf that had been held over from the 1939 crop the board decided that, without precedent, this leaf be submitted for sale to manufacturers under their contracts at W. D. and H. O. Wills Limited’s shed at Mo-; tueka in the presence of growermembers of the board and that the purchase of average contract grades at prices outside the 1/10J basis be allowed.

Referring to the recommendation made to the board by the New Zealand Tobacco Growers’ Federation that the grower members of the board should also be permitted at the same time to hold office as members of the executive of the federation, the Minister said the board had no objection to this and in fact the board had made a suggestion to the federation that the constitution of that body should provide for all grower members of the board to be ex-officio members of the executive of the federation. This suggestion was being conveyed to the federation for consideration.