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considerable expenditure, but it was easily covered by the profits of one tioal
Vide also para. II. per tamlung, which formerly accrued to the sub Farmer.
21. At the same time various other changes were made in the method of sale, with the object of gaining greater control over retailers and smokers. For instance, all retailers of opium were required to obtain their stocks from the Nai Amphur and they were allowed to retail the drug for consumption. on their premises only. Tersons addicted to opium could, therefore, ordinarily smoke only in licensed premises; exceptions were made in the case of individuals of standing who desired to smoke at home, but they had to register themselves and take out licenses to do so. The license was in the form of a pass book in which the purchase of the license were entered, and the Nai Amphur was required to fix in each case, the quantity which could be so purchased. Smokers were thus divided into two categories, those who had to smoke in licensed premises, and those licensed to smoke at home. The object of these provisions was to give greater facilities for inspection and control, and to do away with the promiscuous smoking in out-of-the way places which was than prevalent. This promiscuous smoking was one of the most fruitful causes of young men taking to the habit of smoking opium-
22. The number of shops retailing opium, which at the beginning of B. E. 2460 (1917-18), stood at over 3,100 for the Whole Kingdom, was reduced to 2,433 by the end of that year, and the following successive reductions have since been effected:-
Year
Latter half of B. E. 2461 (1918-19)
do.
B. E. 2462 (1919-20)
do.
B. E. 2463 (1920-21)
No. of shops.
1,639
1,233
1,028
From the above figures it will be seen that since the complete abolition of the farming system in B. E, 2461 (1918-19), the number of opium shops has been reduced by two-thirds.
23. Another object aimed at by these changes was the prevention of the smuggling of opium out of the country. As already explained in para 19, the sub-Farmers apparently found it paid them to export opium, since the profit
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they made on such operations was probably greater than that allowed by the Government on legitimate sales in the country, and they bad facilities and connections which rendered it easy for them to so dispose of the opium. With the sub-Farmers abolished, it was hoped that retailers who naturally dealt in smaller quantities, and who bad to obtain their supplies direct from the Nai Amphurs, would not be able to engage in outward smuggling to any considerable extent, especially as the profit which they obtained from the dross left in the pipes by their customers was a good one. Moreover, a supplementary law was enacted limiting to one tamlung the amount of Government opium which any person might have in his possession, without a license. The object of this enactment, which was brought out pending the issue of a comprehensive new opium law, was to facilitate seizure above one tamlung wherever found, since it is not easy to prove intention to export The limit of one tamlung was fixed for the convenience of travellers who might be bona fide opium smokers.
24. The results of these measures were not perhaps as great as anticipated. The increased difficulties in the way of export made people willing to pay the opium retailers still higher prices to evade the rules under which they were permitted to sell for consumption on the premises only. In spite, therefore, of seizures by the Customs, as shown in Table II, Annexe IV, the export continued to some extent. It is clear however, that the measures adopted did have some effect, since the final result, as shown by the total quantity of opium sold in B. E. 2461 (1918-19) was a decrease of over 9% as compared with the previous twelve months. Vide Annexe V.
The very
25. The year B. E, 2462 (1919-20) was an abnormal one. high prices obtained for rice put plenty of money into the pockets of all persons connected with the trade, including middlemen and coolies. The Chinaman's usual method of enjoying himself, when in funds, is to meet his friends and smoke opium, even though he may not be addicted to the drug, much in the same way as Europeans meet and partake of alcohol. The result of this state of affairs was a considerable increase in opium smoking, both in licensed premises and illicitly. The illicit consumers were well-to-do young Chinese who disliked entering opium dens, and they paid greatly enhanced prices to the retailers for the drug to be sold outside the opium shops. The proof required for conviction
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