POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 75, 25 September 1897, Page 6

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

- « ♦ AN INTERESTING COMPARISON. A Parliamentary return 311 st published shows the consumption per head of population of articles in common use for the past 18 3'ears. In spirits, which come first on the list, the average consumption per head has sunk from 4'7'J g illons per annum in 1878 to 217 in ibHU, the decrease being for "the most part steady. In 1889 it dropped to 2 - 09, hut rose in the three succeeding years until it reached 2*47 gallons, since which it has gradually fallen. There are signs of a falling-off in the quantity of tobacco used, the amount in 1878 being 7*641b per head, while last year it was only 6*61. Cigars, cigarettes, and snuff show a considerable increase, and last year the average cost per head to the population ■was higher than it has ever been before. "Wine [shows a steady though slight fallingoff up to the past two years, when the amount consumed remained the same. Imported ale and beer dropped from an average per head of 175 gallons in 1878 to O"7O in *- 1888 and o'3B in 1896. New Zealand brewed beer dropped from 146 gallons per head ia 1881\ to 109 in 1894, but in 1895 the average went up again to 111, and last year it had increased to 11"2. The average consumption of tea , does not vary very considerably. In 187S it was 6-081b ; in 1888, 6'221b ; in 1894, 6'671b; 1895, 6-04lb; and in 1896 it was 5 - 881b. There has been a gradual and substantial falling-off in the absorption of coffee, cocoa, and chicory. In 1878 the average consumption per head was 1*431b, since which it fell off year by year, until in 1895 it was only O^olb. Last year, however, it increased to op7olb.0 p 70lb. This all round fallingoff is probably due to the increased consumption of non - intoxicating summer drinks. SWEEPS AJTD CONSULTATIONS. The Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill, given notice,of by Mr. Lawry, is practically the same measure as was introduced by him in the last Parliament. Mr. Lawry holds the opinion that the money now sent across to Australia for sweeps and consultations should be kept in the colony, and with that object his Bill provides for legalising them in New Zealand. The sweeps are to be conducted under the supervision of the Government, and a sufficient guarantee must be given for payment of the prizes. A license fee of £25 is proposed to be charged for each sweep, and as a sop to probable opponents of the Bill these fees will go to swell charitable aid funds. The Bill will almost certainly meet with the fate of its predecessor. FBIENDLY SOCIETIES. Here are some figures from the annual report of the [Registrar of Friendly Societies : The number of lodges in the colony whose -TTdturns are tabulated is 374, and of central bodies 33, with a membership of 30,905. The funds of these societies total £581,119, of which £522,339 consists of sick and funeral funds and £58,780 medical and management funds, &c. Of the total amount, £429,625 is invested at interest, £116,478 in land and buildings, and £23,402 is cash not bearing interest. The average rate of interest earned U 61 percent. KESEHVES. The reserve'; nude by the Government for public purposes last year totalled 24,439 acres. Of this 139 acres was for the purpose ot' recreation, 4616 acres for primary and secondary education, 204 acres for school Mle-\ 6471 ;utos for forest reserves and plantation*, 480(5 acres for preservation of native I'aui a uad flora for historical and scenic purpow?, :u,d 7220 acres for public domain?. TUT BAIT, WAT EABNINGS. The earnings of the Sailways during the past year .ire understood to be £103,000 more than those of the previous year. The percentage of the earnings upon the capital cflft of the railways is said to be £3 2s lOd por cent., as against £2 16s per cent, last year. JOTTINGS. There are 10 registered working men's clubs in New Zealand. Lasfc 3'car the number of nativo schools increased from 69 lo 74, and the attendance of Maori and half-caste children increased proportionately. The amount applied for lasfc year by local bodies under the. Government Loans to Local Bodies Act was £107,594. Rumours of a loan are still in circulation. A feature of tha work of the Survey 3)epartment last year was the large area surveyed lor mining purposes, namely — 206,829 acres in 2700 hections. This is the largest mining area ever dealt with in the colony. Last year the Land? Department constructed 517 miles of road intended for vehicle traffic and 468 miles of road for horse traffic. The average wages earned on the cooperative contracts for road work and bushfelling hist year were 6s 3Jd per day, the highest average being 10s 6id, and the lowest 4s 8d per day. A series of guides for tourists is now in the printer's hands for publication. " I am happy to say that the trafficking in sections has been put a stop to now, and as far as 1 know all sections aro taken up in a homi Jide manner."— Extraot from the report of Crown Land Commissioner Marchant.