The Report of the Commissioners of Customs shows that the
revenue from this source is now 220,092,787, an increase of £343,257 since last year. The most noticeable feature is the fact that, "for the first time in the history of our revenue the gross receipts from tobacco have reached a sum of over ten millions, or one-half of the total Imperial revenue derived from Customs duties." This is a very interesting circam- stance, in view of the fact that Mr. Goschen reduced the duty .on tobacco, and shows, again, that high duties are very often a financial mistake. Coffee has again fallen off, and is now not worth more than £181,287; but cocoa grows in popularity, the consumption having increased by 34 per cent, in the last five years. With regard to tea the facts are curious. The Com- missioners calculate that the actual increase in consumption for the year has been nearly nine million pounds. Indian tea has decreased a little in favour, but the use of Ceylon tea has "enormously increased." We cannot help thinking it pm- sible that a policy of still farther reducing the duties on tobacco, tea, cocoa, and coffee would answer financially. It is quite right that the working classes should contribute to the taxes, but the Customs should be arranged so as to check consumption as little as possible.
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