THE YIELD OF THE SPIRIT, BEER, AND WINE DUTIES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The intoxicating liquors question is again to the fron'. How many people sufficiently realise its importance in the
finance of the nation? Mr. Goschen surprised the House of Commons by stating that a year of prosperous trade in the country to March 31st, 1890, enabled him to receive a larger income than he expected from the beer, spirit, and wine duties. Let us see the results of a year of unprosperous trade. The latest complete returns of income and expenditure yet pub- lished are to March 31st, 1889. From these the following is obtained :-
Revenue received by Customs and Excise on beer,
spirits, and wine for one year ending March 31st, 1889, including licence duties for sale of the same £30,028,860 Total expenditure on Army and Navy and Ordnance Factories, for one year ending March 31st, 1889 ... 28,957,632 Surplus £1,071,228
This surplus of £1,071,228 will probably pay the share of collection of these revenues and duties. So that we have the astounding fact, even in a year of great depression of trade, the consumption of these liquors is so great, that the duties received on them pay the whole of the vast expenditure on the Army and Navy of the Empire.—I am, Sir &c.,
Lilleshall Old Hall, Shropshire. CHAS. C. WALKER. [1888-1889 was hardly a year of great depression. It was a year of recovery in most branches of trade.—En. Spectator.]
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