NEW ZEALAND DRINK BILL FIGURES FOR 1913.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 67, 20 March 1914, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND DRINK BILL FIGURES FOR 1913.

"The drink bill for the Dominion 'or the year 1013" (states the compiler. Mr. A. S. Adams) "is baeed upon tho Customs returns of liquor cleared for cousnmption, and beer manufactured in the Dominion. The basis of valuation is that adopted for many years past. It is suggested that it is in some respects too high, but it has been thought that, as the figures for previous years have been calculated in the same manner, a change is not desirable. To adopt a new basis would lead to serious errors .in comparison. It is probable that the cost of the liquor to the actual consumer is more than the figures show. The period covered is from Ist January to 31st December. There is an increase in the total consumption of spirits and bper, but it is satisfactory to note that the consumption per head of population shows a decrease of lL}d." The figures follow : — Spirits— B76,769 gallons at £2 per gallon, £1,753,538 : increase, 12,973 gallons. Wines— l47,os6 gallons at £2 per gallon. £294,112; decrease, 8560 gallons. Imported^ 8eer— 299,210 gallons at 6s per gallon, £89,763 ; increase, 2830 gallons. Beer Brewed in New Zealand--10,001 > - 200 gallons at 4s per gallon, £2,000,240 ; increase, 214,080 gallons. Total, £4,137,653. Total for the year 1912, £4,081,162; increase, £56,491. Estimated mean population for 1913, 1,068,645; Maoris, 49,844. Total, 1,118,489 ; estimated increase in population, 29,670. Cost of liquor per head— l9l3, £13 14s; 1912, £3 14s ll^d ; decrease, U^d. The quantities of different liquors consumed per head of population work out as under :— Spirits, .78 gallons ; wines. .131 gallons;' beer, 9.209 gallons. "Attention must again be called,' 1 concludes 'Mr. Adams, "to the enormous gross total of expenditure. It seems almost incredible that in this 6mall country £4,137,653 should be spent in. intoxicating liquors in one year. It ia greater than the total revenue from the whole of the railways of tho Dominion, and would pay the total railway expenditure of £2,705,609 interest at 3J per cent, (average rate) on the total cost of the whole lailway system (£31,611.220) and still leave a balance 'of £273,988. With the drink bill we could therefore carry all the passengers and goods free on all our railways, pay interest on cost of construction, and the surplus would pay all the sick and funeral benefits for all tho friendly societies in New Zealand ! The average expenditure for each household of five persons is £18 10s. In many homes no liquor, or only a small quantity, is used ; and the came applies to mental and general hospitals, gaols, .and other public institutions. The tax upon the homes of the drinkers must be very heavy "