DRINK BILL FOR 1915

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2787, 3 June 1916, Page 6

DRINK BILL FOR 1915

The drink bill of New Zealand for 191:1, prepared by Mr., A. S. Adams, barrister, of Dunbdin, based upon tho Customs returns and the population returns of tho Government Statistician, shows that the expenditure amounted to JM,'4oS,lßr> 16s„ as compared with ,£1,246,357 in 1914, an increaso of =E1(51,52G 16s.' ' The per' capita expenditure is placed at .£3 1(1-5. Sid., against XI 145., an increase of 2s. BJd. Tho consumption of spirits amounted to 010,611 gallons, value wine, 163,903 gallons, valuo J2327,506; beer (imported), 260,050 gallons, value .£78,015: beer, local, 10,605,714, value .£2,121,142 IRs. Tho increase in consumption is shown at 53,49?' gallons spirits, 7392 gallons wine, 32,500 gallons imported boer, and 249,474 gallons New Zealand beer. According lo Mr. Adams, the drink bill lor 1915 would pay tho whole interest ehargo on our national debt 0fJE9G,641,455 and leave a balance. It exceeds, the total expenditure on our railways by .£1,487,730, and exceeds the Customs revenue by ,£1,207,305. The total revenue dorivod from liquor, by the Treasury was .£873,431, and the amount spent in liquor exceeded the revenue from liquor by The expenditure equals 32.5 per cent, of the total consolidated revenue of the Dominion for the year.