AN IRISH CIGAR.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 965, 3 September 1908, Page 21

AN IRISH CIGAR.

A good story was told in the lobbies a little while ago. The Prince of Wales, during one of his visits to the House of Commons, had been chatting with John Burns. One Irish M.P., interested in the growth of Irish tobacco, afterward suggested to the President of the Board of Trade that he should get the Prince to smoke an Irish cigar. “ No,” replied John, “as a Cabinet Minister I am sworn to protect the life of the heir-apparent!” However, in the House of Commons, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made an announcement of consider-

able interest. He stated that the Treasury had decided to allow £6OOO for the encoruagement of tobacco culture in Ireland instead of a rebate on the duty. Claims were at once put in for England and Scotland for similar treatment, and Mr Lloyd George stated that when in these countries real efforts were made to grow tobacco, the matter would be considered. The precedent set by the Councellor of the Exchequer in the Irish case will probably have interesting results. The late Marquis of Bute used to grow tobacco at his Welsh seat, but the resultant cigars were so fearful and wonderful as to be unsmokable.