TRADE TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 317, 20 August 1896, Page 11

TRADE TOPICS.

Statistical authorities put the present annual revenue of all governments from liquor taxes at £200,000,000. These taxes are imposed principally through taxes on production, importation, exportation, sale and storage. The total exports of the United States for the year ending 30th June, 1895, were 793,392,599 dol. Tne total imports for the same period were 731,969,965 dol.

The latest Prohibitionist handbill circulated states that £2,08 J ,470 was spent in intoxicating liquors in New Zealand in 1894, and of-this amount £lOO,OOO was spent in Wellington alone. There are 51 hotels in the Empire City.

Irish, Please. —Good-natured Fare (to liish Jarvey) : “Will you take something to drink, driver, before we start ?” Jarvey : “ Pwhat’s that ? Is it an angel I hear spaken ?” There is every probability of a lecturer being appointed by the Hawke’s Bay Licensed Victuallers’ Association, to place the views of the trade before the free and independent at the forthcoming election. The Licensed Victuallers’ Association of Victoria has resolved :—“ That this association communicate with other organisations connected with the Trade, with a view to ascertaining the advisability of urging the Government to appoint a Royal Commission or other method of inquiry, constituted on somewhat similar lines to that now sitting in England, to inquire into the whole question of liquor and licensing laws previous to any fresh legislation in connection therewith.” “ It is strange,” said a rather shallow-brained young man, “that I can never drink liquor without it going directly to my head.” “ That is not at all strange,” retorted a bystander, “ the liquor naturally goes where it will be in the least danger of being crowded. .

The following notice is posted up in a Sydney Hotel : —“ Beer—4d a quart, 2d a pint, Id per half-pint glass ; stout —4|d per quart.” It is customary (says a writer in the City Press') to look upon the calling of the publican as a decidedly lucrative one. But it would seem to be otherwise in the city of London. There are 426 licensed public-houses and taverns — excluding hotels and resturants —within the boundary of the city. Of these 426 no fewer than 126 have changed hands during the past twelve months. This is rather more than a quarter, and rather less than a third. In no other trade or occupation do the changes approach anything like these figures. The responsibilisy probably lies at the door of the “ tied house” system.