30 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND 



From this table it appears that though the price of coffee has 

 not declined the consumption has increased 80 per cent., shewing 

 at once an increased desire for coffee and a larger spending power 

 in the community. This is probably a real increase in the con- 

 sumption of the nation and not a transfer of taste ; for cocoa and 

 tea, the substitutes for coffee, have also been consumed in 

 increased amounts, and there has been no such diminution of 

 consumption of alcoholie drinks, for which coffee may be regarded 

 as a substitute, as would set free such an amount of consuming 

 power as would purchase the additional quantity of coffee. On 

 the contrary, although the consumption of spirits has declined 

 somewhat (13 per cent, since 1880), more is being spent on spirits 

 to-day per head than in 1880. The price has increased 78 per 

 cent., and had the consumption moved downwards at the same 

 rate as the price moved upwards, the quantity used in 1896 

 should have been 44 per cent, less than in 1880. The decrease, 

 instead of shewing a diminution of consumption power, indicates 

 either an increase of money to spend or a growing desire on the 

 part of the people for spirits such as would lead them to transfer 

 their taste to alcohol from some other article. In face of the 

 temperance sentiment of the country, it is improbable that the 

 desire has increased, and we may safely conclude that the relation 

 between consumption and prices of spirits indicates increased 

 consumption power. The slight increase in the consumption of 

 tobacco (11 per cent.), in spite of a rise in price, points to the 

 same conclusion, viz , that the nation is growing more prosperous 

 and has a larger income to expend. On the other hand, the 

 increased consumption of tea and sugar justify no such con- 

 clusion. They, of course, indicate a higher level of general well- 

 being, but not an increased consumption power on the part of the 

 community. They afford no evidence against such an increase 

 of income ; the}' simply do not afford any evidence in its favor. 

 The consumption of sugar has increased almost in the same rates 

 as the price has declined. The consumption of 1895 has risen 168 

 per cent.; the price has declined (1^95 price) 62 per cent. The 

 consumption has risen just 5 per cent, more than the decline of 



