March 15, 1909.]
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209
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
their instructions. All that can be said of speculation for any careful business corpora this decision is that it fulfils expectations. tion and the ultimate effect of it will be that It was inconceivable that the Government, this Colony will not only suffer a very after being placed in possession of the whole heavy loss of revenue, but will have to face facts of the case, would act with the pre- cipitation indicated in their telegraphic prevent the smuggling of opium and if it is a large increase in expenditure if it is to instruction; but no one could have enter: tained a very lively hope that the Imperial | standard set by China in suppressing the to be the duty of the police to act up to the Government would recognise the folly of habit of smoking opium. The Government, totally abolishing the divaus. in baste and in ignorance, definitely com.
Having be it noted, is prepared to ask Parliament for mitted
a substantial contribution towards making themselves to the policy immediately suppressing the divans, it found to have lost as the direct result of of good to the Colony the revenue which it is was hardly to be expected that the Govern- measures adopted under their instructions. ment would stultify itself by confessing By the time the Colonial Government is the doubt as to the wisdom of the able to ascertain with any degree of accuracy policy which the able and convincing the revenue which has been sacrificed, it memorandum by Sir FREDERICK LUGARD should also be in a position to form a rough inevitably inspires. We know now that estimate of the increase in expenditure resulting directly from the measures adopted under the instructions of His Majesty's Government, and we may hope that this too will be taken into consideration by Parlia- ment in fixing the amount of compensation to be made to the Colony
the
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upon the Liberal Government, they fortun- ately found a means of getting out of the difficulty by declaring that it was a matter which they must leave to be dealt with by the recently established responsible Govern ment of the Transvaal-claiming, however that, through their intervention, a great many prominent abuses in connection with it had been done away with. This claim was disingenuous—the modifications which were made being only in minor details, and it having been conclusively shown that there was no element of slavery whatever in the matter, but that this accusation had been got up merely as an election cry. One would have thought that this matter might well have been left as it was and not referred to after a long lapse of time as something which eminently redounded to the credit of the Liberal Government. The claim, how whole of the hundred and ninety ever, that they had put an end to the licensed divans in the Colony must close in system-even if they were called upon to do | March 1910, but we do not know yet to so in any way-is completely unfounded, as what extent the Colonial revenue will be those acquainted with what has goneon in the detrimentally affected thereby. In his Transvaal, since the establishment of repre- Memoradum summarising the dispatches sentative institutions, perfectly well know sent to the Secretary of State on the subject, Had the Transvaal, as a whole, or had even H. E. The GOVERNOR very properly pointed the governing section in the Transvaal (now out that divans are a concomitant, and result the Dutch party) been desirous that Chiner of the habit of opium smoking rather than an emigration should continue, the Home Go- inciting cause and they serve a useful vernment would have had to face a very purpose in concentrating smokers, and thus difficult question in opposing the adoption bringing them under control and supervision. of that course. But fortunately circum- They also tend to diminish the smoking of stances arose which put an end to the opium in private houses, and to confine it difficulty and saved both the Transvaal and to adult males, and are a check on dross the Home Government a vast amount of eating, since neither the keeper nor the trouble. The reason for importing Chinese smoker may retain the dross. Their com- labour itself came to an end. After the plete abolition would not improbably Trausvaal war, the natives in South Africa produce many evils not contemplated by were so well cff, with the high pay that they those who have no actual knowledge of the had received while hostilities lasted, as circumstances.” His Excellency also men- drivers, carriers and the like, that there|tions that the closing of divans in Shanghai was great difficulty in inducing any of them to go to the mines. As time went on this happy state of affairs gradually came to an end; and it was possible again to obtain native African labour for the mines. This change fortunately showed a way out of a very unpleasant difficulty-and the Chinese were allowed to return as their contracts expired and native labour engaged to supply their places. For many reasons objec- tion is felt in the Transvaal against the Chinese; as being an element possibly not easy to manage and also as opening the door possibly to Asiatic competition in other directions. It is not likely that any idea of reviving Chinese immigration will arise again; but the system bas really come to an end simply from economic causes, and not from any heroic opposition on the part of the Home Government to what they chose-- with gross injustice to all concerned to call a system of slavery.
