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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE ANTI-OPIUM CRUSADE
Bonnar to the Consulting Committee, and the mention the following facts for the benefit of the pessimists who are never tired of pro- phesying the ruin of England and England's trade, Hongkong, of course disappearing with the rest. At the annual meeting of the Asso- ciation of Chambers of Commerce held in London
on 2nd March the President alluding to the fiscal question said "we continued to export largely to protectionist countries" and who was our best customer? Germany! He further remarked "In the trade with Belgium a country of cheap labour, our highly efficient Consul-
General at Antwerp, Sir Cecil Hertslet, reported that the value of the exports of goods to Great Britain did not approach that of the goods of British origin sent to Belgium. Where the door was open-in India and the Far East, in
IN CHINA.
With what varying success the anti-opium measures of the Chinese Government are being attended may be gathered from the following extracts which we make from the news-letters from correspondents of the N-C. Daily
News:-
SZECHUAN.
February 25.
While conferences are discussing how best to deal with the opium question, the energetic Viceroy of Szechuan is acting. The 1st of the dens in this city. To-day as one rides through 2nd moon was the date fixed to close all opium
the streets not a single sign was visible; and where opium dens formerly did thriving business may now be seen either the desolate room, or it be a room undergoing repairs for some more wholesome merchandise. The 1st of the dens in Szechuan. That such drastic measures 3rd moon is the date appointed for closing all can be taken evidences what is probably a fact, that the gentry and literati of Szechuan are making it a question of patriotism. During the opposition to opium. This opposition takes a last two or three years there has been a growing practical turn when opportunities affords as, for example, in one of the districts north of Cheng- tu, where formerly large quantities of opium were grown, this year not a blade is seen, the gentry age of crops, to forbid its growth. The effects having petitioned the Viceroy, owing to a short of the prohibition were felt in the neighbouring districts. The same spirit is seen in other
The places. through seven magistracies and only in one, writer has recently travelled Yuinhsien, was a blade of opium found. This district has been a large contributor of the drug, and it was almost comical to see the vacillating spirit of the farmers as depicted by the fields where for years opium reigned supreme. In some fields two and three other forms of vegetation were striving for master- ship. There was an uncertainty as the quantity that should be allowed to opium and so in parallel lines were wheat, beans and turnips. in fields that would easily hold 1,000 plants only 100 could be counted. The rest had been dag up, as rumours spread of possible punish ment. If opium dens can be abolished and the growth of opium prohibited Szechuan can pride herself on achieving one of the greatest moral reforms of the century.
South America and in Africa-we held a commanding supremacy. Our trade has not been carried on unprofitably.
may The reports of the Commissioner of Inland Revenue showed how vast was the amount and how rapid the growth of the public wealth." So much for general trade. As for shipping the Chairman of the London and India Docks Company at their half yearly meeting stated that "what was satisfactory was that while in London, in their own docks they had had an increase in shipping tonnage of 61,000 tons last year, Hamburg had had a decrease of 364,000 tons, Antwerp & decrease of 127,000 tons, and Rotterdam a decrease of not very much short of 1,200,000 tons." Surely in face of these facts one has the right to be optimistic and to refuse to believe that our trade is leaving ds. As for our own particular line, we lost the benefit of the cattle trade with Manila for some time last year owing to quarantine restrictions, but that we do not expect to occur again, and we also hope to reap some good from the sugar crop, which is a very large one this year in the Philippines. As you will have seen from the newspapers, we have had much trouble on board the steamers with opium smuggling into Manila. We have taken every precaution that a long experience can suggest to us to stop this practice, but from the ease with which the stuff can be hidden owing to its small bulk the result of the most rigorous search cannot be depended upon to absolutely ensure that there is none of it concealed on board. The opium question is no doubt a difficult one out here, but it has not been made simpler by the language of exaggera tion, not to give it a shorter and less polite description, which has been indulged in by many at home who should know better. Charity it is said, should begin at home, but one cannot help wondering if those good people whose minds are so exercised about the morals of the Chinese ever realise the condition to which much greater number of their own people have been brought by similar indulgence in alcoholic liquors. They are so anxious about the opium mote in the Chinese eye that they ignore the alcoholic beam in their own, and yet the word their Master used for such inconsistent professors was I think "hypocrite." Be that as it may the unfortunate steamers have to suffer while the time of their officers is taken up searching for a drug which will only be replaced, if it ever be displaced, by some other form of it in patent medicines or by alcohol, which latter will certainly be no improvement on opium. As for the accounts they are simple and clear, and I do not think they require any domment, but I may say that the amount due for outstanding freights has almost all been since collected. Before I move the adoption of the Report and Accounts I shall be happy to answer any questions from shareholders.
There being no questions, the CHAIRMAN proposed the adoption of the report and accounts as presented.
The motion was seconded by Mr. WHITE, and carried nem con.
Messrs. H. P. White and Dr. J. W. Noble were re-relected to the Consulting Committee on the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Mr. CORDEIRO.
