DUTIABLE ARTICLES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17250, 18 August 1916, Page 7

DUTIABLE ARTICLES.

LAST YEAR’S CONSUMPTION,

REMARKABLE VARIATIONS.

[From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, August 17

The instmctive return prepared by the Customs Department to indicate the consumption of dutiable articles in common use presents some remarkable features for last year. A decrease in the quantity of imported ale (due no doubt to the high freight) is more than made up in extra local brewings, while the importations of wines and spirits show the usual upward tendencySugar fluctuated in an extraordinary way, which might be explained by the fact that importations for 1914 dropped to the extent of thirty-nine million pounds weight. Last year’s importations of this commodity rose by nearly thirty-five million pounds, thus making a record total, and bringing up tlie average ovor the last few years, In® following table haa been worked out from the returns to show the importations for 1915, and the increase _or decrease compared with the previous year:— ... T „

The reduced importation of ales was more than made up by tbo brewings, which amounted to 10,605,714 gallons, an increase of 349,474 gallons.

Importations. Increase. Spirits (gallons) . Cigarettes (duty) 940,611 . £258,825 63,496 £10,383 6,736 Wine (gallons) . 163,244 CofFeo, cocoa, chic ory (lbs) . Sugar (lbB) . 775,112 143,410,512 219,113 34.973,023 Decrease. Tobacco (lbs) . 2,430,159 Ad valorem goods £1,315,611 Tea (lbs) . . 0,148,578 Ale imported (gals) 260,050 6,876 £211,162 790,039 82,800