DUTIABLE COMMODITIES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14075, 19 August 1916, Page 9

DUTIABLE COMMODITIES.

— ■ ..*» . . LAST YEAR'S CONSUMPTION...' REMARKABLE VARIATIONS. (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. The instructive return prepared by the Customs Department to indicate the consumption of -dutiable articles m common use presents some remarkable features for last year. A decrease m the quantity of imported ale (due no doubt to. the high freight) ia more than made 'up m extra-local brewings, while the importations .of wines and spirits show the usual upward' tendency. Sugar fluctuated in 1 an extraordinary - way, : which might be .explained by the fact t that importations for 1914 dropped to ithe extent of 39 million pounds weight. Last year's importations .of this comjmodity rose' by nearly 35 millions, thus making a record total, and bringing up the average over the last few years. Tlie" following table has been worked out from the returns to show the importations for ■ 1915, and the increase or decrease compared with the previous year : — , , I Importations. Increase. Spirits (gall.) ... 940,611 53,495 I Cigarettes (duty) . £258,825 £10,383 | Wine (gall.) ' 163,244 6,735 Coffee, , coicoa, ••■'-. I ' Chicory "■ : :YY..y 775,112' 219,113 Sugar (lbs)/ ... 143,410,512 34,973,023 Tobacco (lbs) w. . 2,430,159 6,876 Ad valorem goods £1,315,611 £211,162 Tea (lbs) ......... 9,148,578 790,039 Ale imported .;. -260,050 .. 32,800 | The. leduced importations of ales %vere more thari made up by the local brewings, which amounted io 10,605,714 gallons, an inci^ejiseofj^^^ gallons/