Mr. KLINCK proposed the reappointment of Messrs. W. H. Potts and A. O'D. Gourdin as auditors.
The motion was seconded by Mr. GORDON and carried:
The CHAIRMAN That is all the business, gentlemen; I am much obliged to yon for your attendance.
a
come on
The Kiating correspondent writes:-There of opium in this Fu. Your correspondent can be no doubt of the decrease of the growth
has travelled about a thousand li through the neighbouring Hsiens during the last few months and saw not a single blade. A friend who has a journey from beyond Mengtze, Yunnan province, says he saw no opium until he reached Szechuan and even then but very little. While it is quite evident that the officials are succeeding in prohibiting the growth, it is almost equally evident that their efforts, at least in this Fu, to prohibit the smoking so far, have accomplished little or nothing. The dens thrive patronage they receive. in every town and there seems no decrease in the
interest for the enforcement of the
We are waiting with new pro- clamation.
HONAN AND ANHUI.
March 10. There has been such perfect order and quiet- ness here for a while, that there is almost nothing to write. But there is
one matter that will likely be of real interest, as showing with what decision the opium question is taken hold of here. At different times this winter and last autumn I have been through the Zircheng and Luihsien. Pochon and Gwao- sections of Gwoayang, Rungcheng, Kweitefu,
yang are in Anhui, the other places mentioned are in Honan. In the autumn the proclamation
earlier autumn, been planted with poppy should was sent out that all land that had, in the
be ploughed up and put in wheat. one obeyed orders, but there were the few who seemed to wait to see if they really must quit the cultivation of the poppy. Thus one has been able
to see, here and there, small patches of it. Last week, while out on a long circuitous trip, we passed a market town, where the Da Lao Ye was spending a few days, and from there sending out men in ever direction
Most every
[April 12, 1909,
to see if there were any who were still growing the weed. Many of the farmers were disturbed and I was told that some tens of men, who had allowed the weed to grow, had been seized and beaten. Then the collar was put on them and they were sent to the city to await the return of the Da Lao Ye, when it was thought that they would be set at liberty, only on payment of a fine. Some shopowners, who had been selling the opium had also been seized and treated no less decidedly. If one is to judge from these immediate surrounding communities, he has much to encourage him to believe the
opium traffic is soon to see its end.
HUPEH.
March 19. An opium Weiyuen has come to Chengtu to establish a new office. Two proclamations regarding opium have been issued. One was to the effect that after the Autumn of this year the growing of the poppy must cease. That will not affect this district very much as round about Ichang there is little cultivation of the poppy. The other proclamation was, in connexion with the new office. All shops selling opium have to be registered and to pay an extra tax. Opinm shops with a capital of $10,000 have to pay an nually $6, those with $5,000 pay $4, those under $5,000 pay $2. Opium smokers have to register themselves. The smokers are divided into three grades those over sixty years of age, those over fifty and those under fifty. On registering they every ten days. We hear very few have receive a ticket and must report themselves presented themselves for registration.
KWEICHOW.
In
In the line of opium restriction there seems to be nothing doing in these parts. The traffic goes on as of old, despite the proclamation declaring a prohibition of culture, sale and use after the first day of the present year. comparison with the increased price of all necessaries of life
opium is now cheaper than ever before. There are just about as many smokers as ever.
SHANSI.
The Taiyuanfu correspondent of the Peking and Tientsin Times writes under date of March 17th: -For years past this Province has been known as the one most cursed by the opium evil. In Taiyuanfu, itself, it is said that half the people smoke, women as well as men, and in many of the country districts the proportion must be even greater. In spite of the great local consumption, there was still opium left over for export to Chili and other neigh- bouring Provinces; and that grown in a moun- famous as being the finest opium in China. tain valley to the South of the Capital is
A traveller passing through in the Summer time can see any well-watered district ablaze with poppy blossoms, and his first duty on arriving at an inn is to clear the room of smokers. Such being the case one can imagine the sensation that has been produced by the sudden prohibition of its growth. Through the length and breadth the. Province not square yard is to be given over to its cultivation; and what is still more to the purpose, men are being sent in all directions to see that the order is being carried into effect. This prohibition is to endure for three years, when the position will be reconsidered.
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total
What will happen? Is the Official attitude an earnest one? and if so, will it be respected These are difficult questions; the ground is still hard and the workmen are not yet in the fields; but after the fourth month the truth will be out. There are not wanting Chinamen who laugh at the whole business and say that it is merely a question of the size of the bribe, and one is tempted to hazard the guess that in suitable places out of sight of the main highway the poppy will still bloom.
In a country governed by a bureaucracy there is always a great deal of such dodging, and to accept the Official case as it stands will never do. For instance in Taiyuanfu there are some seven or eight shops licensed to sell opium, and card and state his age and occupation. Yet it is anyone going there to purchase must give his common knowledge that the stuff can be got at any shop and no questions are asked of a discreet customer.
Dr. Jones, a well-known Manila dentist, was stricken with smallpox on Sunday and died the following day.