30
464
opium locally consumed would under that system undoubtedly be smuggled into the island. One immediate consequence of the alteration of system would therefore be a large decrease of revenue.
A like effect would ensue if a system of licenses (to which it will have been seen that there are other insuperable objections) were substituted for the farm. This is not a matter of surmise; we have here recent experience to guide us.
110. In 1883 a system of licenses was substituted for the farm in order to meet a combination amongst the farming class. The increase in the revenue in that year from opium was entirely due to the fortuitous circumstance that there was a great rush to get opium into America before the enhanced rate of import duty came into operation there. In the following year the receipts fell.