NEW ZEALAND’S DRINK BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3768, 8 June 1907, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND’S DRINK BILL.

The current number of Tl e New Zealand Trade Review states that New Zealand’s Drink Bill ii * creased all round last year. Analysing the figures for the last three years it has shown that the increase in Custom’s revenue is ,£242,629 shown in the year’s income arises in the North Island to the extent in round numbers of ,£127,000, to £107,000 in the South Island and to £BSOO in the parcels post. The heaviest increase (£77,000) is seen at Lyttelton, and is mainly no doubt the income of the International Exhibition. In spirits there is for the year the heavy increase of £37,282 —a little over 7 per cent. In the two years from 1903-4 to 1905-6 the increase was only equal to a shade over 2% per cent, while the increase in population was at the rate of about spercent per annum, or 6 per cent for the two years. Wine and beer also show a veiy unusual rate of increase. In tobacco there is an increase of 4 per cent, in cigars and snuff about 8 per cent, and cigarettes over 14 per cent. The heavy rate of increase exhibited in many lines must be attributed partly to the general prosperity and high spending power of the community, and partly to the special influence of the Exhibition. The excise duty collected on colonial beer in 1903-4 was £96,720: in 1904-5 it was £95,220 ; in 1905-6 £98,135. and last year the figures rose to