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Story: Customs and tariffs

Tea table, early 20th century

Image
Tea table, early 20th century

A group of women and children are about to enjoy tea and cakes. From the 1890s in New Zealand there was a widely held view that ‘essential’ foods such as tea and sugar should not be taxed with customs duties. The phrase used was ‘the free breakfast table’ – although this is probably an afternoon-tea table.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, H. N. Whitehead Collection (PAColl-3068)

Reference: 1/1-005647; G

by Henry Norford Whitehead

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Tony Simpson, Customs and tariffs – Encouraging local industry, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/22572/tea-table-early-20th-century (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Tony Simpson, published 12 April 2010.