FRANCE’S TOBACCO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 664, 27 November 1902, Page 23

FRANCE’S TOBACCO.

Apropos of the tobacco war. the “ Cigar and Tobacco World " gives some details as to the way they deal with these matters in France.’ The French tobacco monopoly produces an average annual net revenue, to the State of £13,000,000, and keeps an army of officials, clerks, inspectors, and workpeople. The tobacco is distributed throughout the country eO district depots, and to. these depots all the tobacconists in the neighbourhood must go and buy their tobacco, paying fori it in hard cash as and when they receive such a thing as trade credit being unknown to the Tobacco Administration. Further, inspectors constantly visit the tobacco shop and overhaul the stock, entering up in books kept < for that purpose the amount in stock at the time of their visit. The number of tobacconists' shops, or bureaux des tabacs is strictly limited. The Government decides upon the number of tobacco- shops in each town or district; and these shops arc .so situated that they cannot enter into competition With each other ; the titulary tenants or holders of these shops are in 5 all cases appointed by some public department of State.