IMPORTED TOBACCO DUTY

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1930, Page 9

IMPORTED TOBACCO DUTY

NELSON GROWERS’ PROTEST. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Nelson, Last Night. An emergency meeting of the Motueka Progress League to-day decided to forward to Mr. G. C. Black, M.P., the following telegram: “Tobacco growers here view with great concern the reduction of duty on imported tobacco leaf. It will ruin the local industry by reducing the price to growers and mean the loss of the capital now invested. Three large growers paid approximately £2OOO in wages for tobacco kiln work last season, and they with others will have to close down if the tariff is put into effect. Please advise the position fully so that matters can be fully discussed in relation to the industry.” It is understood the Motueka Borough Council and the Motueka Harbour Board are taking similar action. The Nelson Provincial Progress League to-day forwarded the following telegram to the Hon. H. Atmore: “Tobacco growers in this district are very concerned that the new tariff will seriously affect the industry, particularly the reduction of is per lb. on imported leaf tobacco, a great deal of which is doubtless produced by black labour. The matter is of the greatest importance to the district.”