N.G. Tobacco.

High Prices Encouraging Local Manufacture.

OWING to the high prices of im ported tobacco —every Government in the world seems to regard the soothing leaf as fair game for the im position of excise and import duties — the manufacture of indigenous tobacco is being seriously attempted in New Guinea.

The Territory produces a great deal of leaf, mostly wild or native-grow.

There have been varying reports on the quality of this product, but the comparative cheapness of the manu factured article always discour aged any organised attempt at local manufacture. Present high prices, however, have altered the position.

Preparation of “twist” tobacco is de finitely being attempted in the Terri tory, and one man, in the Rabaul dis tinct, has attained considerable suc cess. Another man is producing cigars and, while they are not exactly Corona Europeans have found them smokable.

Huge quantities of manufactured to bacco, in its harshest form, are con sumed in the Territory, mostly by issue to native labour; and there is scope here for an important local in dustry. There is little doubt that, if the prices of imported lines remain high, the locally produced article will become established.