We cannot tell Mr. Agg-Gardner what amount of money will
be spent in the beverages that will take the place of intoxicants, but it is safe to assume that it will not be anything like the D10,000,000 which now goes out of the pockets of our people for the purchase of intoxicating liquors. Tho chief substituted beverage will probably be water, but there will no doubt be a good deal more spent upon minerals and tea, cocoa and coffee. And here we may say that a considerable benefit to the revenue blight be obtained by a tax of, say; a farthing a bottle on all minerals. Mr. Agg-Gardner puts a similar question in regard to the £60,000,000 paid to the Exchequer in respect of Beer, Wine, and' Spirit Duties. That is an apparent loss; no doubt, to the Exchequer, but since the £60,000,000 will be fructifying in the pockets of the ex-consumers of intoxicants, it will not be a real loss. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will be able to tap that sum by new taxes such as a universal Income Tax and Increases on such items as tea and tobacco.
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