THE NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1931, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE

LIQUOR CONSUMPTION

DOMINION'S TAXATION LEVEL.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Alliance, which opened here today, the annual report called attention to a discrepancy in the taxation of intoxicating liquor in New Zealand as compared with Australia and Britain. It was pointed out that in Britain 43 percent. of the total drink biff was taxation, whereas in New Zealand only ‘2l per cent, of the total drink bill was taxation. According to ths records of importations of intoxicating liquor and the New Zealand production of beer, it was stated, during the year 1930 there had been a reduction of 4.4 per cent, compared with the year 1929. It was reported to the meeting that the drink bill for the year 1930 had just been compiled by Mr. F. B. Adame, of Dunedin, and showed that the estimated expenditure during the year 1930 totalled £7,710,606. Whilst this was a decrease of £406,288 compared with 1929;-it was still an increase of £144,374 over the year 1928. During the last four years no less than £32,225,263 had been spent in intoxicating liquor. The expenditure worked out at £5 3s 4d per head of the population, including Maoris. The consumption in gallons per head jsf population was: Spirits .381, wines .133, imported beer .051, and New Zealand beer, 8.199 gallons. With the exception of imported beer, all these showed a slight decrease as compared with 1929. The meeting will continue during tomorrow, when the position in view of the coming poll Will be considered.