THE IMPORTS OF MARLBOROUGH.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 115, 18 May 1906, Page 3

THE IMPORTS OF MARLBOROUGH.

A STEADY INCREASE

The following return, compiled from official statistics, will show the steady increase in the import trade ot the ports of Wairau and Picton—and, incidentally, the proportions of the district's goods arriving at truj, respective local ports. The 9-year term chosen covers, a period-dining which there has been no revision in the Customs tariff. TOTAL CUSTOMS DUTIES. Wairau. Picton. £ £ 1897-98 4618 217 1898-99 5369 253 1899-1900 6723 356 1900-01 7233 lil 1901-02 778 1 il 1902-03 8054 ,0 SS& ::: ::: S3? 1905-06 ... .... 10,196 # 572 Selecting one prominent item ot duty-bearing goods, "spirits," the increase for the same term is seen to be almost exactly proportionate to the whole. The returns are for the March quarter'of each year: — SPIRITS. Wairau. Picton. £ £ 1898 418 33 1899 453 43 1900 ■ 571 63 1901 670 — 1902 703 — 1903 878 — 1904 733 - 1905 950 4 1906 1066 — Other rather important items show as follows:— Tobacco. Sugar, &o. .. £ £ 189S 175 107 1899- ... 290 215 1900 : 275 366 1901 430 182 1902 395 271 1903 367 200 1904 366 2<B 1905 248 345 1906 416 470 But perhaps the most reliable criterion of the increasing spending power of the population is arrived at by consideration of the following: — GOODS. AD VALOREM. Wairau. Picton. £ £ 1898 265 10 1899 327 3 1900 499 — 1901 539 7 1902 442 10 1903 692 12 1904 556 39 1905 653 57 1906 917 159