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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5508, 24 April 1889, Page 2

The Customs returns for the March quarter —the last of the financial year—including primage duty, total £307,000, aw against £302,000 for "tho corresponding , quarter of the previous year. A superficial glance at the tiguroH leads one to tho conclusion that they reflect tho dawn of mote prosperous times, of which we hear so much, but a strict'analysis does not bear out that view, Thero is a lulling off in the amount received iiom spiritH, notwithstanding the increase in tho duties. That may please the temperance ptople, while others might

be tempted to draw the conclusion that the decrease is due to bad times. It would be unfair to press home either deduction, because we know that certain concessions ■were made some time ago to the holders of underproof spirits, with the result that there were very, heavy clearances, ' which must. have influenced the returns with which we are dealing. The duty on tea was increased one-half, and the returns show a falling off in consumption. Sugar does exhibit an increase, ar.d this is the only item among those -which are generally recognised •< as showing tho i prosperity of a community that upholds the view by its increased consumption that we are returning to better times. Goodn paying duty by weight have returned £7,500, those subject to ad valorem duties £44,000, "dutiesnot specified" £i,300, and primage duty (not in force in the previous year) £15,C00, more than they did in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. That is to say, while tho increase for the quarter is £05,000, under four headings the gain has been £71,000. Our consumption of dutiable goods has decreased, but by raising our tariff, we have screwed onehalf more out of the consumers of hII goods subject to ad valorem duties. We know such lines comprise almost everything the workiiiff man or industrious housewife has to use, and by increasing the cof.t of tho necessaries of life to these people we are able to say we have a surplus. It is a self-denyng task we have imposed on out settlers, and we have made life a littlo harder to them. That is all.