RESIGNED TO FATE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20360, 18 July 1934, Page 8

RESIGNED TO FATE.

Smokers and the Rise in Tissue Prices. LITTLE DECREASE IN SALES. Christchurch sme.kers who ” roll their own ” are apparently resigned to their fate in regard to the rise in price oi cigarette tissues. The substantial increase in the duty on the “ working man’s smoke ” has undoubtedly caused considerable resentment, but tobacconists report that sales have fallen off very little as tissue user? realise they ?till have an advantage over the ” tailor-make ” smoker and Are resigned to the new prices. While most of the smoker? content themselves with objecting heartily to the Government’s action in increasing the tariff they continue to buy their tissues and tobacco as before, but others have instituted self-denial as a measure of retaliation. So'rne strongminded citizens have renounced smoking, while others have cut down their weekly ration. In a few cases men have given up using tissues and haveturned over to pipes. The consternation ruling after the imposition of the new prices has died down, but late starters are still scouring the shops for tissues at the old price. Stocks Laid In. On Thursday and Fridav last we§k after the new Customs schedule had been announced, there was a frantic rush to buy up stocks of tissues at the old rates,-women as-well as men touring the city to augment their supplies Small quantities from various shops built up useful stores in some cases, and one enthusiast journeyed round suburban stores and collected seven dozen packets of approximately sixty tissues each. One city tobacconist said that he had a good stock of tissues on hand even after satisfying the demands of customers who bought largelv on Thursday and Friday. He said that he had books of tissues at prices from 2d to 4d. In most cases imported books that were 2d are now 3d, 3’d and 'ld. Locally-made book? of tissues have risen from 2d to 3d, and boo.ks that were Id new retail at 2d or 3d. It is believed that some manufacturer? are considering producing books of about fortv tissues at a cheaper price to meet the needs c f thpse who dislike paying the higher rate for present books, which average from fifty to sixty papers apiece