ARTICLES N COMMON USE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 16 July 1907, Page 3

ARTICLES N COMMON USE.

A Parliamentary report publishes an interesting table, in its latest issue, showing the consumption iu the colony, during thep ast twenty years,' of articles in common use, not usually regarded as being among the necessaries of life. We are evidently a much more sober people tliau we were tweuty years ago. The amount of spirits consumed per head of aduit male population has fluctuated from 2.75 gallous iu ISBO to 2.31 gallons in 11)00; the minimum consumption of ardent waters during the interim was in 1889, when it fell to 2.09 gallons. The consumption per head (male and female over 15 years) per annum of wine has shown a falling fluctuation from .33gal twenty years ago to .lflgal last year. The quantity of imported beer drunk by the average person steadily fell from .89gal in 1880 to .Clgal in 18!) l"; in the following year it rose to ,02gal • but in 1893 dropped to .53gal, thereafter falling to .38 in 1890, at which figure it again stood last year: during the interval it fluctuated between .3flg.il and .34 gal, its lowest point, at which it stood'in 1000, 1901. and 1904. The greatest bulk lof colonial beer consumed during the .past twenty years was in 1900, when the average person, male or female, over IS years of age, accounted for 13.2ga1. The >a»t quantity drunk during one year was in 1888—10.5 K al. The figures vaviicd from lUgal in 1880 to 12>al in 11900. "

Tea, us a beverage, has varied considerably in public favor. In 188(1 the amount used per head of the total population for the year was (1.401b; in the next year the consumption had readied its minimum, 7.401b. The lowest point was reached in 1880—namely, 5.581b. Last year the figure was 0.411b. The average New Zealauder of to-day is a much heavier smoker than in 1880. rivcnty years ago the amount of tobacco smoked averaged for caff- man U.6slbs in twelve months. Last year the quantity' was 7.0(111). There lias been a considerable variance in the demand for the ••sovereign herb," the highest average having been 7.4:i11> in 1(104, and the lowest 0.441b in 1800 and 1804. The bulk of cigars, cigarettes and snuff, which are always lumped together in the Customs returns, is not given for recent years, but the amount paid in duty per I head has constantly risen from 3s 3d in 1880 to 0s s'/ 4 d last .year. Probably I the greater part of this increase is caused by the. growing, if regrettable, popularity of cigarettes. The quantity of coffee, cocoa and chicory used has fluctuated from .961b (the maximum) per head of total population in 1880 to ,511b in 1000: the minimum was .4411b, in 1001.

Owing principally, no doubt, to its gradual cheapening, the allowance of sugar has increased 71.71b for each person twenty years ago to lOS.filb last year —a difference of SS.fllb.

_".Vd valorem goods," which may be widely classed at luxuries, have increasjed in consumption from 10s !)d per head in 1880 1„ r] 5s ,T!'id per head last