REPORT OF SOCIETY’S MEETINGS. 325, 
rank tobacco, which the President had told them at 
the last meeting was much adulterated. He thought 
an attempt should be made to prepare this:quality, for it 
suited the taste of the people who consumed it. He 
thought that something might be done here as it was 
in Switzerland, where the peasants grew tobacco as they 
might cabbage and dried it in their houses. At certain: 
times persons went round and’ bought this tobacco, which 
was cured and prepared at the fa€tories. 
Mr. A®neas D. Mackay seconded the motion, He 
had taken great interest in tobacco growing’ for some 
time past, and although $50-had been given by a private 
person through the Society for an essay: on the matter, 
he thought it still’desirable that something further should 
be done. 
Mr. Quelch spoke of the samples of tobacco shown 
at the previous meeting by the Hon. Mr. Jones and 
said that if a sufficiently large premium were offered 
it would probably induce peaple to take up the industry. 
The President said they would be asking’ the: Govern- 
ment to give a grant-in-aid of reducing the revenue, 
and Mr. Mackay in reply remarked that this might’ be 
also said of the assistance given. to the rice industry. 
Mr. Hargreaves said he did not think the Government 
would look upon: the matter from that narrow point of 
view when they knew that the labouring man paid! indi+ 
re&t taxation on everything he consumed, and that it'they 
gave him work in growing tobacco, when otherwise he 
might be’ idle, he would: contribute to the revenues 
When the industry attained considerable proportions: 
would’ be the time to think ofa small tax, but nov at the: 
beginning. 
TTS 
