INVERCARGILL CUSTOMS REVENUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13890, 30 April 1907, Page 5

INVERCARGILL CUSTOMS REVENUE.

AX INTERESTING RETURN.

(Per United Pbess Association.) INVERGAItG'Ui, April 29. An examination of the lnvercargill Customs figures discloses the interesting fact that, the duly paid on liquors of all descriptions, including locally-brewed bser, decreased £2319 in tho nine, months of nolicense. In general goods, other tha.n liquors, a record year was experienced, the amount collected being over £6000 in excess of that for the previous year. While admilting that these facts arc favourable to tlie contention that more merchandise and less liquor has been sol<f under no-license, the Temperance party do not admit that the figures of the duty paid in Invercar!?ill arc any criterion of the consumption here, as the duty is paid at lnvercargill for the whole of Southland, which includes Ihree license areas—viz., Awarua, Wallace, and part, of the Wakatipu. All liquor sold by the travellers of two lnvercargill wholesale spirit merchants, wherever consumed, and beer manufactured at the (tore brewery, JO miles away, pay duty at lnvercargill. The Temperance party contends it. is unfair to judge ilio consumption for the town Ironi the figures for the whole area.