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The
We assume this compensation will be made in the form of a reduction in the amount of the Military Contribution de- manded from the Colony, though that is a question which might very well be recon- sidered on its merits. The Military Con- tribution is set down in the Estimates for the current year as $1,210,739; while the $1,452,000. Though it is impossible to say amount payable by the opium farmer is
at the present moment what loss of revenue will have to be faced next year, the Colony bas to contemplate a rapidly progressive decrease down to the complete extinction of this source of revenue, save perhaps a comparatively trifling amount which may be derived from licenses to sell opium or opium compounds for medicinal purposes. Conse- quently the Colony must look to Parliament to correspondingly increase the annual compensatory grant until such time as new sources of revenue may be developed without prejudically affecting to any serious extent the interests of the Colony. cannot see where the Government can look We
for new sources of revenue at present; but even were there no loss of the opium revenue to be contemplated the need already exists for an increase of revenue. revenue last year fell short of the expendi- ture by six and a half lacs of dollars and in the estimates for the current year the expenditure is only covered by the loan of the Widows' and Orphans Fund amounting to nearly five lacs of dollars. preciable reduction in expenditure immediately possible. Public Works ex-" traordinary-such as the Building of the new Law Courts, and Post Office, markets and waterworks schemes &c.,-during the last year or two have been costing the Colony over a million dollars per annum. Α beginning is just being made with the typhoon refuge at Mongkoktsui which will cost the Colony a million and a half of dollars, and if an early completion of that undertaking is to be made, very large appropriations will be necessary during the next couple of years. Hence there is no immediate prospect of reducing expenditure on public works. Most of these undertakings were begun when the finances and more hopeful condition, and the reduc- of the Colony were in a more flourishing
extraordinary which will automatically tion in the appropriation for public works
occur as these undertakings are completed is the only reflection in which the taxpayer can find comfort. doubt, duly grateful that the Govern
The Colony is no
ment is prepared to ask Parliament to give substantial contribution
and the neighbouring city is said to have led to no apparent diminution in the sale and consumption of the drug. We can readily imagine that this will be the case in Hongkong also; but we are not rash enough to anticipate that future tenders for the Farm-if any are submitted-will indicate the existence of a similar belief or suspicion in the minds of those who may seek to have the monopoly. Of course they will not. Prospective bidders will rather submit, as a reason for a ridiculously low offer, that as the British Government has pledged itself to act up to the Chinese standard so far as the closing of opium divans is concerned, may not the Government follow China still further and make the smoking of opium anywhere in the Colony by other than duly licensed persons a penal offence ? And the prospective bidder would know that in Hongkong the police organisation is able to more effectually secure obedience to law than are police organisations in China, The rejection of the eminently seusible measures suggested by the Governor, and (Daily Press, March 13th.)
the insistence on a total abolition of the After due consideration the Imperial opium divans imports so much risk and Government has decided on the final and uncertainty into the future of the business total abolition of the opium divans in the that it will occasion no surprise if the Colony of Hongkong when the existing Government does not receive a single offer contract between the Opium Farmer and for the farm when teuders are next invited. Colonial Government expires next March, In that case the Government will have to His Majesty's Government recognise that
run the monopoly itself. If the Farmer as a result of giving effect to their policy sees no profit in the Farm it is unlikely that the Colonial revenue must suffer a loss the Government will find any. In order to which it would be impossible for the local protect his monopoly the opium farmer has Government wholly to replace, and when to employ a large staff of detectives and to the amount of this loss has been ascertained offer rewards to informers. However much with some degree of accuracy His Majesty's his business 13 reduced by the restriction of Government will be prepared to ask Parlia his supply of opium and the closing of the ment to give a substantial contribution divans, the Farmer cannot with safety towards making good to the Colony the greatly reduce his expenses under this head. revenue which it is found to have lost as The action of the Imperial Government the direct result of measures adopted under I makes the business therefore too risky a
ABOLITION OF OPIUM DIVANS IN HONGKONG.
No ap-
is