INTERESTING STATISTICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2705, 30 August 1894, Page 3

INTERESTING STATISTICS.

An interesting table showing the consumption per head of population of articles in common use has just been compiled and laid on the table of the House. According to this table it appears that from the year 1878 to 1893 the consumption of spirits has decreased from 659,233ga15. to 494,195 gals., or from 4.43 to 2.40ga15. per head of population. In 1892 the consumption was 2.47ga15. per head. The lowest on record is 2.09 m 1889. The total amount of duty has not varied very considerably, being £392,108 in 1878, and £356,602 in 1893. The consumption of wine for the same period (1878-93) has decreased from 194,892ga15. to 112,116ga15., or from 0.70 to o.26gaL per head, the consumption in 1692 being 0.27. The duty paid was £39,635 in 1878, and £32,641 in 1893. There has been a great falling away in the consumption of ale and beer. In 1878 the figures were 488,252ga15. or I.7sgaLi. per head, as against 229,960ga15, or 0.53ga15. per head in 1893. The duty in the former year from this source was £29,315, and in the later £17,247. Coming to New Zealand brewed beer the total amount consumed has remained very stationary, the figures being 4,624,160ga15. in 1881 and 4,873,600 gals, in 1893. The consumption per head has, however, fallen away from 14.6 in 1881 to 11.3 in 1893, while the duty has decreased from 3s 7id per head to 2s lOd per head. The total'amount of duty has only increased from £57,802 in 1881 to £60,920 in 1893. The statistics relating to tobacco are also most instructive. The consumption in 1878 was 1,064,5201 b, or 7.641 b per head, as against 1,273,754 in 1893, or 6.591 b per bead, showing a decrease of 1.051 b per head. The duty in 1878 amounted to £133,065, and in 1893 to £218,637. As to tea, the consumption was 2,896,720 in : 1878 or 6.081 b per head as against 4,083,840 in 1893 or 5.721 b per head. The total duty has risen from £72,418 in the former year to £102,096 in the latter. In connection with the above it must be borne in mind that in the case of spirits and tobacco the figures only apply to the adult male population ; wine, ale, and beer to the male and female population over fifteen years; and tea to the total population.