WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 September 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

FOOD CONSUMPTION

(Special to ” Guardian.”)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 7

The Government Statistician lias made an investigation into tlie food consumption of tlie people of New Zealand. and the results are published in the Monthly Abstract just issued. By taking the total production figures of a commodity and adding or subtracting tlie net imports or exports, a result is obtained which gives approximately the total quantity available for home consumption. New Zealanders are credited with being the greatest meat caters in the world, and there is no doubt about that, yet few of us realise exactly what this amounts to. We are assured by the Statistician that the average consumption of fresh meat per head of the population in the Dominion is 3551 b, v.hii'e in addition 2:11b of preserved meat and 1-tiJlb of bacon and ham are also consumed. Beef easily heads the list with an average consumption of 2.371 b per person, compared with 1101 b in Australia and 751 b in Canada. Our. consumption of mutton is 781 b per bead, pork 321 b and lamb 81b. Tlie weight of the beef consumed is placed at .327,805.5011 b, the weight of mutton is 103,459.3601 b, lamb 11.172,0991 b, and pork 41,405,5201 b. The consumption of preserved meat runs to 3,819.5521 b and bacon and bam 20.362,265i'b. The consumption of bacon and bam would be considerably greater but for tlie price being beyond tlio masses. New Zealanders are heavy consumers of butter, but poor cheese eaters. The consumption of butter is equal to .37.8.34..9001b or 27.351 b per bead, while the cheese required for domestic use amounts to only 6,925.298 lb or 51b per bead. Tlie consumption of flour amounts to 298.706,26711) or 208.67 lb per bead. Potatoes bulk large in tlie consumption for 263,343,347 lb or 190.331 b per bend, are required. Of renfied sugar wo require 125,880.466 lb. or 90.0911) per head, and of salt 68,2(51,431Yb or 49.331 b per head. Of oatmeal we require 12,708.3121 b, or 9.23 lb per head, and of rice 6,971,4031 b or 5.041 b per person. The consumption of onions is placed at 17,114.2071 bor 12.301 b per capita. It should be mentioned that in the ease of potatoes and onions no attempt lias been made to estimate the total quantity raised in home gardens for local consumption. A good deal of fruit is consumed in New Zealand, apples taking first place with 51,220,3351 b or 37.0211) per head, and remarkable as it may appear tlie next is banana of which the consumption amounts to 24,438,37414) equal to 17.66111) per head; oranges come next with 13,819,2711 b or 10.011 b per bead. Of pears we consume 9,233,6101 b. raisins and sultanas 8.438.1091 b, dates 3.112,0111 b, lemons 1,971,7861 b, and prunes 1.751.85011>. The consumption of tea runs to 10,787,3681 b, equal to 7.801 b per bead. Of beverages the consumption of ale and boor stands out prominent and amounts to 13,249,821 gallons or 9.58 gali'ons per head. Spirits consumed totalled 672.216 gallons or just under half a gallon per head.

TA X ATI ON PI? ESS UR E. Reeling is very bitter against the proposed increase in the income-tax assessment of a .section of the community, and this move is regarded aa political trick to raise an additional revenue; it is certainly queer, if it is an adjustment, that while one section

is to pay a larger amount in incomo tax, no corresponding reduction is made in respect to other sections. !r is Ik—lieved that this increase, and the increase in the Customs duties which everyone anticipates is absolutely necessary if tlie Minister for Finance is to provide for the increased expenditure which lias become a chronic feature of Reform Budgets. The increase in taxation is a terrible disappointment for most people were looking forward to some reduction of the tax burden. There reali'y is no warrant for expecting any reduction. Taxation is an effect. Taxation is being increased because ef an increase in expenditure, : and expenditure increases because the Reform Government is wedded to a ! policy of borrowing and squandering. : The finances for 1926-27 showed that the principal increase was in respect to interest, the increase being £320,000; this year it will be quite as much for quite as large an amount lias been borrowed ns in tbe previous year. if this policy is continued tlien wo must expect to see taxation increased, and heavy taxation is a burden on trade 1 and industry and is a brake on prosperity. We have gone almost hysterical regarding public works. Professor Plinnn says: “ Public works are excellent things, but only so long as the balance is preserved between capital and earning power, between equipment and its use in furthering production. Overset that balance and they become a burden.” We have overset the balance.