PROHIBITION CAUSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21359, 12 June 1931, Page 10

PROHIBITION CAUSE

ANNUAL MEETING OF ALLIANCE DOMINION’S DRINK BILL. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 11. At the annual meeting of the New * Zealand Alliance which was opened here to-day the annual report called attention to the discrepancy in the taxation of intoxicating liquor in New Zealand as , compared with Australia and Britain. It. was pointed out that in Britain 43 per cent, of the total drink bill was taxation, whereas in New Zealand only 21 per cent, of the total drink bill represented taxation. According to the records of the'importations of intoxicating liquor and the New Zealand production of beer it was'stated : that during the year 1930 there had been a reduction of 4.4 per cent, compared with the year 1929. - 1 It was reported to the meeting that the drink bill for the year 1930, which had just been compiled by Mr F. ; B. Adams, of Dunedin, showed that the estimated expenditure during‘the year ; 1930 totalled £7,710,000. Whilst this was a decrease of £400,288 compared with 1929 it, was still an increase of £144,374 over the year 1928. During the last four years no less than £32,225,203 had been spent on intoxicating liqudr. The expenditure worked’out at £5 3s 4d per head of population, including Maoris, v The consumption in gallons per head of population was—■ spirits .381, wines .133, imported beer -.051, and New Zealand beer 8.199. With tile exception of imported beer all these showed a slight’ decrease as compared - with 1929. , ’ , .

The meeting 1 ' will continue during tomorrow, when the position in view .of the coming poll will be fully considered.